Benedict IX's reign as pope was marked by scandal, violence and power struggles. He served three times as pope-first from 1032 to 1044, then briefly in 1045, and again from 1047 to 1048.

Benedict IX, a pope in the 11th century, holds the rare distinction of becoming a pope three times, selling the papacy, being deposed, reinstated, and eventually excommunicated.

Benedict IX with his family and papal heraldic insignia, in a 19th-century illustration. Credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons Thus, on October 21, 1032, Alberic bought the position by paying a ...

Among the odd Benedict facts, Pope Benedict IX was the only person to serve as pope multiple times. He was the 145th, 147th and 150th pope. READ MORE: New pope chooses Leo as name, here's how ...

Exhibit A: Pope Benedict IX (r. 1032–1048) sold the papacy to his godfather. However, the title of Worst Pope Ever has to go to Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492–1503), pictured, ...

Some other historians have argued that Pope Benedict IX was the youngest at just 20 years of age, but recordkeeping is incomplete for many popes prior to more modern times, experts caution.

Pope Benedict XVI said he wanted to pay homage to ... Pius IX ordered the kidnapping of the Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara in 1858 and raised him Catholic in the Vatican after learning he had ...

Among the odd Benedict facts, Pope Benedict IX was the only person to serve as pope multiple times. He was the 145th, 147th and 150th pope.

Among the odd Benedict facts, Pope Benedict IX was the only person to serve as pope multiple times. He was the 145th, 147th and 150th pope.

Among the odd Benedict facts, Pope Benedict IX was the only person to serve as pope multiple times. He was the 145th, 147th and 150th pope.

Among the odd Benedict facts, Pope Benedict IX was the only person to serve as pope multiple times. He was the 145th, 147th and 150th pope.