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Fact of the Day: One of the youngest (and controversial) Popes
Pope Benedict IX was likely in his early 20s when he first became pope, making him one of the youngest ever. He’s also the only person ever elected pope more than once and the only one accused of selling the papacy.
His time in office was filled with scandal and chaos. Benedict IX was infamous for corruption, violence, and immoral behavior, leading contemporaries to describe him as 'a demon from hell in the disguise of a priest'. His controversial papacy helped trigger reforms that locked down the conclave and limited the influence of powerful noble families over the Church’s leadership.
