The Cadaver Synod: Putting a Dead Pope on Trial
In 897, the Vatican held one of the most bizarre court cases in history. Pope Formosus, stood trial against his successor Pope Stephen VI.
But the kicker was Pope Formosus had been dead for the past few months…
That didn't deter Pope Stephan to continue his pursuit in the court of law. He had the former Pope, the corpse, clad in papal vestments, removed from the sarcophagus and seated on a throne to stand trial.
A deacon was also appointed to speak on the corpse's behalf.
How strange!
Stephen accused the former pope of various crimes, but the response was dead silence. To make things a tad more interesting, an earth quake happened right in the middle of trial.
As you can suspect, this was believed to be a sign from God.
"Oh, that man was no lawful Pope; he got the Popedom by tyranny or bribery, or even by worse means, and, of course, the powers of a true and lawful Pope are not to be expected in him."
Irregardless of the earth quake, it didn't shake Pope Stephen's pursuit of criminal justice.
All his hard work paid off, the dead pope was found guilty of usurping (taking a position of power) the papacy.
What can you expect from someone who is literally just a decomposing corpse though?
Strange isn't it.
