John XI
John · 931 – 935
Made pope as a young man through his mother Marozia's political maneuvering, he was effectively a puppet of Roman noble families.
John XI became pope around 931, probably in his early twenties, through the influence of his powerful mother Marozia. He was kept under virtual house arrest by his half-brother Alberic II, who controlled Rome. John's pontificate is a low point in papal history — a reminder of the era historians call the pornocracy, when Roman noble families treated the papacy as a family possession. He died around 935.
Why He Matters
John XI represents one of the lowest points in the history of the papacy. That the Church not only survived this era but eventually reformed itself is striking evidence of an institution that outlasts its worst moments.