CLEMENT II

original name Suidger born , Saxony died Oct. 9, 1047, Aposella, near Pesaro, Romagna pope from 1046 to 1047. Of noble birth, he was bishop of Bamberg, in Germany, when in 1046 he accompanied the German king Henry III on an expedition to Italy, where Henry found three rival popes (Sylvester III, Benedict IX, and Gregory VI) claiming the papacy. Having had all claimants deposed, Henry selected Suidger as pope. He was consecrated on December 25 and immediately crowned Henry as Holy Roman emperor. In 1047 Clement convoked the Council of Rome that passed strong decrees against simony (i.e., the buying or selling of a church office) and began a period of reform that was carried on by his successors. His sudden death soon after returning from a trip to Germany was attributed to poisoning by Benedict's supporters. Benedict then reappeared in Rome and installed himself as pope.