DAMASO II, PAPA

DAMASUS II, Pope. — At the death of Clement II on 9 Oct. 1047, Benedict IX returned to Rome and succeeded in reoccupying the Apostolic See with the help of Boniface, Margrave of Tuscany. This, however, displeased the Romans, who sent an embassy to Emperor Henry III to request a new pope. The emperor chose Poppo, bishop of Brixen, and entrusted Margrave Boniface with escorting him to Rome. But since the latter refused, Poppo returned to Henry III, who, determined to be obeyed, sent him back to Italy with a threatening letter for the Margrave of Tuscany. Boniface finally yielded: his troops drove Benedict IX out of Rome, where the new pope was recognized on 17 July 1048 under the name of D. II. He died twenty-three days later at Palestrina on 9 Aug. 1048 and was buried in St. Lawrence outside the Walls.