Tag Archives: Saint Hildebrand

News

A Meditation for Catholics at Rome: August 10, 2026 A. D..

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Translated from the original Italian at ChiesaRomana.info

From the perspective of eternity, the choice between supporting Leo XIV or Hildebrand—and vice versa—must be weighed against the most authoritative testimony of history and the Communion of Saints: indeed, there is not a single Pope, Saint, or Blessed of the Church who supports Leo XIV—who was elected in violation of four rules set forth in Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.

In contrast, regarding Hildebrand—elected in perfect conformity with the provisions of Pope Nicholas II’s Bull In Nomine Domini, as prescribed for the extraordinary circumstance in which the Roman Church must oppose the dishonest and illegitimate election of an antipope (such as Prevost’s undoubtedly is)—the Church of Rome boasts the testimony and signatures of 77 bishops, 4 popes, 4 saints, and 2 blesseds.

The choice is clear: Christ calls us to choose the Communion of Saints and to strive to be numbered among them. Consequently, we cannot tolerate or endorse Robert Prevost’s claim to be our Bishop and Pontiff, for such a choice leads not to Heaven but to Hell—the most terrible fate of all: excommunication from the Communion of Saints.

Here are the names of the 77 bishops, 4 popes, 4 saints, and 2 blesseds who signed Nicholas II’s Bull at the Lateran Council of April 1059, taken from the critical edition of this Papal Bull, published in Detlev Jasper’s, Das Papstwahldekret von 1059, (Thorbecke, 1986):

I, Nicholas, Bishop of the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church, have signed this Decree promulgated by Us, as written above.

I, Bonifacio, by the grace of God, (Cardinal) Bishop of Albano, have undersigned (this).
I, Humbert (de Moyenmoutier, Cardinal Bishop) of the holy Church of Santa Rufina, have undersigned (this).
I, (St.) Pietro (Damiano), (Cardinal Bishop) of the Church of Ostia, have undersigned (this).
I, Pietro, (Cardinal) Bishop of the Church of Tusculum, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni (II, Cardinal) Bishop of the Church of Porto, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni, Cardinal (Priest) of the Title of Saint Mark, have undersigned (this).
I, Leone, Cardinal (Priest) of the Title of Saint (Lawrence in) Damaso, have undersigned (this).
I, Vivo, Cardinal (Priest) of the Title of Santa Maria in Trastevere, have undersigned (this).
I, (Bl.) Desiderio, Cardinal (Priest) of Santa Cecilia (and Abbot of Monte Cassino), have undersigned (this).1
Mancius, (Cardinal) Deacon,
Crescenzio, (Cardinal) Deacon,
Amanzio, (Cardinal) Deacon, have undersigned (this).

(Saint) (Hildebrand, the monk and subdeacon and all the other (clergy) of the Roman Church undersigned this).2

