| John XIII | |
|---|---|
| Papacy began | 1 October 965 |
| Papacy ended | 6 September 972 |
| Predecessor | Leo VIII |
| Successor | Benedict VI |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Giovanni Crescenzi |
| Born | ??? Rome, Italy |
| Died | 6 September 972 Rome, Italy |
| Other Popes named John | |
Pope John XIII of the Crescenzi family (died 6 September 972) served as Pope from 1 October 965 until his death.
Born in Rome, he spent his career in the papal court. He was the brother of Crescenzio II, patricius romanorum, and Stefania, lady of Palestrina.
After a period as bishop of Narni, he was elected Pope John XIII five months after the death of Pope Leo VIII as a compromise candidate with the agreement of Emperor Otto I (936–973).[1] John XIII's behaviour and foreign backing made him disliked in Rome. There was a revolt that resulted in his temporary banishment in December 965, but he returned to Rome in November 966.
After John XIII's restoration, he worked with the Emperor on ecclesiastical improvements, including the creation of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg.[2]
On Christmas 967, John XIII crowned Otto I's son Otto II as co-Emperor.[3] Otto II afterwards married the niece of the Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimisces, princess Theophanu, as part of the ongoing attempt to reconcile Eastern and Western Churches. John XIII created new Latin archbishoprics in southern Italy, thus reducing the influence of the Byzantine Empire and Eastern Orthodox Church there.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Leo VIII |
Pope 965–972 |
Succeeded by Benedict VI |