The Youngest Pope Was a Teenager Who Sold the Papacy

Imagine being a teenager and suddenly finding yourself as the leader of the Catholic Church. That's exactly what happened in medieval Rome—not once, but possibly twice.

The Battle for "Youngest Pope" Title

Two Popes compete for the dubious honor of being the youngest pontiff in history. Pope John XII was elected in 955 at approximately age 18. But the more infamous contender is Pope Benedict IX, who ascended to the papacy in October 1032 at around age 20.

Why the confusion? Medieval record-keeping was notoriously unreliable. A monk named Rodulfus Glaber claimed Benedict was only 11 or 12 years old, but most credible historians dismiss this as unsubstantiated. The Catholic Encyclopedia and modern scholars agree he was likely around 20—still remarkably young for such a powerful position.

The Pope Who Sold His Job

Benedict IX didn't just break records for his age. He became the only Pope in history to serve three separate terms and the only one ever accused of selling the papacy itself.

In May 1045, Benedict decided he wanted to marry his cousin. So he did what any reasonable Pope would do: he sold the papacy to his godfather, Giovanni Graziano, for 1,500 pounds of gold (the entire Peter's Pence collected from England that year). Graziano became Pope Gregory VI.

But Benedict wasn't done. After being driven out of Rome in 1044, returning in 1045, selling the office, he somehow managed to seize power again in 1047 when his successor died. German troops finally expelled him for good in 1048.

A Demon in Priest's Clothing?

Contemporary chroniclers absolutely despised Benedict IX. Historian Ferdinand Gregorovius wrote that in Benedict, "It seemed as if a demon from hell, in the disguise of a priest, occupied the chair of Peter."

His conduct was described as violent and licentious, provoking multiple Roman insurrections. He resigned three times, was deposed at least once, and turned the papacy into a commodity that could be bought and sold.

Whether he was 18 or 20 when elected, one thing is certain: youth and absolute power made for a catastrophic combination in medieval Rome. The youngest Pope became one of the most scandalous, proving that some jobs require more than just the right family connections—even in the 11th century.