For many centuries, the Catholic Church has chosen the best and most worthy leader to lead a multimillion flock. However, among the 266 popes of Rome, not all were models of faith and obedience. Some of them were remembered for cruel punishments, shocking scandals and dark financial deals.
Stephen VI
This pontiff ordered that the body of his predecessor Formosus be exhumed and a cruel trial be held on him. The body of the previous pope and adversary Stephen VI was dressed in papal clothes and seated in the defendant's chair. The corpse was asked questions to which the acting pontiff himself answered. At the end of the trial, Formosa's body was sentenced to severe punishment. They cut off three fingers of his hand, with which he blessed the believers, and then cut his body into pieces and threw him into the Tiber. This act was not to the liking of the Romans and many representatives of the church, and Pope Stephen VI was sent to prison, where he was strangled. Formosus' body was hacked to pieces and reburied in a papal grave.
John XII
This pontiff is rightfully considered the most immoral pope not only of his period, but in the entire history of the Catholic Church. Ascending the papal throne at the age of 18, John turned his palace into a brothel and played with donations from the faithful. Even Pope's ally Otto I, in a personal conversation, accused John XII of murder, perjury, blasphemy and incest with his sisters. According to some reports, John XII died at the hands of her husband, whom his wife cheated on with the pontiff. After catching them in bed, the angry husband beat Daddy. As a result of the beatings, the pontiff died three days later.
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Benedict IX
This pontiff ascended the throne three times. For the first time, according to conflicting reports, he was between 12 and 20 years old. In any case, he was one of the youngest and most infamous popes in church history. The German historian spoke of Benedict as a demon from hell who ascended the Catholic throne in the guise of a priest. He was accused of murder, theft and adultery. According to the Roman historian, in the papal palace, Benedict IX lived like an oriental sultan, surrounded by wealth and concubines.
Boniface VIII
Although this pope does not claim to be the most sinful, he is not a model of obedience and faith. After ascending to the throne, he erected monuments to himself all over Rome and declared that sexual relations with underage boys are no more sinful than rubbing their palms.
During his reign, he demolished an entire city due to political differences and earned himself a mortal enemy in the person of the great Dante Alighieri. Curiously, Boniface is in the eighth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy.
Sixtus IV
This pontiff was accused of pedophilia and sodomy, as well as the fact that one of his nephews was the product of incest between Sixtus and his younger sister. However, it is difficult to trace the veracity of these accusations due to the fact that the pontiff had many influential enemies. What Sixtus IV can undoubtedly be accused of is nepotism. Almost all of his nephews were cardinals, and one of them even became a pope. In addition to a negative imprint on the history of the church, Sixtus was a faithful patron of art, science and architecture. He commissioned the construction of the famous Sistine Chapel, and also rebuilt many destroyed churches in Rome.
Innocent VIII
Innocent ascended to the papal throne under the patronage of the Rovere family, to which his predecessor belonged. This is the only pontiff who openly recognized his illegitimate children, of whom there were eight. In addition, Innocent followed the lead of Heinrich Kramer, the infamous author of Hammer of the Witches, and issued a bull calling for punishment of witches for their relationship with the devil, which led to the famous inquisitorial trials against women throughout Europe.
Alexander VI
At the conclave, only 7 people voted for Alexander, and he went to bribe, practically buying the throne from other candidates. In the world of Rodrigo Borgia, he became pope in 1492. His reign was characterized by incestuous relationships, orgies and a huge amount of money. After the murder of his beloved son, the pontiff revised his views on licentious manners and calmed down, but did not become less cruel. On his orders, the famous and popular Girolamo Savonarola was hanged, accusing Alexander and other popes of depravity. After Alexander failed to bribe the monk, he ordered the capture and imprisonment of Savonarola, and then sentenced to public execution. This act brought the Reformation much closer.
Julius II
Julia II is often called the most ruthless pope. He was domineering, hot-tempered and incredibly active, even he himself took part in military campaigns in Italy, and in the forefront. His reign led to the expansion of the papal possessions and the fall of Venice. Julius II is best known for his patronage work, which surpassed even the efforts of his uncle Sixtus. However, Julius died from complications after syphilis, which he contracted as a result of contacts with representatives of the ancient profession. By the end of the pontiff's life, his stupas were almost completely covered with ulcers, so much so that the believers could not bow before them and kiss them.
Leo X
Leo X belonged to the Medici family and was a renowned patron of art and a noble spender. Besides the fact that he squandered the entire treasury left by Julius II, his spending significantly exceeded the income of the papacy. In order to secure his luxurious lifestyle, the pontiff began selling indulgences and cardinal posts. This attitude towards sin and forgiveness has led to outrage from the clergy and even the laity. A scandal erupted, on the coals of which the plans of the reform movement matured.
Paul IV
Paul ascended the throne at an old age, but in the four years of his reign he created absolute autocracy and increased the influence of the Inquisition. His worst order was to send all Jews to the ghetto and the humiliation they suffered while living there. By order of the pontiff, the synagogues practicing in Rome were also destroyed. Paul IV was so hated by the people that after his death the inhabitants of Rome destroyed all of his statues and images.
Urban VIII
The reign of this pontiff was marked by the notorious trial of Galileo. The despotic Pope Urban did not appreciate the scientist's attempt to spread his work on the heliocentric system of the world, and personally presided over the court. He invited Galileo to publicly abandon his words or go to the stake like Giordano Bruno. Galileo chose to save his life, and the church apologized for such an attitude only several centuries later.
Hope Chikanchi