GIOVANNI IX, POPE. — Born at Tivoli, elected in January 898, died at the beginning of 900. A Benedictine, he was elected by the Formosian party, perhaps with the support of the Emperor Lamberto and the Spoletans, in opposition to the future Sergio III; but he pursued a moderating policy.
He convened synods at Rome, at one of which the sentence pronounced against Formoso at the “Cadaver Synod” was annulled and the validity of his ordinations recognized; but the bishops who had condemned him were absolved after asking forgiveness, the prohibition against transfer from one episcopal see to another was confirmed under penalty of perpetual excommunication, and the regulations for the election of the pontiff were renewed: he was to be requested by the Senate and the people, elected by the bishops and the entire clergy, and consecrated in the presence of the imperial legates. Here the bishops’ right to judge cases relating to carnal sins was also asserted. The imperial coronation of Lamberto was recognized as valid, while that of Arnolfo was annulled as “barbaric” and per surreptionem extorta. The Pope also attended a Diet convened by Lamberto at Ravenna (October 898); he obtained from him confirmation of the imperial privileges in favor of the Roman See, an order to pay tithes to the churches, and a promise of assistance in suppressing the inicitiae coniurationes of the Roman subjects; the Emperor had the right of all Romans to appeal to him recognized. In closing the Diet, G. exhorted the bishops to care for their churches, to set a good example for their flock, and to order prayers for the public peace and the prosperity of the Empire. It thus seemed that Church and Empire were joining forces against the spreading anarchy; but Lamberto’s sudden death prevented the agreement from bearing fruit. G. IX also showed himself conciliatory in the matter of Fazio: he recognized the legitimacy of both Ignazio and Fazio and “extended his hand” to those who had been ordained by them. He sent bishops to make peace in Moravia, reaffirming the authority of the Holy See over the Slavic countries.