Historians often describe his papacy as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Catholic Church.
In the annals of the Catholic Church, few figures are as controversial as Pope John XII....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
John XII became pope at just 18 years old, reigning from 955 to 964. His tenure was infamous for scandal, political corruption, and behaviour so controversial that many historians regard him as one of the most disreputable popes in history.
Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore provided a stark evaluation of John XII’s character:
Pope John XII was the most depraved bishop ever to head the Church; His conduct was in complete contradiction to the principles of Christian ethics. He was hypocritical, cruel and thoughtless—he was the embodiment of the papal ‘pornocracy’ of the first half of the tenth century. His insatiable lasciviousness eventually led him to a miserable downfall.
Early Life
He was born as Octavianus around 937 in Rome and was the son of Alberic II of Spoleto, the self-proclaimed ruler of Rome. Being the only surviving son, the father, Alberic, wanted the best for him, so before he died in 954, he secured a promise from Roman nobles to appoint his son as the next pope.
Thus, upon the death of Pope Agapetus II in 955, Octavianus was elected pope, adopting the name John XII. At just 18 years old, he became one of the youngest popes in history.
The Scandals Of His Papacy
John XII’s tenure as pope was characterised by behaviour that starkly contrasted with the spiritual responsibilities of his office. Unlike most spiritual leaders of the time, or any era, John XII showed little regard for the sanctity of his role. Historians often describe his papacy as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Catholic Church.
John XII turned the Lateran Palace, the official papal residence, into what many described as a “brothel.” It was said that he surrounded himself with mistresses, entertained women of ill repute, and engaged in affairs with noblemen’s wives and widows. Church historians allege he even had an affair with his own niece. Rather than leading the faithful in prayer or reform, John’s priorities were clearly hedonistic and self-serving.
Beyond his sexual misconduct, his behaviour included gambling, drinking, and hosting orgies within sacred spaces. He reportedly toasted to the devil during banquets and invoked pagan gods, a level of blasphemy that shocked even the most politically corrupt church officials of his time.
His crimes weren’t limited to personal vice. John XII was accused of simony—selling church offices and favours in exchange for money or power. He appointed bishops and other clergy not based on piety or merit, but on political alliance and bribery. This corruption undermined the Church’s moral authority and widened the divide between the papacy and the faithful.
Worse still, John XII was allegedly responsible for acts of violence, including murder. He was accused of blinding his confessor, castrating a deacon, and ordering executions to silence dissent. Even by medieval standards, when corruption in high places was not unheard of, John XII’s behaviour was considered appalling and unacceptable.
By the time he was put on trial in 963 by Emperor Otto I’s synod, the list of charges read like a criminal dossier.
These included:
Perjury and sacrilege
Murder and mutilation
Adultery and incest
Desecration of sacred spaces
Selling church property for personal gain
Emperor Otto I addressed the assembly regarding Pope John XII’s misconduct and said:
You are accused of such heinous misdeeds that our faces would blush even if you were an ordinary actor. It would take a whole day to list them all here.
The Synod of Rome in 963, while bringing forth numerous allegations against John XII, minced no words, he said:
He had fornicated with the widow of Rainier, with Stephana, his father’s concubine, with the widow Anna, and with his own niece, and he made the sacred palace into a whorehouse.
His Death
John XII died in May 964 under circumstances shrouded in mystery. Some accounts suggest he suffered a fatal stroke during an adulterous encounter, while others claim he was murdered by a jealous husband.
Although some of these accusations may have been politically motivated or exaggerated, the widespread consensus among contemporary sources, even from within the Church, was that John XII’s behaviour was unworthy of the papacy.