Pope John XIII
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Pope John XIII |
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| Papacy began | 1 October 965 |
| Papacy ended | 6 September 972 |
| Predecessor | Leo VIII |
| Successor | Benedict VI |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Giovanni Crescentius |
| Born | c. 930/935 Rome, Papal States |
| Died | 6 September 972 Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire |
Pope John XIII (Latin: Ioannes XIII; c. 930/935 – 6 September 972) was Pope from 1 October 965 to his death in 972. His pontificate was caught up in the continuing conflict between the Emperor, Otto I, and the Roman nobility.
Born in Rome, probably sometime during the 930s, John was the son of Giovanni, who was a bishop. It has been conjectured that his father was the Roman noble Giovanni Crescentius, a member of the Crescentii family who had married into the family of Theophylact I, Count of Tusculum. If so, his father had previously been a duke, and possibly even appointed consul, prior to his ordination as bishop. Consequently, John was probably the brother of Crescentius the Elder (the patricius romanorum), as well as Stephania, lady of Palestrina (who married Count Benedict, Rector of the Sabina) and Marozia, who married Gregory I, Count of Tusculum.
Brought up at the Lateran palace, he was a member of the schola cantorum, and his career during that time saw him pass through a number of positions, including that of Ostiarius, Reader, Exorcist and Acolyte before reaching the ranks of Subdeacon and then Deacon. After leaving the schola, he took an active part in papal administration, serving in the Chancery of Apostolic Briefs under popes John XII and Leo VIII. He also served as Librarian of the Holy Apostolic See in 961. At some point he was appointed as the bishop of Narni, as which he participated in the Synod of Rome (963) which deposed Pope John XII, as well as the Synod of Rome (964) which saw his restoration.
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