I, Guido (de Velate), Archbishop (of Milan), have undersigned (this).
I, Dominico (IV Marango), Patriarch of Grado, have undersigned (this).
I, Hugues, Bishop of Besançon, have undersigned (this).
I, HIldebrand, Bishop of Capua, have undersigned (this).
I, Ouldarico, Archbishop of Benevento, have undersigned (this).
I, (St.) Alfano, Archbishop of Salerno, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni, Bishop of Sabina, have undersigned (this).3
I, Giovanni, Bishop of Tivoli, have undersigned (this).
I, Rolando, Bishop of Sutri, have undersigned (this).
I, Gerhard, Bishop and Abbot of Saint Paul’s (outside the Walls), have undersigned (this).
I, Leone, Bishop of Gaeta, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni (IV), Bishop  of Terracina, have undersigned (this).
I, Pandolfo, Bishop of Avezzano, have undersigned (this).
I, Attone (Berardi dei Marsi), Bishop of Chieti, have undersigned (this).
I, Domenico O. S. B, Bishop of Sulmonna-Valva (and Abbot of San Clemente di Casauria), have undersigned (this).
I, Palombo O. S. B., Bishop of Sora, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni (II), Bishop of Penne, have undersigned (this).
I, Pietro (I), Bishop of Cività Castellana, have undersigned (this).
I, Ludovico, Bishp of Nocera, have undersigned (this).
I, Ermanno, Bishop of Cività del Castello, have undersigned (this).
I, Enrico, Bishop of Spoleto, have undersigned (this).
I, (Bl.) Mainardo, Bishop of Urbino, have undersigned (this).
I, Goffredo, Bishop of Perugia, have undersigned (this).
I, Aganon, Bishop of Autun (France), have undersigned (this).
I, Uldarico, Bishop of Fermo, have undersigned (this).
(I, Bernardo II, Bishop of Ascoli Piceno, have undersigned this).
(I, Ugo I, Bishop of Camerino, have undersigned this)
I, Guglielmo, Bishpo of Numana, have undersigned (this).
I, Trasmondo, Bishop of Fiesole, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni, Bishop of Sovana, have undersigned (this).
I, Arnaldo dei Offredi, Bishop of Arezzo, have undersigned (this).4
I, Marino, Bishop of Fondi, have undersigned (this).
I, Adalberto, Bishop of Narni, have undersigned (this).
I, Bernardo, Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Goti, have undersigned (this).
I, Teuzone, Bishop of Orvieto, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni, Bishop of Chiusi, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni, Bishop of Siena, have undersigned (this).
I, Guido, Bishop of Volterra, have undersigned (this).
(I, Pietro, Bishop of Volturara Appula, have undersigned this).
I, Benedetto, Bishop of Sessa Aurunca, have undersigned (this).
I,  Azzo (degli Atti), Bishop of Foligno, have undersigned (this).
I, Pietro (II), Bishop of Teramo, have undersigned (this).
I, Gerardo, Bishop of Rusellae, have undersigned (this).
I, Anselmo (I), Bishop of Lucca, have undersigned (this).5
I, Pietro (I), Bishop of Pesaro, have undersigned (this).
I, Andolfo, Bishop of Montefeltro, have undersigned (this).
I, (St.) Rodolfo, (O. S. B. Cam.,) Bishop of Gubbio, have undersigned (this).
I, Teodosio, Bishop of Senigallia, have undersigned (this).
I, Arduino, Bishop of Todi, have undersigned (this).
I, Arduino, Bishop of Fano, have undersigned (this).
I, Arnolfo (I), Bishop of Cosenza, have undersigned (this).
I, Stefano (the Norman), Bishop of Troia, have undersigned (this).
I, Benigno (Benedetto), Bishop of Fossombrone, have undersigned (this).
I, Ugo (I), Bishop of Cagli, have undersigned (this).
I, Gerardo, Bishop of Rieti, have undersigned (this).
I, Gisilberto, Bishop of Tuscania, have undersigned (this).
I, Agino, Bishop of Assisi, have undersigned (this).
I, Ingone, Bishop of Bagnoregio, have undersigned (this).
I, Tegrimo, Bishop of Massa Marittima, have undersigned (this).
I, Oberto (Pevere), Bishop of Genoa, have undersigned (this).
I, Adeodato, Bishop of Montecorvino, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni, Bishop of Trevi, have undersigned (this).
I, Giovanni (IV), Bishop of Alatri, have undersigned (this).
I, Placido, Bishop of Veroli, have undersigned (this).
I, Erasmo, Bishop of Segni, have undersigned (this).
I, Arichis, Bishop of Alife, have undersigned (this).
I, Cuniberto, Bishop of Torino, have undersigned (this).
I, Opizo, Bishop of Bobbio, have undersigned (this).
I, Benzone, Bishop of Alba, have undersigned (this).
I, Ottone, Bishop of Novara, have undersigned (this).
I, Enrico, Bishop of Ivrea, have undersigned (this).
I, Guglielmo, Bishop of Asti, have undersigned (this).

—————–

FOONOTES

Source of Latin Text: Das Papstwahldekret von 1059. Echte Fassung, in: Jasper, Detlef. Das Pastwahldekret von 1059: Überlieferung und Textgestalt. Sigmaringen: Thorbecke, 1986, pp. 98-119. — The readings within () have been taken occasionally from the Imperial version.

1  The future, Pope Victor III.
2  The future, Pope Gregory VII.  His signature was recorded in the Imperial version of this Bull, compiled some 30 years afterwards, with the dignity of “subdeacon” rather than “archdeacon” to slight his reputation, for having contested the Emperor’s claim to have authority to invest Bishops.
2  This Giovanni, Bishop of Sabina, was formerly a Cardinal, but having usurpsed the Papacy under Pope Benedict IX, as anti-Pope Sylvester III, he was deposed at the First Council of Sutri in 1046, in the presence of the German King Henry III. That he is not listed among the Cardinals, in the above list, seems to indicate that he was striped of the dignity of the Cardinalate, but allowed to keep his functions as Bishop.
3  This identification is based on reading “Rosphredus … Attestensis” as misreading of the signature for (A)r(naldus) Ospredus .. Arietensis”, confirming this with the lists for the Bishops of Arezzo by this name, who attended this Council, but whose name is not otherwise found in the above lists.
4  The future, Pope Alexander II.

