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List of sexually active popes

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of sexually active popes

This is a list of sexually active popes, Catholic priests who were not celibate before they became pope, and those who were legally married before becoming pope. Some candidates were allegedly sexually active before their election as pope, and others were thought to have been sexually active during their papacies. A number of them had children. There are various classifications for those who were sexually active during their lives. Allegations of sexual activities are of varying levels of reliability, with contemporary political or religious opponents having made several. Some claims are generally accepted by modern historians, while other remain more contested.

Tables

· Popes who were legally married
Felix III
Felix III
Name → Saint Peter
Felix III
Reign(s) → 30/33–64/68
483–492
Relationship → Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Widowed before his election as pope
Offspring → Yes
Yes
Notes → Later legends, dating from the 6th century onwards, suggested that Peter had a daughter – identified as Saint Petronilla. This connection is likely to be a result of the similarity of their names.
Himself the son of a priest, Felix fathered two children, one of whom was subsequently the mother of Pope Gregory I, making the latter his grandson.
Hormisdas
Hormisdas
Name → Saint Peter
Hormisdas
Reign(s) → 30/33–64/68
514–523
Relationship → Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Widowed before he took holy orders
Offspring → Yes
Yes
Notes → Later legends, dating from the 6th century onwards, suggested that Peter had a daughter – identified as Saint Petronilla. This connection is likely to be a result of the similarity of their names.
Father of Pope Silverius
Adrian II
Adrian II
Name → Saint Peter
Adrian II
Reign(s) → 30/33–64/68
867–872
Relationship → Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Married to Stephania before he took holy orders, she was still living when he was elected pope and resided with him in the Lateran Palace.
Offspring → Yes
Yes (a daughter)
Notes → Later legends, dating from the 6th century onwards, suggested that Peter had a daughter – identified as Saint Petronilla. This connection is likely to be a result of the similarity of their names.
His wife and daughter both resided with him until they were murdered by Eleutherius, brother of Anastasius Bibliothecarius, the Church's chief librarian.
John XVII
John XVII
Name → Saint Peter
John XVII
Reign(s) → 30/33–64/68
1003
Relationship → Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Married before his election as pope
Offspring → Yes
Yes (three sons)
Notes → Later legends, dating from the 6th century onwards, suggested that Peter had a daughter – identified as Saint Petronilla. This connection is likely to be a result of the similarity of their names.
All of his children became priests
Clement IV
Clement IV
Name → Saint Peter
Clement IV
Reign(s) → 30/33–64/68
1265–1268
Relationship → Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Widowed before taking holy orders
Offspring → Yes
Yes (two daughters)
Notes → Later legends, dating from the 6th century onwards, suggested that Peter had a daughter – identified as Saint Petronilla. This connection is likely to be a result of the similarity of their names.
Both children entered a convent
Honorius IV
Honorius IV
Name → Saint Peter
Honorius IV
Reign(s) → 30/33–64/68
1285–1287
Relationship → Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Widowed before entering the clergy
Offspring → Yes
Yes (at least two sons)
Name
Reign(s)
Relationship
Offspring
Notes
Saint Peter
30/33–64/68
Mother-in-law (Greek πενθερά, penthera) is mentioned in the Gospel verses Matthew 8:14–15, Luke 4:38, Mark 1:29–31, and who was healed by Jesus at her home in Capernaum. 1 Cor. 9:5 asks whether others have the right to be accompanied by Christian wives as does "Cephas" (Peter). Clement of Alexandria wrote: "When the blessed Peter saw his own wife l
Yes
Later legends, dating from the 6th century onwards, suggested that Peter had a daughter – identified as Saint Petronilla. This connection is likely to be a result of the similarity of their names.
Felix III
483–492
Widowed before his election as pope
Yes
Himself the son of a priest, Felix fathered two children, one of whom was subsequently the mother of Pope Gregory I, making the latter his grandson.
