MARINO II, POPE. — Also designated by the name Martino III. At the death of Stefano VIII, in October 942, Alberico II designated the Roman priest M. II, who was closely attached and obedient to him, to succeed him.
Nevertheless, M. also showed great zeal for ecclesiastical life, especially in Rome, through works of charity for the poor, the restoration of basilicas, and efforts toward the reform of clerics and monks. A letter from his successor Agapito II states that he invested the archbishop of Mainz with the title of apostolic vicar of Germany and Gaul, thus renewing an institution in force at the time of s. Bonifacio. M. died in 946.
BIBL.: J. M. Watterich, Pontificum Romanorum vitae, I, Lipsia 1862, pp. 34, 671 ff.; Lib. Pont., II, Parigi 1892, p. 945; Jaffé-Wattenbach, 3631; A. Fliche-V. Martin, Hist. de l'Eglise, VII, Parigi 1948, p. 41. Alberto Ghinato