Damasus II, Pope

DAMASO II, POPE. - At the death of Clemente II, on 9 October 1047, Benedetto IX returned to Rome and succeeded in reoccupying the Apostolic See with the help of Marquis Bonifacio di Toscana. This, however, displeased the Romans, who sent an embassy to Emperor Enrico III to ask him for a new pope. The emperor chose Poppone, bishop of Bressanone, and entrusted Marquis Bonifacio with accompanying him to Rome. But when the latter refused, Poppone returned to Enrico III, who, determined to be obeyed, sent him back to Italy with a threatening letter for the Marquis of Tuscany. The latter finally obeyed: his troops drove Benedetto IX out of Rome, where the new Pope was recognized on 17 July 1048 under the name of D. II. He died 23 days later at Palestrina, on 9 August 1048, and was buried in S. Lorenzo fuori le mura.