The Historical Reality of Married Popes Before the universal enforcement of clerical celibacy, the priesthood and higher offices were often occupied by married men. Pope Reign Marital Status Details Adrian II 867–872 Married before election; wife lived outside the Vatican.
Eighth and Ninth Centuries: The Era of Married Popes
Pope Adrian II, who served from 867 to 872, is perhaps the most well-documented case. As these reforms took hold, the presence of a married pope became theologically and politically inconvenient.
The last pope to be officially recorded as having been married while serving as pope was likely Clement Clement, though historical debate exists regarding the exact timeline of when the final married pope served. John XVIII 1003–1009 Served after his father, a married priest, indicating a familial precedent.
Eighth and Ninth Centuries: When Popes Were Married
For much of the Church's first millennium, it was not only possible for a bishop of Rome to be married, but it was also relatively common for those serving in high ecclesiastical offices to be married men. Similarly, Pope John XVII, who reigned for only a few months in 1003, was reportedly the son of a priest who was himself married.
More About Were any popes married
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