Leapin' Leo
@leapinleo.bsky.social
Tracking the leaps of Leo XIV through the ranks as he popes it up longer than previous popes. (And we might check in on a few antipopes, but it does get murky.)
Sisinnius was not nearly as productive as Theodore would be with his 20 days, though he did consecrate a Corsican bishop.
Leo leaps another. He is up to 263rd in the papal standings, already ahead of 5 others.
Leo leaps another. He is up to 263rd in the papal standings, already ahead of 5 others.
May 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Sisinnius was not nearly as productive as Theodore would be with his 20 days, though he did consecrate a Corsican bishop.
Leo leaps another. He is up to 263rd in the papal standings, already ahead of 5 others.
Leo leaps another. He is up to 263rd in the papal standings, already ahead of 5 others.
Being an old man as they all seem to be, by the time he was consecrated he was suffering badly from gout. His suffering was so bad that he was unable to use his hands to feed himself by the end.
May 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Being an old man as they all seem to be, by the time he was consecrated he was suffering badly from gout. His suffering was so bad that he was unable to use his hands to feed himself by the end.
Sisinnius was likely chosen to be the Pope by the clergy of Rome in October 707, but his papacy isn't counted as starting until January. The delay? The election needed the approval of the Emperor, and that seemed to take a while.
May 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Sisinnius was likely chosen to be the Pope by the clergy of Rome in October 707, but his papacy isn't counted as starting until January. The delay? The election needed the approval of the Emperor, and that seemed to take a while.
The #CatholicChurch was answerable to the Byzantine emperor, though Italy was by this time divided between Lombard territories and Byzantine. Popes of this era had a fine line to walk.
May 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
The #CatholicChurch was answerable to the Byzantine emperor, though Italy was by this time divided between Lombard territories and Byzantine. Popes of this era had a fine line to walk.
It was an unusual time for Rome, with the western half of the empire collapsing to the Ostrogoths then the Lombards, and before the Holy Roman Empire got its legs under itself in 752.
May 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
It was an unusual time for Rome, with the western half of the empire collapsing to the Ostrogoths then the Lombards, and before the Holy Roman Empire got its legs under itself in 752.
There were some really good men who served as pope. And a whole lot of real nasty SOBs.
May 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
There were some really good men who served as pope. And a whole lot of real nasty SOBs.
Leo droppin some truths
May 28, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Leo droppin some truths
And now Leo's leapt him, and while Leo may go on to many accomplishments, he hasn't yet measured up to Theodore II's very productive 20 days.
#PopeLeoXIV is now ahead of four popes by length of tenure, and behind 263.
#PopeLeoXIV is now ahead of four popes by length of tenure, and behind 263.
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
And now Leo's leapt him, and while Leo may go on to many accomplishments, he hasn't yet measured up to Theodore II's very productive 20 days.
#PopeLeoXIV is now ahead of four popes by length of tenure, and behind 263.
#PopeLeoXIV is now ahead of four popes by length of tenure, and behind 263.
That was a good set of accomplishments for 20 days of work. And then he died of causes unknown. He seemed to have been one of the nice guys of Rome, described as "a friend of peace, temperate, chaste, affable and a great lover of the poor." Given the time, it's almost like he didn't fit in.
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
That was a good set of accomplishments for 20 days of work. And then he died of causes unknown. He seemed to have been one of the nice guys of Rome, described as "a friend of peace, temperate, chaste, affable and a great lover of the poor." Given the time, it's almost like he didn't fit in.
Most famously, Theodore restored some dignity to the remains of Formosus. After the macabre trial held by Stephen the body of Formosus had been thrown into the Tiber. Well, not exactly. It had been secretly buried in a harbour. Theodore had it reburied in St. Peter's.
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Most famously, Theodore restored some dignity to the remains of Formosus. After the macabre trial held by Stephen the body of Formosus had been thrown into the Tiber. Well, not exactly. It had been secretly buried in a harbour. Theodore had it reburied in St. Peter's.
Theodore wanted to right the wrongs that had been done to Formosus. He annulled some of Stephen's actions and re-instituted those of Formosus that Stephen had annulled. Priests and bishops ordained by Formosus but unseated by Stephen were restored.
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Theodore wanted to right the wrongs that had been done to Formosus. He annulled some of Stephen's actions and re-instituted those of Formosus that Stephen had annulled. Priests and bishops ordained by Formosus but unseated by Stephen were restored.
