Pope Clement II


Clement II
Bishop of Rome
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began25 December 1046
Papacy ended9 October 1047
PredecessorGregory VI
SuccessorBenedict IX
Personal details
Born
Suidger von Morsleben

Died9 October 1047
Pesaro, Papal States
BuriedBamberg Cathedral
Other popes named Clement
Sculpture at St Clement's church, Hornburg

Pope Clement II (Latin: Clemens II; born Suidger von Morsleben; died 9 October 1047) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1046 until his death in 1047. He was the first in a series of reform-minded popes from Germany. Suidger was the bishop of Bamberg. In 1046, he accompanied King Henry III of Germany, when at the request of laity and clergy of Rome, Henry went to Italy and summoned the Council of Sutri, which deposed Benedict IX and Sylvester III, and accepted the resignation of Gregory VI. Henry suggested Suidger as the next pope, and he was then elected, taking the name of Clement II. Clement then proceeded to crown Henry as emperor. Clement's brief tenure as pope saw the enactment of more stringent prohibitions against simony.