Cadaver Synod

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June 22, 2026

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The Cadaver Synod, also known as the Synodus Horrenda, was a bizarre trial held in Rome in 897 CE. Pope Stephen VI had his predecessor, Pope Formosus, exhumed nine months after his death to stand trial. Formosus's corpse was dressed in papal vestments and propped on a throne, with a deacon answering for the accused.12

Formosus was accused of violating canon law and perjury. The trial ultimately declared his papacy invalid, quashed his acts, and ordered his consecration fingers to be cut off. His body was then cast into the Tiber River.12

This event was driven by intense political enmity between factions supporting Formosus and those aligned with the Spoleto ruling family. The synod's outcome led to an insurrection, resulting in Stephen VI's imprisonment and strangulation. Pope Theodore II later vindicated Formosus, reburied his body, and condemned the Cadaver Synod.123

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Stephen VI
…grisliest events in papal history—the “Cadaver Synod” (or Synodus Horrenda). The Spoletans were so driven by hate for Formosus that they effected an unprecedented council (897) at which Formosus’ corpse was disinterred and arraigned for trial. Among the accusations against Formosus was that he had uncanonically transferred from the episcopal…
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…grisliest events in papal history—the “Cadaver Synod” (or Synodus Horrenda). The Spoletans were so driven by hate for Formosus that they effected an unprecedented council (897) at which Formosus’ corpse was disinterred and arraigned for trial. Among the accusations against Formosus was that he had uncanonically transferred from the episcopal…
Read More

Formosus
…synod (popularly called the “Cadaver Synod”) conducted by Pope Stephen VI (VII), political enemies of Formosus had his nine-month-old corpse exhumed, propped up on a throne, and subjected to a mock trial—during which a deacon answered for the corpse. He was accused of violating canon law and of perjury,…
Read More
…synod (popularly called the “Cadaver Synod”) conducted by Pope Stephen VI (VII), political enemies of Formosus had his nine-month-old corpse exhumed, propped up on a throne, and subjected to a mock trial—during which a deacon answered for the corpse. He was accused of violating canon law and of perjury,…
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Romanus
…annulling his pontificate in the “Cadaver Synod,” Stephen had been imprisoned and probably strangled by Formosus’ supporters, leaving Stephen’s followers at political war with those who opposed the synod. Under Romanus, Formosus’ body was retrieved from the Tiber River and buried. Romanus probably invalidated Stephen’s acts, although formal nullification was…
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…annulling his pontificate in the “Cadaver Synod,” Stephen had been imprisoned and probably strangled by Formosus’ supporters, leaving Stephen’s followers at political war with those who opposed the synod. Under Romanus, Formosus’ body was retrieved from the Tiber River and buried. Romanus probably invalidated Stephen’s acts, although formal nullification was…
Read More