Hi! Thanks for the question.
There are some websites around the net saying that Pope Benedict IX
was only 11 or 12 yrs. old when he became Pope. Apparently the
Catholic Encyclopedia disagrees and says that he was about 20 yrs. old
when he assumed the papacy.
"The nephew of his two immediate predecessors, Benedict IX was a man
of very different character to either of them. He was a disgrace to
the Chair of Peter. Regarding it as a sort of heirloom, his father
Alberic placed him upon it when a mere youth, not, however, apparently
of only twelve years of age (according to Raoul Glaber, Hist., IV, 5,
n. 17. Cf. V, 5, n. 26), but of about twenty (October, 1032)."
"Pope Benedict IX"
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02429a.htm
So was Benedict IX the youngest pope? The Catholic Encyclopedia and
the Encyclopedia Brittanica, referenced by the How Stuff Works
website, says that John XII was the youngest at 18 yrs. old.
"John XII (955-964) - He is believed to be the youngest pope in
history, elected at approximately 18 years of age, according to
Encyclopedia Britannica."
"How the Papacy Works"
http://people.howstuffworks.com/papacy.htm/printable
"He was the only son of Duke Alberic II of Spoleto, then ruler of
Rome, who ordered Octavian's election (Dec. 16, 955) as pope when he
was only about 18 years of age."
"John XII"
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=44760&tocid=0&query=john%20xii&ct=
"The younger Alberic, after the downfall of his mother, Marozia (932),
was absolute ruler at Rome. Before his death he administered an oath
(954) to the Roman nobles in St. Peter's, that on the next vacancy of
the papal chair his only son, Octavius, should be elected pope. After
the death of the reigning pontiff, Agapetus II, Octavius, then
eighteen years of age, was actually chosen his successor on 16
December, 955, and took the name of John."
"Pope John XII"
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08426b.htm
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Easterangel-ga
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