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The death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 has renewed interest in the documentary series Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History. One episode shines a light on one of the most controversial figures in papal history — Benedict IX.
Following Pope Francis' passing on Monday, streaming platforms have resurfaced content related to the history of the papacy. Among the highlighted titles is the CNN-produced 2018 documentary series, Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History, narrated by Liam Neeson. The six-episode series traces the origins of the papacy, examining how the teachings of 12 apostles evolved into a faith followed by approximately 1.2 billion Catholics today.
In its second episode, the series explores the rare resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, a move that paved the way for the election of Pope Francis. Father James M. Weiss, a theology professor at Boston University and Episcopal priest, describes how the Argentine pontiff inherited a "financial chaos, the chaos of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, and administrative chaos" from his predecessor.
The documentary connects Benedict XVI’s resignation with an even more turbulent chapter in Church history: the scandalous reign of Benedict IX. His corrupt leadership would eventually spur the creation of the conclave and the now-iconic ritual of the white smoke signaling a new pope.
Benedict IX, a medieval “nepobaby,” served as pope three separate times during the 11th century. A nephew to multiple popes and a member of one of Rome’s most powerful families, he reportedly bought his way into the papacy at a young age, ascending to the office in 1032 while still a teenager.
“At that time, the papacy was the legal center of the Western world,” Father Weiss notes in the series. Benedict IX’s papacy quickly became notorious for crime, corruption, and scandal, severely damaging the Church’s reputation. In a bid to restore order, the Catholic cardinals offered him a massive bribe — estimated by historians at around 1,500 pounds of gold — to resign.
Sylvester III was elected as his successor, but his tenure lasted only six months. Benedict IX, leveraging a private army funded by his influential family, forcibly reclaimed the papacy. Yet only days after regaining power, he abdicated again, allegedly seeking to marry his cousin. He handpicked his godfather, Gregory VI, as the next pope. The marriage, however, never took place, and Benedict IX once again asserted his claim to the papal throne.
As historian Susan Wise Bauer recounts, this power struggle resulted in three individuals simultaneously claiming to be the rightful pope. The ensuing conflict, resolved once again by military force, underscored the urgent need for a clear and structured papal election process.
It was during this chaotic period that Church leaders took the first steps toward creating what we now know as the conclave. Though early attempts at formal elections were still marred by manipulation, it was not until the 13th century, under Pope Gregory X, that strict conclave rules were established. Cardinals were locked together "cum clavis" (Latin for "with a key") without outside contact until they elected a new pope.
Both the CNN documentary and the film Conclave illustrate the evolution of this process. Today, papal elections require a candidate to secure two-thirds of the cardinals' votes. If no consensus is reached, ballots are burned with a chemical that produces black smoke. White smoke signals the successful election of a new pope.
Since the time of John Paul II, voting cardinals have been housed at the Santa Marta residence within Vatican City during the conclave to ensure confidentiality and seclusion.
The scandalous reign of Benedict IX may have been a dark chapter in Church history, but it ultimately forced reforms that continue to define one of the world’s oldest and most sacred institutions.
Source: EL PAIS
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