Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 17: Stephen IV

We've read about a couple of popes who served under the Byzantine papacy, when the emperor in Constantinople had the ultimate say on whether or not someone could become pope. Today we get the first example of a pope from the Frankish papacy, a similar arrangement but with the emperor of the Franks being the arbiter of who got the position. Though, as in Stephen's case, it wasn't always that ironclad.

Stephen was born in Rome to a family that provided a couple of previous popes, and he grew up in and around popes at the Lateran Palace. He was made a deacon by Leo III, and became pope upon Leo's death in 816. Stephen was said to be popular among Romans, and that the city's nobility acted quickly so that the current Frankish emperor, Louis the Pious, couldn't interfere.

For all that this could have caused conflict, Stephen forestalled any problems by notifying Louis of his election, and suggesting a meeting at the emperor's convenience. That meeting went pretty well, as Stephen pledged fealty to Louis, and crowned him as emperor (thus giving his rule added authenticity). Louis, for his part, reaffirmed the privileges of the Roman church and strengthened the claim of the pope to rule over the Papal States.

Stephen was reform-minded, and got Louis to agree to implementing some monastic reforms. Upon returning to Rome, Stephen reversed some of his predecessor's policies and held the traditional ordination of priests and bishops that December. But that was about it, as Stephen died in January 817, only serving about six months. 

There's also a perfunctory story within a story with regards to Stephen. Up until 1961, this Stephen was known as Stephen V. Turns out in 752, the pope-elect Stephen II died of a stroke before he was consecrated. Under the rules of the time he did not count as a pope as he hadn't been consecrated, but a change in canon law to say that the papacy started at election put Stephen II back in line. He was included in the list of popes until 1961, when he was dropped again, causing Stephen V to become Stephen IV.