But if simony vitiated an election, there were probably few legitimate popes in the tenth
century when everything was venal and corrupt in Rome. Moreover bribery seems a small sin
compared with the enormous crimes of several of these Judases. Hildebrand recognized Gregory
VI. by adopting his pontifical name in honor of his memory, and yet he made relentless war the
sin of simony. He followed the self-deposed pope as upon chaplain across the Alps into exile, and
buried him in peace on the banks of the Rhine.
Henry III. adjourned the Synod of Sutri to St. Peter’s in Rome for the election of a new
pope (Dec. 23 and 24, 1046). The synod was to elect, but no Roman clergyman could be found free
of the pollution of "simony and fornication." Then the king, vested by the synod with the green
mantle of the patriciate and the plenary authority of the electors, descended from his throne, and
seated Suidger, bishop of Bamberg, a man of spotless character, on the vacant chair of St. Peter
amid the loud hosannas of the assembly.^303 The new pope assumed the name of Clement II., and
crowned Henry emperor on the festival of Christmas, on which Charlemagne had been crowned.
The name was a reminder of the conflict of the first Clement of Rome with Simon Magus. But he
outlived his election only nine months, and his body was transferred to his beloved Bamberg. The
wretched Benedict IX. again took possession of the Lateran (till July 16, 1048). He died afterwards
in Grotto Ferrata, according to one report as a penitent saint, according to another as a hardened
sinner whose ghost frightened the living. A third German pontiff, Poppo, bishop of Brixen, called
Damasus II., was elected, but died twenty-three days after his consecration (Aug. 10, 1048), of the
Roman fever, if not of poison.
The emperor, at the request of the Romans, appointed at Worms in December, 1048, Bruno,
bishop of Toul, to the papal chair. He was a man of noble birth, fine appearance, considerable
learning, unblemished character, and sincere piety, in full sympathy with the spirit of reform which
emanated from Cluny. He accepted the appointment in presence of the Roman deputies, subject to
the consent of the clergy and people of Rome.^304 He invited the monk Hildebrand to accompany
him in his pilgrimage to Rome. Hildebrand refused at first, because Bruno had not been canonically
elected, but by the secular and royal power; but he was persuaded to follow him.
Bruno reached Rome in the month of February, 1049, in the dress of a pilgrim, barefoot,
weeping, regardless of the hymns of welcome. His election was unanimously confirmed by the
Roman clergy and people, and he was solemnly consecrated Feb. 12, as Leo IX. He found the papal
treasury empty, and his own means were soon exhausted. He chose Hildebrand as his subdeacon,
financier, and confidential adviser, who hereafter was the soul of the papal reform, till he himself
ascended the papal throne in 1073.
We stand here at the close of the deepest degradation and on the threshold of the highest
elevation of the papacy. The synod of Sutri and the reign of Leo IX. mark the beginning of a
disciplinary reform. Simony or the sale and purchase of ecclesiastical dignities, and Nicolaitism or
the carnal sins of the clergy, including marriage, concubinage and unnatural vices, were the crying
evils of the church in the eyes of the most serious men, especially the disciples of Cluny and of St.
Romuald. A reformation therefore from the hierarchical standpoint of the middle ages was essentially
(^303) According to the Annal. Corb., Suidger was elected "canonice as synodice ... unanimi cleri et populi electione."
(^304) So says Wibert, his friend and biographer, but Bonitho reports that Hildebrand induced him to submit first to a Roman
election, since a pope elected by the emperor was not an apostolicus, but an apostaticus. See Baxmann, II. 215-217. Comp.
also Hunkler: Leo IX. und seine Zeit. Mainz, 1851