Pope Leo VIII
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:02:42 AM Wikipedia source
Pope Leo VIII (c. 915 – 1 March 965) was a Roman prelate who claimed the Holy See from 963 until 964 in opposition to John XII and Benedict V and again from 23 June 964 to his death. Today, he is considered by the Catholic Church to have been an antipope during the first period and the legitimate pope during the second. An appointee of Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, Leo VIII's pontificate occurred after the period known as the saeculum obscurum.
Infobox
Church
Catholic Church
Papacy began
6 December 963 (as antipope); 23 June 964 (as pope)
Papacy ended
26 February 964 (as antipope); 1 March 965 (as pope)
Predecessor
Benedict V
Successor
John XIII
Born
Leoc. 915Rome, Papal States
Died
1 March 965 (aged c. 50)Rome, Papal States
Parents
John
Tables
· External links
Preceded byJohn XII
Preceded byJohn XII
Catholic Church titles
Preceded byJohn XII
Catholic Church titles
Pope 964–965
Catholic Church titles
Succeeded byBenedict V
| Catholic Church titles | ||
| Preceded byJohn XII | Pope 964–965 | Succeeded byBenedict V |
References
- Mann, pgs. 255 & 280
- Mann, pgs. 255–256
- Mann, pgs. 260 & 280
- Mann, pgs. 260–261
- Gregorovius, pg. 348
- Gregorovius, pg. 349
- Mann, pg. 262
- Gregorovius, pgs. 350–351
- Gregorovius, pg. 354
- Mann, pgs. 275-276
- Mann, pg. 276
- McBrien, pg. 159
- Mann, pg. 281; Gregorovius, pg. 356
- Annuario Pontificio, 2001
- Mann, pg. 280