Pope John XVII (died 6 December 1003), born John Sicco, and the son of another John Sicco, was born in the region of Rome then referred to as Biveretica. He succeeded Pope Silvester II as Pope on 16 May 1003, but died less than six months later.
John XVII was nominated to the papacy by John Crescentius, a Roman noble who held power in the city in opposition to Emperor Otto III. John XVII's successor, Pope John XVIII, was also selected by Crescentius.
John died on 6 December 1003 and was buried in the Lateran Basilica between the two doors of the principal façade. According to John the Deacon, his epitaph began by stating that “here is the tomb of the supreme John, who is said to be Pope, for so he was called.”
Read more about Pope John XVII: Family, Confusion Over Ordinals
Famous quotes containing the word pope:
“See! and confess, one comfort still must rise,
‘Tis this,—Though man’s a fool, yet God is wise.”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)