John XVII
Siccone · 1003 – 1003
A brief pontificate of only five months during the political dominance of the Crescentii family in Rome.
Siccone was a Roman who became pope in June 1003 and died in November of the same year. His pontificate was entirely overshadowed by the Crescentii family, who dominated Roman politics at the time. Almost nothing is known of his actions as pope. He represents the many short-lived pontificates of the early eleventh century.
Why He Matters
John XVII is one of many popes who barely had time to leave a mark. But even these brief pontificates are part of the unbroken chain of succession from Peter — the Church kept going, even when individual leaders were swept away quickly.