Pope Benedict VIII was born with the given name of Theophylact of Tusculum in the year A.D., and died in A.D. He began his reign as Pope in the year 1012 A.D. and ended his reign in the year 1024 A.D., during the High Middle Ages. Benedict VIII was from Rome, and his papal number is: 145 out of 267 officially recognized Roman Catholic Popes.
Summary: Reforming pope who worked closely with Emperor Henry II.
Biography:Benedict VIII came from the powerful Tusculan family, yet his pontificate was more constructive than the dominance of Roman clans might suggest. He allied himself with Emperor Henry II and used that partnership to strengthen order and discipline in the Church.
He supported reform measures, opposed simony, and took part in major ecclesiastical and political affairs across Europe. Under Benedict VIII the papacy began to recover both effectiveness and moral seriousness.
His legacy lies in helping move the office away from local decadence and toward the reforming energies that would culminate later in the century.
