Editing Pope Agapetus II (section)

==Pontificate==
He was elected [[pope]] on 10 May 946 after the death of [[Marinus II]]. The existence of an independent republic of Rome, ruled by [[Alberic II of Spoleto]], meant that Agapetus was prevented from exercising any temporal or secular power in Rome and the [[Papal States]]. The struggle between [[Berengar II]] and [[Otto I]] for the [[Kingdom of Italy (medieval)|Kingdom of Italy]] allowed Alberic to exercise complete control over Rome and Agapetus, meaning the pope was largely limited to managing internal church affairs.<ref>Mann, pgs. 226-229</ref> Even Agapetus’ invitation to Otto to intervene in Italian affairs in 951 was done at the instigation of Alberic, who was growing concerned at Berengar's growing power. However, when Otto's envoys, the bishops of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz|Mainz]] and [[Bishop of Chur|Chur]], were sent to the pope to discuss Otto's reception in Rome and other more important questions, they were turned away by Alberic.<ref>Gregorovius, pgs 323-324</ref>

Agapetus was forced to intervene in the dispute over the occupancy of the [[See of Reims]]. He ordered a [[Universal Synod of Ingelheim|synod]] to be held at [[Ingelheim]] in June 948 to resolve the rights of the rival claimants, [[Hugh of Vermandois (Bishop)|Hugh of Vermandois]] and [[Artald of Reims]]. He sent his [[papal legate|legate]] Marinus of Bomarzo to act on his behalf, while Agapetus wrote to a number of bishops, asking them to be present at the council.<ref>Mann, pgs. 231-232</ref> Through his legate the pope indicated his support for King [[Louis IV of France]], and gave his support for reinstalling Artald as bishop of Reims.<ref>Mann, pgs. 233-234</ref> This council was followed up by another one at [[Trier]], where Agapetus was again represented by Marinus of Bomarzo. In 949, Agapetus held a [[synod]] in Rome, which confirmed the rulings of the two councils. It condemned the former bishop Hugh and it [[excommunicated]] his father, Count [[Herbert II of Vermandois]], for his opposition to King Louis IV.<ref>Mann, pg. 234</ref>

After receiving requests from both Louis IV of France and Otto I of Germany, Agapetus granted privileges to monasteries and nunneries within their respective kingdoms. He also was sympathetic towards Otto's plans to restructure the bishoprics within Germany, which were eventually aborted due to pressure exerted by [[William (Archbishop of Mainz)|William of Mainz]].<ref>Mann, pg. 236</ref> Around 948, Agapetus, granted the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg|Archbishop of Hamburg]] the right of consecrating bishops in Denmark and other northern European countries instead of the pope.<ref>Mann, pgs. 237-238</ref> The pope was also allegedly asked by a Danish king named [[Frode]], now considered legendary, to send missionaries to his kingdom.<ref>Mann, pg. 238</ref>

Agapetus was also asked to intervene in a dispute between Herhold, [[archbishop of Salzburg]] and Gerard, [[bishop]] of [[Enns (city)|Lauriacum]], who both claimed the title of [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] of all [[Pannonia]]. Agapetus dispatched a letter to the two claimants, in which he stated that the diocese of Lauriacum had been the metropolitan church of all Pannonia before the invasion of the [[Huns]]. However, following the ravages inflicted by them, the metropolitan had transferred his [[Episcopal see|see]] to another city, and since that time Salzburg had been raised to an archbishopric. Consequently, both lawfully occupied their respective sees, and both were to retain their rank and diocese. Agapetus ruled that jurisdiction over western Pannonia would rest with Herhold, while the eastern part, along with the regions occupied by the [[Avars (Carpathians)|Avars]] and the [[Moravians (ethnic group)|Moravians]], would fall under Gerard.<ref>DeCormenin, Louis Marie; Gihon, James L., ''A Complete History of the Popes of Rome, from Saint Peter, the First Bishop to Pius the Ninth'' (1857), pg. 291</ref>

In Italy, Agapetus wrote to the dukes of [[Duchy of Benevento|Beneventum]] and [[Principality of Capua|Capua]], demanding that monasteries be returned to the monks whom they had displaced. He also deposed the bishops of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Termoli-Larino|Termoli]] and [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Trivento|Trivento]] who were accused of [[simony]]. Hoping to rejuvenate the religious life of the clerics in Italy, Agapetus, with the blessing of Alberic, asked for the [[abbot]] of [[Gorze Abbey]] to send some of his monks down and join the monastic community attached to the church of [[Saint Paul Outside the Walls]].<ref>Mann, pgs. 238-240</ref>

Agapetus died on 8 November 955, and was succeeded by Alberic's son, Octavian, who took the papal name of [[Pope John XII|John XII]]. He was buried in the [[Lateran basilica]], behind the apse, and close to the tombs of [[Pope Leo V|Leo V]] and [[Paschal II]].<ref>Mann, pg. 240</ref> Agapetus was noted for his caution and for the sanctity with which he led his life.<ref>Gregorovius, pg. 321; Mann, pg. 225</ref>