Octaviano de Túculo reached the papal throne in the year 955 thanks to his father’s political power. His brief and scandalous papacy ended with a death as controversial as his life.
In the long history of the papacy, few names arouse as much controversy as that of John XII. Born as Octavian of Túculo Within a powerful Roman family, it became the Sumo youngest pontiff of history when chosen is elected with just 18 yearsin December of the year 955.
His rise to power was not the result of an exemplary ecclesiastical career, but of a political play of his father, Spoleto II Albericowho dominated Rome at that time. Before he died, Alberico forced the local nobility to swear that his son would be the next Pope, thus consolidating a Family dynasty within the Vatican.
When assuming Pedro’s throne, Octaviano adopted the name of John XIIbut his behavior was far from holiness. Chronicles of the time portray it as a leader more interested in earthly pleasures than in spiritual duties. Transformed the Lateran palace into a scenario of excesses, corruption and sexual scandals, which earned him the nickname “Pope Fornicario”.
His papacy was also marked by political conflicts. He was defeated by the Duke of Capua, suffered invasions in the pontifical states and was forced to ally with the German emperor Otto i To conserve power.
The end of his life was as tragic as his papacy. In May 964John XII He died with blowsaccording to one of the most widespread versions, when a jealous husband discovered him in bed with his wife. Another theory indicates that he died of a apoplexy days after another sexual encounter.
Whatever the cause, his death consolidated his place in history as one of the most Young, controversial and scandalous of the Vatican.
Source: Ambito
