Pope from
25 December 1003
Pope until
June 1009
Died
June 1009
Who he was
Phasianus, the son of a Roman priest named Leo, was consecrated pope at Christmas 1003, again through the influence of John Crescentius. The records of his reign of more than five years deal almost entirely with Church business. Older lists sometimes number him John XIX.
What he is remembered for
He approved the new diocese of Bamberg founded by King Henry II in 1007, restored the see of Merseburg, and gave the pallium to Archbishop Ælfheah (Alphege) of Canterbury. He was recognised as Bishop of Rome in Constantinople, and one early list of popes says he ended his days as a monk at St Paul's outside the Walls.
Sources
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