The catholic church once put a dead pope on trial

The Catholic Church once put a dead Pope on trial.

Pope Formosus (816-897)

The Catholic Church, an institution that has shaped the course of history for centuries, once held a rather bizarre event - a trial for a deceased Pope. This unusual occurrence took place in the 9th century, and it involved Pope Formosus, who served as the Bishop of Rome from 891 until his death in 896.

Trial of Pope Formosus, painting by Jean-Paul Laurens

During the tumultuous time known as the “Cadaver Synod,” Pope Stephen VI orchestrated a macabre spectacle by ordering the exhumation of Pope Formosus’ body and placing it on trial. In an unprecedented move, the corpse of Pope Formosus was dressed in papal vestments and placed on a throne in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

The motive behind this extraordinary event was not merely to bring justice but to undermine the legacy of Pope Formosus. Pope Stephen VI, filled with animosity towards his deceased predecessor, aimed to discredit him and nullify his papal acts.

This strange ecclesiastical trial involved a dialogue between the living and the dead. A deacon stood behind the corpse of Pope Formosus, answering the charges on his behalf. Pope Stephen VI, presiding over the trial, hurled a series of accusations against the lifeless body. The charges ranged from perjury to breaking canonical law.

Unsurprisingly, the outcome of the trial was a foregone conclusion. The dead Pope Formosus was found guilty on all counts and his papal vestments were unceremoniously stripped off his body. His papal titles were invalidated and his fingers, which had performed papal blessings, were severed from his body.

The Cadaver Synod stands as a symbol of the power struggles and corruption that plagued the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. It serves as a reminder of the lengths to which some individuals would go to discredit their opponents and secure their own dominance.

Although the Catholic Church has come a long way since the days of the Cadaver Synod, this bizarre event remains an intriguing footnote in its history. It reveals the complexities and controversies that have shaped the institution over the centuries.

Sources:

• Live Science