Which of the pontiffs was not very serious about celibacy, and why did the church turn a blind eye to it?

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Despite the vow of celibacy, which is the cornerstone of the Catholic priesthood, there have been many pontiffs throughout history who have not adhered to celibacy in general. Some of them had wives and even children. At the time, such behavior was unacceptable, and such moral and spiritual dishonesty was equated with blatant hypocrisy, fueling popular anger about deception within the Catholic Church.

1. Pope Alexander VI

Rodrigo de Borgia (Borja), aka Pope Alexander VI, brought the misconduct in the Catholic Church to an unprecedented level. Associated with the Spanish branch of the powerful Borgia ecclesiastical dynasty, he was made cardinal by his uncle and eventually became vice-chancellor of the Catholic Church, acquiring immense wealth by selling offices and indulgences to the wealthy.

He did not even pretend to be chaste, eventually recognizing four children from his noble Roman mistress Vanozza Catanea. He had five more children from other mistresses, children whom he called nieces or nephews.

His son Cesare will renounce the title of cardinal and marry a French aristocrat. It is also worth noting the fact that Alexander's daughter Lucrezia has been involved in various infamous affairs, including three marriages and incest.

2. Paul II

Paul II was a 15th-century pope who was involved in minor conflicts during his seven-year tenure. Celibacy may have been a problem as the mode and circumstances of his death are disputed. According to official figures, he died of heart failure after eating an excessive amount of cantaloupe.

Other reports, possibly from papal enemies, claim that Paul II passed away during an intimate act with a young boy. In addition, he liked to dress up in intricate attire, which also contributed to rumors of femininity and homosexuality, as well as his love affairs with men.

3. Pope Julius II

Born Giuliano della Rovere, Pope Julius II, became pope in 1503. Today, he is best known as the artistic patron of Michelangelo and other prominent Renaissance artists, and for the restoration of St. Peter's Basilica. He also ignored celibacy as a cardinal, having given birth to at least one daughter by his longtime mistress, whom he eventually married to his cousin's chamberlain.

Julius was tainted by another accusation at the end of his life - he was credited with communicating with men, including moths. The Council of Pisa in 1511 condemned him for this, referring to the shameful ulcers on his body, as if hinting at syphilis. History has not passed a verdict on this statement, so there is an opinion that Julius died of a fever in 1513.

4. Julius III

Giovanni Chocchi del Monte (later Julius III) was a pope who ruled for five years in the mid-sixteenth century. He is perhaps best known today for creating what has been described as one of the most notorious homosexual scandals in papal history. While still a cardinal, Julius became emotionally attracted to Innocenzo, a teenager, the illegitimate son of a beggar woman. After Julius met him on the street, he was placed in the house of the cardinal's brother, who adopted him and gave him his last name. One of the first actions of Julius III as pope was the appointment of Innocenzo as cardinal. But the young man was so incompetent in this matter that his father had to create a special office for him with zero responsibility. Because of this appointment, Julius was scoffed at in Rome and at various courts in Europe, and emissaries noted Innocenzo's rough origin and lack of sophistication.

Although church historians have tried to call this relationship strictly platonic, one ambassador nevertheless stated emphatically that Innocenzo shared a bedroom and a bed with the Pope.

After the death of Julius III in 1555, the influence of his lover began to wane. He was eventually imprisoned by the papal order after isolated incidents of murder and rape. Although he was still officially a cardinal when he died in 1577, his memorial was private and unattended. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the Del Monte family chapel in Rome.

5. Sixtus IV

Sixtus IV was another gay pope of the late 15th century who blatantly elevated young, attractive men to leadership positions in the Catholic Church. His favorite, nephew Pietro Riario (his sister's son), became a cardinal at the age of twenty. Sixtus indulged his dissolute relative, who literally wore golden robes, kept his own mistress, had several hundred servants, and threw parties filled with young boys and professional prostitutes that lasted until late at night. As a result, having accumulated a lot of debts, the young cardinal died three years after his appointment to the post.

