Pope Boniface VI (Latin: Bonifatius VI; died 26 April 896), a native of Rome,[2] served very briefly as the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States in April of 896. He was elected as a result of riots soon after the death of Pope Formosus on April 4. Prior to his reign, he had twice incurred a sentence of deprivation of orders as a subdeacon and as a priest.[3] After a pontificate of fifteen days, he is said by some to have died of the gout,[3] and by others to have been forcibly ejected to make way for Stephen VI, the candidate of the Spoletan party.[4]
The Papal historian Caesar Baronius describes him as a 'disgusting monster' guilty of adultery and homicide. [5]
At a synod in Rome held by John IX in 898, his election was pronounced null and void.[3]
Early life
Little is written about the life of Boniface VI. It is believed by historians that his father was a man called Adrian, who was also a bishop.[6] He then likely served as a sub-deacon or priest before his election to the papacy. [6]
^ abcMcBrien, Richard P. (2000). Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. HarperCollins. p. 146. ISBN0-06-087807-X.
^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Boniface VI". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^Baronius, Caesar (1868). Annales Ecclesiastici. in Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