Hormisdas
514–523
Widowed before he took holy orders
Yes
Father of Pope Silverius
Adrian II
867–872
Married to Stephania before he took holy orders, she was still living when he was elected pope and resided with him in the Lateran Palace.
Yes (a daughter)
His wife and daughter both resided with him until they were murdered by Eleutherius, brother of Anastasius Bibliothecarius, the Church's chief librarian.
John XVII
1003
Married before his election as pope
Yes (three sons)
All of his children became priests
Clement IV
1265–1268
Widowed before taking holy orders
Yes (two daughters)
Both children entered a convent
Honorius IV
1285–1287
Widowed before entering the clergy
Yes (at least two sons)
· Fathered illegitimate children before holy orders
Innocent VIII
Innocent VIII
Name → Pius II
Innocent VIII
Reign → 1458–1464
1484–1492
Relationship → Not married
Not married
Offspring → Yes (at least two)
Yes (two)
Notes → Two children, both born before he formally entered the clergy. The first child, fathered while in Scotland, died in infancy. A second child fathered while in Strasbourg with a Breton woman named Elizabeth died 14 months later. He delayed becoming a cleric because of the requirement of chastity.
Both born before he entered the clergy. Married elder son Franceschetto Cybo to the daughter of Lorenzo de' Medici, who in return obtained the cardinal's hat for his 13-year-old son Giovanni, who became Pope Leo X. His daughter Teodorina Cybo married Gerardo Usodimare.
Clement VII
1523
1523–1534
Clement VII
Name → Pius II
Clement VII
Reign → 1458–1464
1523–1534
Relationship → Not married
Not married. Relationship with a servant or slave girl – possibly Simonetta da Collevecchio
Offspring → Yes (at least two)
Yes (one)
Notes → Two children, both born before he formally entered the clergy. The first child, fathered while in Scotland, died in infancy. A second child fathered while in Strasbourg with a Breton woman named Elizabeth died 14 months later. He delayed becoming a cleric because of the requirement of chastity.
Identified as Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence
Name
Reign
Relationship
Offspring
Notes
Pius II
1458–1464
Not married
Yes (at least two)
Two children, both born before he formally entered the clergy. The first child, fathered while in Scotland, died in infancy. A second child fathered while in Strasbourg with a Breton woman named Elizabeth died 14 months later. He delayed becoming a cleric because of the requirement of chastity.
Innocent VIII
1484–1492
Not married
Yes (two)
Both born before he entered the clergy. Married elder son Franceschetto Cybo to the daughter of Lorenzo de' Medici, who in return obtained the cardinal's hat for his 13-year-old son Giovanni, who became Pope Leo X. His daughter Teodorina Cybo married Gerardo Usodimare.
Clement VII
1523–1534
Not married. Relationship with a servant or slave girl – possibly Simonetta da Collevecchio
Yes (one)
Identified as Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence
· Known to or suspected of having fathered illegitimate children after receiving holy orders
Paul III
1534
1534–1549
Paul III
Name → Julius II
Paul III
Reign → 1503–1513
1534–1549
Relationship → Not married
Not married. Silvia Ruffini as mistress
Offspring → Yes (three daughters)
Yes (three sons and one daughter)
Notes → Three illegitimate daughters, one of whom was Felice della Rovere (born in 1483, twenty years before his election as pope, and twelve years after his enthronement as bishop of Lausanne). The schismatic Conciliabulum of Pisa, which sought to depose him in 1511, also accused him of being a "sodomite".
Held off ordination in order to continue his lifestyle, fathering four illegitimate children (three sons and one daughter) by Silvia Ruffini after his appointment as cardinal-deacon of Santi Cosimo and Damiano. He broke his relations with her ca. 1513. He made his illegitimate son Pier Luigi Farnese the first duke of Parma.