It is rumored that Sixtus also received special permission to practice sodomy during the summer months. Despite the fact that the Sistine Chapel was subsidized by him, Sixtus was historically remembered for his adventures, amorous affairs, nepotism and intrigues.

6. Pope Benedict IX

By all accounts, Benedict IX was not only a bad pope, but also a bad man. A contemporary called him "a demon from hell in the guise of a priest." Even the Catholic Encyclopedia, which is often accused of smoothing out papal history, calls it "the disgrace of St. Peter's pulpit." One of the youngest popes ever elected, in 1032 he immediately began to spend the papal treasury in brothels and on debauchery, arranging group orgies in which men and animals participated.

His behavior was shocking, even by Roman standards: his first papacy ended when angry Romans revolted and exiled him briefly in 1036. He would exploit politics and be reinstated, only to be removed again in 1044. Benedict gathered an army and in 1047 conquered the papacy for the third time. Wisely considering his unpopularity, he decided to sell the papacy and marry. As a rule, he changed his mind over and over again, plunging the political situation into chaos.

In the end, he was forcibly expelled and excommunicated, after which he renounced his ways and went to a monastery in 1056. He is the only dad with three separate terms in office and the only dad to openly auction the position.

7. Pope John XII

Documented papal dissolute behavior dates back to the 10th century with John XII. Appointed by the pope at the age of eighteen on December 16, 955, John XII received this appointment through his father, the prince of Rome, who ruled the city for twenty years. John XII was most likely illegitimate, and because he was both the religious and secular leader of Rome, he ignored celibacy.

He allegedly entered into an intra-family relationship and, according to rumors, turned the Papal Palace into a brothel. It was rumored that he died at the hands of a jealous husband who caught John committing adultery with another man's wife.

8. Leo X

Julius II was succeeded by Leo X, the first Medici pope, the son of Lorenzo Medici, nicknamed "il Magnifico". Despite all the warnings and parting words of his father, it was not so easy to live in Rome, and unfortunately, Leo X continued the practice of collecting money, selling both indulgences and positions. He is also mentioned in two modern stories as having a routine relationship with male lovers, among other things, he is mentioned in modern history of homosexuals "who is who," thereby confirming his connection with men and a riotous lifestyle.

9. Pope Paul III

Alessandro Farnese (Pope Paul III) was a member of the wealthy and influential House of the Farnese, an Italian family during the Renaissance. His sister Julia was rumored to be the mistress of Pope Alexander VI. The result of this relationship was the appointment of Farnese as cardinal in his youth.

In his youth, Alessandro did not pay attention to the vows of celibacy, openly having five children from a mistress named Sylvia Ruffini. All these children will be recognized by his descendants and will occupy high noble posts in Italian society, especially his son Pier Luigi Farnese, first Duke of Parma.

Although his children would be officially recognized in 1513, Farnese broke off relations with his mistress when he ascended the papacy in 1534. As Pope, he is best known for excommunicating Henry VIII and entrusting numerous projects to Michelangelo.

10. Pope Leo XII

Born Annibale della Jenga, Leo XII was one of the most conservative and unpopular popes of the 19th century. During his six years of reign, starting in 1823, he enacted many laws and regulations, including prohibiting Jews from owning personal property, banning alcohol in Rome, and renewing rules unseen since the Middle Ages. He was elected pope despite his poor health. In fact, he was a compromise candidate who, according to most, would not live long.

Appointed by Pius VI in 1794 as papal nuncio to France, Austria and several German states, he is believed to have conceived three illegitimate children in an affair with the wife of a Swiss guard. The belief that this would be his last appointment in the church seems to have given him a fatalistic attitude towards his holy duties. He lived for another three decades after his appointment, suffering from health, and eventually died in 1829.

It's not a secret for anyone that the church from time immemorial made the most important decisions and issued a kind of orders, which sometimes violated the framework and norms of morality / law. However, the actions of the Catholic Church are a great example of this … Indeed, with her light hand, the minions of the clergy administered "justice", arranging public executions, torture and witch hunts.