Pope Damasus II facts for kids

Pope Damasus II (born Poppo de' Curagnoni) was the leader of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States for a very short time. He was pope from July 17, 1048, until his death on August 9, 1048. He was the second German pope chosen by Emperor Henry III. Poppo was from Bavaria and had one of the shortest reigns as pope in history.

After Clement II died, people from Rome asked Emperor Henry III to choose the next pope. Henry chose Poppo, who was the bishop of Brixen. But while the Roman messengers were away, the old pope, Benedict IX, came back. With help from a powerful leader named Boniface III of Tuscany, Benedict IX became pope again.

Emperor Henry III told Boniface to take Poppo to Rome. But Boniface refused, saying the Romans had already put Benedict back in charge. The emperor was very angry. He ordered Boniface to remove Benedict, or there would be serious trouble. Poppo finally became pope in mid-July but died less than a month later in Palestrina.

Who Was Pope Damasus II?

Poppo was a younger son from a noble family in Bavaria, a region in Germany. He became the bishop of Brixen in Tyrol in 1040. This happened after King Henry III chose him for the role. Poppo was also an important advisor to King Henry III. He traveled with the king to Italy for his coronation as emperor in 1046.

A Time of Trouble for Popes

Around 1046, the city of Rome was in a very messy state. There were three different men claiming to be pope at the same time. These were Benedict IX, Sylvester III, and Pope Gregory VI. Each one was in a different part of the city. This caused fighting in the streets of Rome.

The people of Rome asked Emperor Henry III for help to bring order back. Henry wanted to be crowned emperor in Rome. For this, he needed one clear and accepted pope to perform the ceremony. So, he traveled to Italy.

In December 1046, Henry held a meeting of church leaders in a town called Sutri. The three men claiming to be pope were told to come. Gregory VI and Sylvester III showed up. Gregory VI explained how he became pope, and it seemed wrong to many bishops. So, he gave up his claim. Sylvester III was removed from his position. Benedict IX had already run away.

The emperor and his group then went to Rome. There, another meeting was held. Benedict IX was officially removed again. The pope's position was declared empty. The Roman leaders asked Emperor Henry to choose a good person to be pope. Henry first chose Bishop Adalbert, but he said no. Then, Henry chose Bishop Suidger of Bamberg. Suidger was elected pope on Christmas Eve and became Clement II. Both the new pope and the emperor were crowned the next day. Pope Clement II died less than a year later, in October 1047.

How He Became Pope

After Pope Clement II died, people from Rome sent a message to Emperor Henry III. They found him in Germany in late 1047. They told him Clement had died and asked him to choose the next pope. The Romans suggested a respected leader named Halinard, who was the Archbishop of Lyon. He spoke Italian well and was liked in Rome.

Henry did not want to rush. He asked a wise bishop named Wazo who should be pope. Wazo thought about it and said that the best choice was the person Henry had removed before – Gregory VI. But Henry grew impatient. Instead, he chose Poppo, the bishop of Brixen. Poppo was known for his learning and had been at the meeting in Sutri. The Romans were not happy with this choice, as they still wanted Halinard. Still, Henry sent the Roman messengers back with gifts to prepare for Poppo's arrival.

While the messengers were away, the power of the emperor in Rome weakened. The family of the former pope, Benedict IX, became strong again. Benedict IX, who lived nearby, decided it was his chance to become pope again. He asked for help from Boniface III of Tuscany, a powerful leader who did not like the emperor. Boniface agreed to help. Benedict used his money to gain many followers. With Boniface's help, Benedict IX took over the pope's position for more than eight months. This was from November 1047 to July 1048.

Meanwhile, Emperor Henry was traveling towards Italy with Poppo. When they were in Germany, they found out that the pope's money was almost gone. So, Poppo was allowed to keep the money from his old bishop position. Henry also gave Poppo an important forest. Since Henry could not leave Germany, he told Boniface of Tuscany to take Poppo to Rome. Boniface was supposed to make sure Poppo became the new pope.

But Boniface had helped Benedict IX take over. So, he refused at first. He told Poppo, "I cannot go to Rome with you. The Romans have put Benedict back in charge, and he has won over the whole city." Poppo had no choice but to go back to Germany and tell Henry what happened.

His Short Time as Pope

When Emperor Henry heard the news, he was very angry. He quickly sent Poppo back to Boniface. Poppo carried a letter from the emperor. The letter ordered Boniface to remove Benedict and make Poppo the new pope. Henry's message was clear: "If you do not change your ways, I will soon come and deal with you."

These threats made Boniface obey. He sent soldiers into Rome and forced Benedict out of the city. After Benedict IX was removed, Poppo entered Rome. The Romans welcomed him with joy. He was officially made Pope Damasus II on July 17, 1048.

However, his time as pope was very short. He died on August 9, 1048, after only twenty-three days. Some stories said he was poisoned. But this information might not be true. Many modern experts believe he died from malaria, a disease spread by mosquitoes.

Pope Damasus II was buried in a church called San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome. His stone coffin was large and decorated with carvings of a vineyard and little angels gathering grapes.

See also

In Spanish: Dámaso II para niños

• List of popes

Images for kids

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  Plaque in Pildenau marking Damasus II's birthplace