In the annals of the Catholic Church, few figures are as controversial as Pope John XII. Historians often describe his pontificate as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Church.
Born Octavian, he became pope at just 18 years old, and quickly strayed from the path laid out by his predecessors. His tenure was marked by behavior completely at odds with the spiritual responsibilities of his office. Unlike most spiritual leaders of his time—or any time—he showed little respect for the sacred nature of his position.
John XII turned the Lateran Palace, the official papal residence, into what many referred to as a “brothel.” He was said to surround himself with mistresses, consort with prostitutes, and engage in affairs with the wives and widows of noblemen. Some Church historians even claim he had a sexual relationship with his own niece. Rather than leading the faithful in prayer or reform, his priorities were clearly hedonistic and self-serving.
In addition to his sexual misconduct, his behavior included gambling, heavy drinking, and organizing orgies in sacred places. He was reported to have made toasts to the devil at banquets and invoked pagan gods. His crimes were not limited to personal vices. John XII was accused of simony—selling church offices and favors in exchange for money or power. Worse still, he was allegedly responsible for acts of violence, including murder. He was said to have blinded his confessor, castrated a deacon, and ordered executions to silence dissent.
He was judged in 963 by a synod convened by Emperor Otto I, and died in May 964 under mysterious circumstances. Some accounts claim he suffered a fatal stroke during an adulterous encounter, while others say he was murdered by a jealous husband.