GIOVANNI IX, POPE. — Born at Tivoli, elected in January 898, died in early 900. A Benedictine, he was elected by the Formosan party, perhaps with the support of Emperor Lambert and the Spoletans, in opposition to the future Sergius III; yet he pursued a moderate course.
He convened synods in Rome, at one of which the sentence pronounced against Formosus in the “Cadaver Synod” was annulled and the validity of his ordinations was acknowledged; yet those bishops who had condemned Formosus were absolved after they had sought pardon, the prohibition of translation from one see to another was confirmed under penalty of perpetual excommunication, and new norms were laid down for the election of the pope, who was to be requested by the Senate and the people, elected by the bishops and the entire clergy, and consecrated in the presence of imperial legates. It was here
also that the right of bishops to judge causes relating to sins reserved to them was vindicated. The imperial consecration of Lambert was upheld as valid, while that of Arnulf was annulled as “barbaric” and extorted by surreptitious means. The Pope also attended a Diet convened by Lambert at Ravenna (October 7–8), from which he obtained confirmation of imperial privileges in favor of the Roman See, an order for the payment of tithes to the churches, and a promise of aid to suppress the covert conspiracies of the Roman populace; the Emperor secured recognition of the right of all Romans to appeal to him. At the close of the Diet, John exhorted the bishops to care for their churches, to set good examples to their flocks, and to appoint prayers for the public peace and the prosperity of the Empire. Thus Church and Empire seemed to unite against the spreading anarchy; but the sudden death of Lambert prevented the agreement from bearing fruit. In the matter of Fatius, too, John IX showed himself conciliatory: he acknowledged the legitimacy of both Ignatius and Fatius and “held out his hand” to those ordained by them. He sent bishops to restore peace in Moravia, reaffirming the authority of the Holy See over the Slavic lands.