JOHN IX, Pope. - Born at Tivoli, elected in January 898, died in the early years of the 900s. A Benedictine, he was elected by the Formosian party, perhaps with the support of Emperor Lambert and the Spoletans, in opposition to the future Sergius III; but he displayed a moderating course of action.
He convoked synods at Rome, at one of which the sentence pronounced against Formosus in the "Cadaver Synod" was annulled and the validity of his ordinations was recognized; but the bishops who had condemned him were absolved, after they had asked forgiveness, the prohibition of transfer from one episcopal see to another was confirmed under penalty of perpetual excommunication, and the norms for the election of the pontiff were renewed: he was to be requested by the Senate and the people, elected by the bishops and by all the clergy, and consecrated in the presence of the imperial legates. Here too the right of bishops to judge cases concerning carnal sins was also vindicated. The imperial consecration of Lambert was recognized as valid, and that of Arnulf was annulled as "barbaric" and as having been extorted per surreptionem. The Pope also took part in a Diet convoked by Lambert at Ravenna (Oct. 898), obtained from him the confirmation of the imperial privileges in favor of the Roman See, the order to pay tithes to the churches, and the promise of help to repress the inicitiae coniurationes of the Roman subjects; the Emperor had the right of all Romans to appeal to him recognized. Closing the Diet, G. exhorted the bishops to take care of their churches, to give good examples to their flock, and to order prayers for the public peace and the prosperity of the Empire. It thus seemed that Church and Empire were drawing together against the spreading anarchy; but the sudden death of Lambert prevented the agreement from bearing fruit. Also in the question of Photius, G. IX showed himself conciliatory: he recognized the legitimacy of both Ignatius and Photius and "extended his hand" to those who had been ordained by them. He sent bishops to restore peace in Moravia, reaffirming the authority of the Holy See over the Slavic lands.