Canon Law, Church History

Pope Nicholas II was elected by only one voter! says Medieval Chronicle

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A Historical Note

Version française

As has been reported, discussed and commented on, last year, Pope Nicholas II was elected in 1058 A. D., after the unlawful usurpation of the Apostolic See by John Mincius, Bishop of Velletri,  who was elected by the whole body of Clergy and Faithful at Rome, after the death of Pope Stephen IX, but against the precept of that Pope, which required the election to be held only after Saint Hildebrand, his Archdeacon, returned from the court of Matilda, the Regent of Germany, at Goslar, in Thuringia.

Pope Nicholas II, according to the sources, was elected at Siena in May of 1058, and then his election was held a second time in December of the same year, after Hildebrand had returned from a second trip to Germany, to secure the consent of Matilda to his election.

How many persons participated in the election of Pope Nicholas II is not clear. Br. Bugnolo last year, following a modern English historian, reported that at the first election there was Hildebrand, and Cardinals Hugo of Candida Selva — the famous Burgundian Cardinal who placed the bull of excommunication up on the high altar of Hagia Sofia in 1054, against the Patriarch of Constantinople — and Peter Damian, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, the author of the famous work, Liber Gomorrhianus, against the sin of sodomy among clergy and monks.

But the Chronicle of the Monastery of Monte Cassino, written by Leo of Ostia and Peter the Deacon, two monks of that famous Benedictine center of holiness and learning, affirm that in December there was only one elector of Pope Nicholas II who cast a vote.  Here is the proof, with the Latin of the Chronicle and Br. Bugnolo’s translation in English, of Book III, chapter 12, p. 724, from the Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Tome 173, printed in 1853 A. D..:

Which in English, would be:

12. [Chapter 13]  But to return backwards a little (to what I reported before), when after the passing of Pope Stephen of pious memory, the above said Hildebrand, having returned from the Empress, discovered the Church (of Rome) invaded by the worst of men against the interdict of the same Apostolic (Pope), he remained at Florence; and agreeing on this matter by his own letters with the better of the Romans, and receiving their consent to all which he wanted, then with the support of Duke Godfried (Margrave of Tuscany and Imperial Vicar), he elected Bishop Gerard of Florence as the Roman Pope, and together with him and the Duke came to Rome, then, in the month of January (of 1059 A. D.); where the aforesaid Elect was enthroned in the Apostolic See by the Roman Clergy and People, and took the Name of Nicholas. Who then excommunicating the above-said invader with all his supporters, received him thereafter into communion at the intervention of certain of his (supporters), and established him at the Church of Saint Mary Major, as it is called by the Romans, to remain there deprived of the office of priest.

A Legal Question

How could Saint Hildebrand, all alone, elect a pope? 

The answer lies in the legal concept of delegation (cf. CIC 1983, canon 138-142), whereby everyone with authority can delegate another to represent himself in the doing of a legal act, which otherwise would require his physical presence to accomplish. Thus just as a soldier off at war can validly and legally marry his wife, who remains at home, via a man legally designated to act in his name and on his behalf, so anyone in an Ecclesiastical election, where this manner of voting is not prohibited, can designate another to vote for him, specifying or not specifying a specific candidate.

Thus, when Peter the Deacon says in the Chronicle of Monte Cassino, that the Saint “received the consent” of many Romans of good repute, he is saying juridically that the Saintly Archdeacon was empowered with the delegation to act on their behalf.

Note, also that Hildebrand was not a priest, nor a bishop, nor even a Cardinal, at that time. But he was a resident of Rome, being a Benedictine Monk of the Monastery of Saint Paul outside the walls.

So, yes, the Chronicle affirms that there was only physically present one elector, Saint Hildebrand. But juridically, since he was acting with their consent, all who consented were present and voting.

In Ecclesiastical jurisprudence as in natural law, consent is of two kinds: explicit and implicit; that is, expressed by word or sign or spoken word, and silence in the face of something done by another party, to which the one remaining silent has the right to speak in favor or against, but chooses not to speak at all.

WHAT ABOUT THE ELECTION OF Pope HILDEBRAND, then?

So, for example, in the election of Pope Hildebrand, last year on November 23, 2025, the fact that more than 5000 clergy and religious of the Dioceses of Rome and the 7 Suburbican Dioceses, all of whom had a right to participate in an election according to the Bull of Nicholas II, In Nomine Domini, after the uncanonical election of the heretic Robert Prevost, could participate in person, or by explicit or tacit consent — that is by communicating to Br. Bugnolo who was to convoke the election, approval or disapproval, or delegating him or anyone else to vote in their name — made the very fact that ChiesaRomana.info sent them notification of all the matters pertaining to the election and solicited their participation over 7 months, an action which constituted a request for consent from all parties: their silence being juridically equivalent to tacit consent to all details of which they were informed: the manner of the election, the legal right to participate,  the motives for the election, and the conditions of it.

