Editing Pope Sylvester III (section)

==Papacy== 
John, [[bishop of Sabina]], was elected after fierce and protracted infighting, c. 21 January 1045.<ref>Jaffé, p. 523, calculating backward the 49 days of his papacy, from c. 11 March 1045, the date of his expulsion.</ref> He took the name Sylvester III. Benedict IX excommunicated him,<ref>McBrien, p. 172.</ref> and in March returned to Rome and expelled Sylvester,<ref>McLaughlin, p. 63.</ref> who himself returned to Sabina to again take up his office of bishop in that diocese.<ref>Pham, p. 57. Pope VIctor III, "Dialogues" Book III, in: J. P. Migne (ed.), ''Patrologiae Latinae Tomus CXLIX'' (Paris), p. 1004: "...alterumque in loco ejus, Joannem videlicet Sabinensem episcopum (non tamen vacua manu) canonica parvipendentes decreta, substituunt; qui tribus non amplius mensibus Romanae usus est cathedrae successione....Urbe cum dedecore pulsus, suum ad episcopatum reversus est."</ref>

Nearly two years later, on 20 December 1046, the [[Council of Sutri]], summoned and presided over by the [[Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Henry III]], deprived him of his bishopric and priesthood, and ordered him sent to a [[monastery]] for the rest of his life.<ref>Logan, p. 96. Jaffé, p. 524 and 525.</ref> This sentence was suspended, because he continued to function and was recognized as [[bishop]] of Sabina until at least 1062.<ref name="Kelly144">Kelly, p. 144.</ref> A successor bishop to the see of Sabina, Hubaldus, is recorded under Pope Alexander II, on October 1063, indicating that John must have died prior to that date.<ref name="Kelly144" />

Though some consider him to have been an [[antipope]], Sylvester III continues to be listed as an official pope (1045) in Vatican lists.  A similar situation applies to [[Pope Gregory VI]] (1045–1046). Sylvester's pontifical name was used again by [[Antipope Theodoric]] because at that time he was not considered a legitimate pontiff.