Pius IV
1559
1559–1565
Pius IV
Name → Julius II
Pius IV
Reign → 1503–1513
1559–1565
Relationship → Not married
Not married
Offspring → Yes (three daughters)
Allegedly three
Notes → Three illegitimate daughters, one of whom was Felice della Rovere (born in 1483, twenty years before his election as pope, and twelve years after his enthronement as bishop of Lausanne). The schismatic Conciliabulum of Pisa, which sought to depose him in 1511, also accused him of being a "sodomite".
One was a son born in 1541 or 1542. He also had two daughters.
Gregory XIII
1572
1572–1585
Gregory XIII
Name → Julius II
Gregory XIII
Reign → 1503–1513
1572–1585
Relationship → Not married
Not married. Affair with Maddalena Fulchini
Offspring → Yes (three daughters)
Yes
Notes → Three illegitimate daughters, one of whom was Felice della Rovere (born in 1483, twenty years before his election as pope, and twelve years after his enthronement as bishop of Lausanne). The schismatic Conciliabulum of Pisa, which sought to depose him in 1511, also accused him of being a "sodomite".
Received the ecclesiastical tonsure in Bologna in June 1539, and subsequently had an affair that resulted in the birth of Giacomo Boncompagni in 1548. Giacomo remained illegitimate, with Gregory later appointing him Gonfalonier of the Church, governor of the Castel Sant'Angelo and Fermo.
Leo XII
1823
1823–1829
Leo XII
Name → Julius II
Leo XII
Reign → 1503–1513
1823–1829
Relationship → Not married
Not married
Offspring → Yes (three daughters)
Allegedly three
Notes → Three illegitimate daughters, one of whom was Felice della Rovere (born in 1483, twenty years before his election as pope, and twelve years after his enthronement as bishop of Lausanne). The schismatic Conciliabulum of Pisa, which sought to depose him in 1511, also accused him of being a "sodomite".
As a young prelate, he came under suspicion of having a liaison with the wife of a Swiss Guard soldier and, as nuncio in Germany, allegedly fathered three illegitimate children.
Name
Reign
Relationship
Offspring
Notes
Julius II
1503–1513
Not married
Yes (three daughters)
Three illegitimate daughters, one of whom was Felice della Rovere (born in 1483, twenty years before his election as pope, and twelve years after his enthronement as bishop of Lausanne). The schismatic Conciliabulum of Pisa, which sought to depose him in 1511, also accused him of being a "sodomite".
Paul III
1534–1549
Not married. Silvia Ruffini as mistress
Yes (three sons and one daughter)
Held off ordination in order to continue his lifestyle, fathering four illegitimate children (three sons and one daughter) by Silvia Ruffini after his appointment as cardinal-deacon of Santi Cosimo and Damiano. He broke his relations with her ca. 1513. He made his illegitimate son Pier Luigi Farnese the first duke of Parma.
Pius IV
1559–1565
Not married
Allegedly three
One was a son born in 1541 or 1542. He also had two daughters.
Gregory XIII
1572–1585
Not married. Affair with Maddalena Fulchini
Yes
Received the ecclesiastical tonsure in Bologna in June 1539, and subsequently had an affair that resulted in the birth of Giacomo Boncompagni in 1548. Giacomo remained illegitimate, with Gregory later appointing him Gonfalonier of the Church, governor of the Castel Sant'Angelo and Fermo.
Leo XII
1823–1829
Not married
Allegedly three
As a young prelate, he came under suspicion of having a liaison with the wife of a Swiss Guard soldier and, as nuncio in Germany, allegedly fathered three illegitimate children.