As can be seen from ChiesaRomana.Info, the form to vote by delegation was published in October, for all of these clergy and religious to compile. And as seen from the Rogitum (See SedesApostolica.Info for this), some Faithful did participate by delegation.

However, since NONE of the other clergy or religious forbade the Election take place nor did any precept Br. Bugnolo not to convoke or assemble the electors, the election of Hildebrand not only fulfilled all the conditions of Nicholas II’s teaching, but went beyond those which made Nicholas II’s own election legitimate, since it can be sanely presumed that Saint Hildebrand during the 7 months from May to December of 1058, did NOT write to 5000 clergy and religious or send out 30,000 letters, as Br. Bugnolo and those assisting him did.

CONCLUSION

These things, above, having been said, to utterly refute the absurd attacks, based on complete fabrications, that if only a few attended the election, it would not be valid. An objection which is not Catholic at all, since, as can be seen from the above Chronicle, Peter the Deacon, makes no objection and instills no doubt that the election of Nicholas II, by only one person, was juridically invalid.

So, as it stands, either a Catholic must deny all the popes since 1058 A. D., or he must accept that Hildebrand is the Pope, if he is to follow Papal Law. But if he wants to join the Church of the Antichrist, which disrespects Jesus Christ and ignores His words to Saint Peter and His Successors, ignoring the laws of John Paul II and Nicholas II, he can do whatever he wills, like Eve did. It is your choice!

Liturgy

Dom Prosper Gueranger: The Life and Feast of Pope St. Gregory VII (Hildebrand)

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Click the Above to read the Life of Saint Gregory VII by Dom Gueranger, which Maria Angelo Grow has published on her Substack Page, “Maria Angela Catholic Devotional“, as Part I.

She will publish the readings from Matins in the Breviary of the Benedictines, in Part II.

From that, FromRome has copied the final Prophetic Prayer written by Dom Prosper. In the mean time, you can read Part II in its entirety on her X account, HERE.

 

May 25 Saint Gregory the Seventh, Pope and Confessor

by Dom Prosper Gueranger

DOM GUERANGER’s PROPHETIC PRARYER
TO SAINT HILDEBRAND

Pray, O Gregory, for this world, which thou didst rescue from barbarism, and which is now striving to relapse into degradation.

The men of this generation are ever talking of Liberty; it is in the name of this pretended Liberty that they have unchristianized Society; and the only means now left for maintaining order is outward violence and force.

Thou didst triumph over brute force, by making the laws of Right acknowledged and loved; thou gavest the world what it had lost—the Liberty of the sons of God, the Liberty of doing one’s duty—and it lasted for ages.

O come, noble-hearted Pontiff! aid this Europe of ours a second time. Beseech our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive the wickedness of them that have driven him from the world, and scoff at his threat of returning on the day of his triumph and his justice.

Yes, pray him to have mercy on the thousands among us who call themselves Christians—and perhaps are so—yet who are led astray by the absurd sophistry of the times, by blind prejudice, by a godless education, by high-sounding and vague words, and who call, by the name of Progress, the system of keeping men as far as possible from the End for which God created them. .

From the abode of peace, where thou art now resting after thy labors, look with an eye of affectionate pity on Holy Church, whose path is beset by countless difficulties. Everything conspires against her—remnants of bygone laws that were made in times of persecution; the frenzy of pride, which chafes at everything that favors subordination of rank or authority; and the determination to secularize Society, by scouting every element of the Supernatural.

In the midst of this storm of irreligion, the Rock on which thou, O Gregory, didst once hold the place of Peter, is furiously beaten by the waves of persecution.

Pray for our Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ. Like thee, he has loved justice and hated iniquity; and it seems as though he too will have to die in exile. Pray that the threatening scourge may be turned from Rome.

The followers of Satan, as St. John prophesies in the Apocalypse are come upon the breadth of the earth, and have encompassed the camp of the Saints, and the beloved City.

This Holy City was thy Spouse, when thou wast Pontiff here on earth; watch over her now. Disconcert the plots that are laid for her ruin. Rouse the zeal of the children of the Church, that, by their courage and generous offerings, they may labor for the noblest cause on earth. . Pray, too, for the Episcopal Order, of which the Apostolic See is the source.

