Pope Benedict VIII Begins Papacy

Date: May 18, 1012 • Location: Rome, Italy

Pope Benedict VIII begins his papacy following the death of his predecessor Pope Sergius IV earlier that month.

Pope Benedict VIII was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 18 May 1012 until 1024. He was born Theophylact of Tusculum to the noble family of the counts of Tusculum. Unusually for a medieval pope, he had strong authority both in Rome and abroad.