Pope Gregory VI

Gregory VI, né Johannes Gratianus, pope from 1044 to 1046, had earned a high reputation for learning and probity. He succeeded Benedict IX who sold him the papacy for an enormous sum, Johannes also bought off the antipopes Sylvester III and John XX. In a council held by the emperor Henry III at Sutri in December 1046, he was accused of simony and freely admitted it, so his election was found to have been informal. This led to his degradation, and was followed by his withdrawal into Germany, where he died in the following year (1047). He was succeeded by Clement II.

References

• 9th edition (1880s) of the Encyclopædia Britannica