Synod of Sutri

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July 17, 2026

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The Synod of Sutri, held in December 1046, was an ecclesiastical council convened by Holy Roman Emperor Henry III. The synod's primary purpose was to address a crisis within the papacy, where three rival popes—Sylvester III, Benedict IX, and Gregory VI—were claiming the papal throne. The synod ultimately deposed all three claimants. Sylvester III, who had briefly served as pope in January 1045, was deposed for attempting to reclaim the papacy. Gregory VI was also deposed, and Benedict IX was later declared deposed at a subsequent Roman synod. This event was part of a broader effort to reform the church and combat issues like simony, the buying or selling of church offices.12

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history of Europe
Reform and renewal
At the Synod of Sutri in 1046 he appointed a transalpine candidate of his own—Suidger, archbishop of Bamberg, who became Pope Clement II (1046–47)—and removed the papal office from the influence of the local Roman nobility, which had largely controlled it since the 10th century. A series…
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At the Synod of Sutri in 1046 he appointed a transalpine candidate of his own—Suidger, archbishop of Bamberg, who became Pope Clement II (1046–47)—and removed the papal office from the influence of the local Roman nobility, which had largely controlled it since the 10th century. A series…
Read More