Pope John XI

John XI (910?–936) was a pope from 931 to 936.

Pope John XI was the son of Marozia and Alberic. According to Liutprand and the "Liber Pontificalis", he was the natural son of Sergius III ("Johannes, natione Romanus ex patre Sergio papa", "Liber Pont." ed. Duchesne, II, 243).

His mother was the Roman ruler at the time, resulting in his appointment to the Chair of Peter. Marozia was thus able to exert complete control over the pope.

At the overthrow of Marozia, John XI became subject to the control of Alberic II, his younger brother. The only control left to the Pope was the exercise of his purely spiritual duties. All other jurisdiction was exercised through Alberic. This was not only the case in secular, but also in ecclesiastical affairs.

It was at the insistence of Alberic that the pallium was given to Theophylactus, Patriarch of Constantinople (935), and also to Artold, Archbishop of Reims (933). It was this pope who sat in the Chair of Peter during its deepest humiliation, but it was also he who granted many privileges to the Congregation of Cluny, which was later on so powerful an agent of Church reform.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

References

• Marozia