· Popes alleged to be sexually active during pontificate › Relationships with women
Sergius III
Sergius III
Name
Sergius III
Reign
904–911
Relationship
Not married
Offspring
Yes (at least one)
Notes
Accused of being the illegitimate father of Pope John XI by Marozia, the fifteen-year-old daughter of Theodora and Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum. Such accusations lay in Liutprand of Cremona's Antapodosis and the Liber Pontificalis. The accusations have discrepancies with another early source, the annalist Flodoard (c. 894–966): John XI was the
John X
John X
Name
John X
Reign
914–928
Relationship
Not married. Affairs with Theodora and Marozia
Offspring
No
Notes
Had romantic affairs with both Theodora and her daughter Marozia, according to Liutprand of Cremona in his Antapodosis. However, Monsignor Johann Peter Kirsch (ecclesiastical historian and Catholic priest) wrote, "This statement is, however, generally and rightly rejected as a calumny. Liutprand wrote his history some fifty years later, and constan
John XII
John XII
Name
John XII
Reign
955–964
Relationship
Not married
Offspring
No
Notes
Accused by adversaries of adultery and incest. Benedict of Soracte noted that he had "a collection of women". According to Liutprand of Cremona, "they testified about his adultery, which they did not see with their own eyes, but nonetheless knew with certainty: he had fornicated with the widow of Rainier, with Stephana his father's concubine, with
Alexander VI
Alexander VI
Name
Alexander VI
Reign
1492–1503
Relationship
Not married. Relationships with Vanozza dei Catanei and Giulia Farnese
Offspring
Yes
Notes
Had a long affair with Vannozza dei Cattanei while still a priest, and before he became pope; and by her had his illegitimate children Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, Gioffre Borgia, and Lucrezia. A later mistress, Giulia Farnese, was the sister of Alessandro Farnese, giving birth to a daughter Laura while Alexander was in his 60s and reigning as p
Name
Reign
Relationship
Offspring
Notes
Sergius III
904–911
Not married
Yes (at least one)
Accused of being the illegitimate father of Pope John XI by Marozia, the fifteen-year-old daughter of Theodora and Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum. Such accusations lay in Liutprand of Cremona's Antapodosis and the Liber Pontificalis. The accusations have discrepancies with another early source, the annalist Flodoard (c. 894–966): John XI was the
John X
914–928
Not married. Affairs with Theodora and Marozia
No
Had romantic affairs with both Theodora and her daughter Marozia, according to Liutprand of Cremona in his Antapodosis. However, Monsignor Johann Peter Kirsch (ecclesiastical historian and Catholic priest) wrote, "This statement is, however, generally and rightly rejected as a calumny. Liutprand wrote his history some fifty years later, and constan
John XII
955–964
Not married
No
Accused by adversaries of adultery and incest. Benedict of Soracte noted that he had "a collection of women". According to Liutprand of Cremona, "they testified about his adultery, which they did not see with their own eyes, but nonetheless knew with certainty: he had fornicated with the widow of Rainier, with Stephana his father's concubine, with
Alexander VI
1492–1503
Not married. Relationships with Vanozza dei Catanei and Giulia Farnese
Yes
Had a long affair with Vannozza dei Cattanei while still a priest, and before he became pope; and by her had his illegitimate children Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, Gioffre Borgia, and Lucrezia. A later mistress, Giulia Farnese, was the sister of Alessandro Farnese, giving birth to a daughter Laura while Alexander was in his 60s and reigning as p
· Popes alleged to be sexually active during pontificate › Relationships with men
Sixtus IV
Sixtus IV
Name → Paul II
Sixtus IV
Reign → 1464–1471
1471–1484
Relationship → Not married. Alleged affair with a page
Not married
Notes → Thought to have died of indigestion arising from eating melon, though his opponents alleged he died while being sodomized by a page.
According to Stefano Infessura, Sixtus was a "lover of boys and sodomites" – awarding benefices and bishoprics in return for sexual favours, and nominating a number of young men as cardinals, some of whom were celebrated for their good looks. Infessura had partisan allegiances to the Colonna family and so is not considered to be always reliable or
Leo X
1513
1513–1521
Leo X
Name → Paul II
Leo X
Reign → 1464–1471
1513–1521
Relationship → Not married. Alleged affair with a page
Not married
Notes → Thought to have died of indigestion arising from eating melon, though his opponents alleged he died while being sodomized by a page.
