The Second Degradation of the Papacy and the Reform Popes

In the previous article regard! was had to the first degradation of the papacy, which occurred in the tenth century. As we saw, the popes of this period with few exceptions were wicked men, the reason being that their election was controlled by political factions in Rome headed by Italian nobles. As was explained, from the tyranny of these nobles the papacy was rescued by Otho I surnamed the Great. Otho and his successors -- Otho II (937-983) and Otho III (983- 1002) did the papacy a great...