Pope Stephen VII

Pope Stephen VII (Latin: Stephanus VII; died 15 March 931)^[1] was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from February 929 to his death in 931. A candidate of the infamous Marozia, his pontificate occurred during the period known as the Saeculum obscurum.

Stephen was a Roman^[2] by birth, the son of Germanic (Goth) Theodemundus/Theudemund.^[3] He was the cardinal-priest of St Anastasia in Rome. He was probably handpicked by Marozia, the true ruler of Rome during the Saeculum obscurum, to become pope as a stop-gap measure until her own son John was ready to assume the role.^[3]

Very little is known about Stephen's pontificate. During his two years as pope, Stephen confirmed the privileges of a few religious houses in France and Italy.^[3] As a reward for helping free Stephen from the oppression of Hugh of Arles, Stephen granted Cante di Gabrielli the position of papal governor of Gubbio, and control over a number of key fortresses.^[4] Stephen was also noted for the severity with which he treated clergy who strayed in their morals.^[5] He was also, apparently, according to a hostile Greek source from the twelfth century, the first pope who went around clean shaved whilst pope.^[6]

Stephen died around 15 March 931, and was succeeded by Marozia's son John XI.

• Mann, Horace K., The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages, Vol. IV: The Popes in the Days of Feudal Anarchy, 891-999 (1910)
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Stephen (VII) VIII" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.