Posthumously accused of homosexuality (by Francesco Guicciardini and Paolo Giovio). Falconi suggests he may have offered preferment to Marcantonio Flaminio because he was attracted to him. Historians have dealt with the issue of Leo's sexuality at least since the late 18th century, and few have given credence to the imputations made against him in
Julius III
1550
1550–1555
Julius III
Name → Paul II
Julius III
Reign → 1464–1471
1550–1555
Relationship → Not married. Alleged affair with a page
Not married. Alleged affair with ennobled cardinal
Notes → Thought to have died of indigestion arising from eating melon, though his opponents alleged he died while being sodomized by a page.
Accusations of his homosexuality spread across Europe during his reign due to the favouritism shown to Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte, who rose from beggar to cardinal under Julius' patronage.
Paul VI
1963
1963–1978
Paul VI
Name → Paul II
Paul VI
Reign → 1464–1471
1963–1978
Relationship → Not married. Alleged affair with a page
Not married. Alleged affair with Italian actor Paolo Carlini
Notes → Thought to have died of indigestion arising from eating melon, though his opponents alleged he died while being sodomized by a page.
In 1976, Paul VI became the first modern pope to publicly deny allegations of homosexuality, which had been raised by Roger Peyrefitte. The allegations have resurfaced periodically since and have been deemed credible by some sources.
Name
Reign
Relationship
Notes
Paul II
1464–1471
Not married. Alleged affair with a page
Thought to have died of indigestion arising from eating melon, though his opponents alleged he died while being sodomized by a page.
Sixtus IV
1471–1484
Not married
According to Stefano Infessura, Sixtus was a "lover of boys and sodomites" – awarding benefices and bishoprics in return for sexual favours, and nominating a number of young men as cardinals, some of whom were celebrated for their good looks. Infessura had partisan allegiances to the Colonna family and so is not considered to be always reliable or
Leo X
1513–1521
Not married
Posthumously accused of homosexuality (by Francesco Guicciardini and Paolo Giovio). Falconi suggests he may have offered preferment to Marcantonio Flaminio because he was attracted to him. Historians have dealt with the issue of Leo's sexuality at least since the late 18th century, and few have given credence to the imputations made against him in
Julius III
1550–1555
Not married. Alleged affair with ennobled cardinal
Accusations of his homosexuality spread across Europe during his reign due to the favouritism shown to Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte, who rose from beggar to cardinal under Julius' patronage.
Paul VI
1963–1978
Not married. Alleged affair with Italian actor Paolo Carlini
In 1976, Paul VI became the first modern pope to publicly deny allegations of homosexuality, which had been raised by Roger Peyrefitte. The allegations have resurfaced periodically since and have been deemed credible by some sources.

References

  1. This allegation is disputed by some modern historians.
  2. Mark 1:29–31
    https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Mark%201:29–31&version=nrsv
  3. Matthew 8:14–15
    https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew%208:14–15&version=nrsv
  4. Luke 4:38–39
    https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Luke%204:38–39&version=nrsv
  5. 1 Timothy 3:2–12
    https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=1%20Timothy%203:2–12&version=nrsv
  6. Titus 1:6
    https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Titus%201:6&version=nrsv
  7. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Celibacy_of_the_Clergy
  8. Cited by Eusebius, Church History, III, 30. Full text at Clement of Alexandria, Stromata VII, 11
    http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm
  9. Newadvent
    http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm
  10. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/St._Petronilla
  11. "St. Peter's – Altar of St Petronilla"
    http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Altars/StPetronilla/StPetronilla.htm
  12. R . Markus, Gregory the Great and his world (Cambridge: University Press, 1997), p
  13. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_St._Hormisdas
  14. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_Adrian_II
  15. Księga Papieży
  16. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_John_XVII_(XVIII)
  17. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_Clement_IV
  18. "The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: Cardinal Giacomo Savelli"
    https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1261.htm
  19. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_Pius_II
  20. Catholic Encyclopedia
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Pope_Innocent_VIII
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