Pope Boniface VI (112º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy

Who Was Pope Boniface VI?

Pope Boniface VI — 112º in the Catholic list — reigned 11 April 896 –26 April 896 during the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Boniface VI beside neighboring pontiffs.

Early Life & Background

Born Bonifatius, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.

Historical Context

Boniface VI (#undefined) reigned while Western Roman order fractured, new kingdoms rose, and missionaries carried Christianity across Europe under papal encouragement or correction.

Pontificate & Key Events

The pontificate (11 April 896 –26 April 896) centered on governance during the early medieval papacy.

Papal Acts & Achievements

Acts associated with Boniface VI (#112, 11 April 896 –26 April 896) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.

Key Highlights

• 112th pope of the Catholic Church
• Pontificate: 11 April 896 –26 April 896
• Shepherded the Church during the early medieval papacy
• Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list

Legacy in the Catholic Church

Boniface VI remains pope 112º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the early medieval papacy, Boniface VI's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.

Why Catholics Study This Pope Today

If you only remember one modern question about Boniface VI, ask how his decisions served unity and truth under the pressures of the early medieval papacy. Begin with this documented note: Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. Use the neighboring pontiff links below to test whether Boniface VI's reign looks unique or typical for the early medieval papacy.

Place in the Line of Succession

Boniface VI followed Pope Formosus (111º, 6 October 891 –4 April 896) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Stephen VI (113º, 22 May 896 –14 August 897), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.