The POPE Encyclopedia
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CADAVER SYNOD
One of the most gruesome events in papal history, held in January 897 by Pope Stephen VI (VII) during which the corpse of Pope Formosus (891-896) was exhumed and placed on trial. The terrible synod was orchestrated by Lambert of Spoleto (d. 898), who was a bitter political enemy of Formosus, never forgiving him for appealing in 893 to Arnulf, King of the East Franks for aid against the Spoletan family, especially his father Guido (Guy) III of Spoleto (d. 894) and for crowning Arnulf emperor after the pontiff had already reconfirmed his father emperor and had crowned Lambert co-emperor. Lambert had emerged as virtual ruler of Italy with the departure of Arnulf in 896 after the latter's bout of paralysis had cut short his hopes of stamping out the Spoletan party. Lambert harbored plans for revenge against Formosus, but the pontiff died shortly after Arnulf's retreat back to Germany. Following the very brief pontificate of Boniface VI (April 896), Stephen was elected pope, coming under the immediate influence of Lambert, whose cause he supported. Lambert, encouraged by his equally spiteful mother, Ageltrude, finally wreaked his vengeance on Formosus, albeit posthumously, early the next year. Having stirred up anti-Formosan sentiment among the populace and nobility of Rome, Lambert commanded Stephen to convene a synod to try the dead pope on assorted charges such as perjury, canonical violations, and ambition in seeking the papacy. What made the proceeding so grotesque was Stephen's decision to have Formosus appear personally. The rotting corpse was taken out of the tomb, dressed in vestments, and propped up in a chair. A deacon, standing behind the body, answered on its behalf. To no one's surprise, Formosus was found guilty. His acts and ordinations were proclaimed null and void, his body was mutilated-three fingers on his right hand were cut off-and he was placed in a common grave. After a little while, the corpse was dragged out of the earth and hurled into the Tiber. A hermit retrieved the remains and gave the pope a decent burial. Pope John IX (898-900) declared the actions of the cadaver synod annulled. Its acts were burned, and a declaration made that no posthumous trials were ever too be held again. Stephen, meanwhile, had fallen from power was stripped of his office and strangled while in prison.
THE POPE ENCYCLOPEDIA - Matthew Bunson Published by Crown Trade Paperbacks 201 East 50th Street, New York New York 10022, USA ISBN 0-517-88256-6
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