Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Stephen VI (113º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy
Pontificate: 22 May 896 –14 August 897 · Origin: Rome, Estados Papais · Birth name: Stephanus Sextus (Septimus)
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Stephen VI was the 113th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 22 May 896 –14 August 897 during the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States.
Who Was Pope Stephen VI?
Pope Stephen VI — 113º in the Catholic list — reigned 22 May 896 –14 August 897 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 Stephen VI beside neighboring pontiffs.
Early Life & Background
Born Stephanus, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Stephen 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 (22 May 896 –14 August 897) centered on governance during the early medieval papacy. Sometimes called Stephen VII. Held the infamous Cadaver Synod.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Stephen VI (#113, 22 May 896 –14 August 897) 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
- 113th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 22 May 896 –14 August 897
- Shepherded the Church during the early medieval papacy
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Stephen VI remains pope 113º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the early medieval papacy, Stephen 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 Stephen 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. Then step back to the full list of 267 popes to see where Stephen VI sits between crisis and consolidation.
Place in the Line of Succession
Stephen VI followed Pope Boniface VI (112º, 11 April 896 –26 April 896) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Romanus (114º, 14 August 897 –November 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.