Theodore II became pope three popes after Boniface, and all of them were very short reigns. Theodore's few days were spent clearing up some of the remaining mess of the #CadaverTrial held by Stephen in January 897.
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Theodore II became pope three popes after Boniface, and all of them were very short reigns. Theodore's few days were spent clearing up some of the remaining mess of the #CadaverTrial held by Stephen in January 897.
The 890's for the #Catholic Church, a really bad time. Leo XIV has already passed Boniface VI, pope of 15 days in 896. His tenure was troubled and shortened by the Formosus - Stephen VI fight over who should rule over the papal states.
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The 890's for the #Catholic Church, a really bad time. Leo XIV has already passed Boniface VI, pope of 15 days in 896. His tenure was troubled and shortened by the Formosus - Stephen VI fight over who should rule over the papal states.
And when Celestine IV died 16 days later, the cardinals were not about to come back to Rome to go through that again.
It would be a year and a half, the longest Pope-less stretch in the history of the #Catholic Church, before the cardinals could meet again to elect Celestine's successor.
It would be a year and a half, the longest Pope-less stretch in the history of the #Catholic Church, before the cardinals could meet again to elect Celestine's successor.
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
And when Celestine IV died 16 days later, the cardinals were not about to come back to Rome to go through that again.
It would be a year and a half, the longest Pope-less stretch in the history of the #Catholic Church, before the cardinals could meet again to elect Celestine's successor.
It would be a year and a half, the longest Pope-less stretch in the history of the #Catholic Church, before the cardinals could meet again to elect Celestine's successor.
motivated not by his leadership or worthiness, but that by agreeing to elect a dying man they could get out of the miserable conditions in which they were being held.
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
motivated not by his leadership or worthiness, but that by agreeing to elect a dying man they could get out of the miserable conditions in which they were being held.
and the rough conditions of their confinement only made him sicker. Commentators over the centuries have also been rough on old #CelestineIV. He has been described as a feeble, ignorant old fanatic without the qualifications, whose was chosen as a temporary compromise, and that the cardinals' were
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
and the rough conditions of their confinement only made him sicker. Commentators over the centuries have also been rough on old #CelestineIV. He has been described as a feeble, ignorant old fanatic without the qualifications, whose was chosen as a temporary compromise, and that the cardinals' were
One of the cardinals even became ill and died.
The election of Castiglioni of Milan was supported largely by the Emperor's faction, as he seemed to take a moderate stance in the Church-Emperor fighting.
But there was no doubt that he was a sick, old man,
The election of Castiglioni of Milan was supported largely by the Emperor's faction, as he seemed to take a moderate stance in the Church-Emperor fighting.
But there was no doubt that he was a sick, old man,
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
One of the cardinals even became ill and died.
The election of Castiglioni of Milan was supported largely by the Emperor's faction, as he seemed to take a moderate stance in the Church-Emperor fighting.
But there was no doubt that he was a sick, old man,
The election of Castiglioni of Milan was supported largely by the Emperor's faction, as he seemed to take a moderate stance in the Church-Emperor fighting.
But there was no doubt that he was a sick, old man,
This selection was noted for being particularly harsh on the old guys. While not yet locking them up in a conclave (that wouldn't be done for another 30 years), the cardinals were sequestered in a ruin of a monastery with poor food, harsh weather, and bad sanitation.
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This selection was noted for being particularly harsh on the old guys. While not yet locking them up in a conclave (that wouldn't be done for another 30 years), the cardinals were sequestered in a ruin of a monastery with poor food, harsh weather, and bad sanitation.
This division was mirrored in the gathering of the cardinals. After the death of Pope Gregory IX, the Emperor blockaded Rome to prevent pro-papacy cardinals to attend. Two cardinals who were travelling to encourage pro-papacy cardinals to attend were captured by the Emperor and held in prison.
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This division was mirrored in the gathering of the cardinals. After the death of Pope Gregory IX, the Emperor blockaded Rome to prevent pro-papacy cardinals to attend. Two cardinals who were travelling to encourage pro-papacy cardinals to attend were captured by the Emperor and held in prison.
The Holy Roman Empire was always trying to exert control over the church, and over the papal selection. The Rome-centred papacy was always fighting against this, a rivalry and tension that came to be known as the #Guelphs (papacy) vs the #Ghibellines (the Empire).
May 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
The Holy Roman Empire was always trying to exert control over the church, and over the papal selection. The Rome-centred papacy was always fighting against this, a rivalry and tension that came to be known as the #Guelphs (papacy) vs the #Ghibellines (the Empire).