Who he was
John Gratian, Archpriest of St John at the Latin Gate in Rome, was a priest respected for his upright life and was godfather to Benedict IX. When Benedict offered to give up the papacy for money, Gratian paid in good faith to free the Church of an unworthy pope, and he was recognised as pope on 1 May 1045. His chaplain was the young Hildebrand, the future St Gregory VII.
What he is remembered for
With rival claimants in the city and an empty treasury he could not restore order, and King Henry III came to Italy. At the Council of Sutri in December 1046 he was persuaded that the way he had obtained the office was simoniacal, and he laid it down. Taken to Germany, he died there soon after, probably at Cologne; Hildebrand later took the name Gregory in his honour.
Sources
All popes · Home · All saints