GIOVANNI XII, PAPA. – A Roman, elected on 16 December 955, died on 14 May 964. Ottaviano, son of Alberico, had been designated, while still very young, at his father’s behest by the clergy and people of Rome to succeed Agapito II, who was still alive. When Alberico died (954), he inherited his civil power; when the Pope died, changing his name in a further new precedent, he also gathered religious power into his hands. But he appeared more a great worldly lord than a pontiff. Nor did he display political wisdom. In alliance with the duke of Spoleto, he attempted an unsuccessful expedition against Benevento and Capua. Suspicious of the interference
According to the text now extant, probably altered, the Emperor confirmed, at least formally, the donations of Pipino and Carlomagno, which included a large part of Italy; but the Romans were to swear not to permit the pontiff to be consecrated before he had sworn an oath of fidelity to the emperor. Liutprando even asserts that the Pope and the Romans promised that not even the election would take place without imperial consent.
After the Emperor had returned to northern Italy, G. opened negotiations with Adalberto and, it was said, with the Byzantine Emperor and the Hungarians. Ottone then returned to Rome, from which the Pontiff had fled, and convened a synod (6 November 963), over which he presided. G., charged with incredible accusations and summoned to clear himself, threatened excommunication, but was deposed (4 December) and replaced by a layman, Leone VIII, who confirmed the promise made by the Romans not to elect a pope without consent, or perhaps without imperial designation. But once the Emperor had departed, G. emerged from his retreat in Campania, returned to Rome, took harsh revenge on his adversaries, and had the acts of the imperial synod annulled by a new synod (February 964). He died suddenly, while Ottone was preparing to march on Rome.
It should be noted that, even in this sad pontificate, there was a vigorous affirmation of pontifical authority and office: in a bull from the first months of G. XII, it is said that the Pope, «totius christianitatis post Dominum caput», desires «ut Ecclesia omnibus et cuncto christiano populo pax et honor unicuique proprius maneat».