The Anointed of the Lord have never had greater need of thine intercession than now, when they have to contend with a world that has openly divorced itself from the laws of God and his Church. May they be endued with strength from on high; courageous in the confession of Truth; and zealous in warning the Faithful against the errors that are now so rife against Faith and Morals. The power of the Church, in these our days, is confined to the sanctuary of the souls of her devoted children; external support is everywhere denied her.

The Holy Ghost, whose Mission is to maintain the Church of Christ, will indeed assist her even to the consummation of the world; but He does His work by instruments, and these must be men who are detached from the world, men who are not afraid to be unpopular, and men who are resolved, at every risk, to proclaim the teachings of the Sovereign Pontiff.

Great, by the mercy of God, is now the number of Pastors of the Church, who are all that He would have them be, who is the Prince of Pastors, as St. Peter calls him.

Pray for all, that all may, like thee, love justice and hate iniquity—love truth and hate error; and fear neither exile, nor persecution, nor death—for the Disciple is not above the Master! Amen.

Church History, Papal Documents

Pope Nicholas II’s Bull, “In Nomine Domini” (Papal Version)

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Latin Original,

with an English Translation by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

FRENCH — ITALIAN — SPANISH (see below)

More than 5 years ago I published an English translation of Pope Nicholas II’s bull, In nomine Domini, which he wrote with the counsel of Saints Hildebrand, the future Pope Gregory VII, and Peter Damian, the future Doctor of the Church against the homo-heresy. — Indeed, in the final paragraph which contains the censures against those who would dare violate this papal law, we can see the influence of the fiery zeal of Saint Hildebrand, where it combines a variety of curses found in the Psalms, against both clerics and laymen.

Recently with the help of a medieval scholar who has spent his life studying this Bull, I have come in the possession of a copy of this bull in its original version (see below). My previous translation was based on a copy of the Bull, in Latin, from a version which had been interpolated — that is, compiled by several existing versions, by a Scholar who attempted to interpret which precise wording was the original. While such a practice is widely accepted in the world of academics, it is always a very good thing to go back to the actual existing manuscripts and read them. The Latin text from the version published by the Church at Rome is that which I now publish, here below. — This papal version differs in nearly nothing from the interpolated version which I previously published and translated, but in the choice of words in a few passages, and in a few extra sentences at the end. — However, the paragraphs in the papal version are not numbered, so I have inserted numbers and joined some paragraphs together so that paragraph n. 3 in both versions regards what is to be done if a legitimate, honest and upright election cannot be held in the City of Rome.

This Bull of Pope Nicholas II is no obscure document, since it is the first Papal Bull which restricted the election of the Roman Pontiff to the Cardinals, two centuries before the first Conclave was ever held. It is even mentioned by name in the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Romano Pontifici eligendo, promulgated October 1, 1975, in its third paragraph, where it is called a “celebrated” constitution, that is, frequently used. It’s importance for today is that it explains, what other Papal Laws currently in force today do not, namely, “What is to be done if all the Cardinals forfeit their right and competence to elect the Roman Pontiff by reason of grave malfeasance, in conducting an illegal election or one which is declared invalid by papal prescriptions?”  It is implicitly referred to also in the current Papal Law of Pope John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, promulgated Feb. 22, 1996, where it says in its preface, that “the institution of the Conclave is not necessary for the valid election of the Roman Pontiff”, and again, wherein in n. 76 it declares any election violating its norms null and void, without however expressing what is to be done if the Cardinals fail to return into conclave because they maliciously will to hold as pope a man who is illegally elected.

Now follows my English translation of that.

Pope Nicholas II’s Bull “In nomine Domini”

April 13, 1059 A. D. — In the Constantinian Patriarchal Basilica of the Lateran, at Rome

Translated from the Papal Version of the text, published by Das Papstwahldekret von 1059. Echte Fassung, in: Jasper, Detlef. Das Pastwahldekret von 1059: Überlieferung unf Textgestalt. Sigmaringen: Thorbecke, 1986, pp. 98-109.

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD God, our Savior Jesus Christ.  From the year of His Incarnation, 1059, in the month of April, in the Twelfth Indiction, with the Sacrosanct Gospels laid open, also with the Most Reverend and Blessed Nicholas, presiding as the Apostolic Pope, in the Lateran Basilica of the Patriarch, which is named the Constantinian, also with the most reverend Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots or venerable Priests and Deacons accompanying, seated, the Same venerable Pontiff, decreeing with Apostolic Authority, concerning the Election of the Highest Pontiff, said:

Most beloved Brothers and co-Bishops, and also inferior members (of the clergy), your Beatitude knows and it does not lie hidden, that with the passing of Our predecessor, the lord Stephen, of pious memory, how many adverse (troubles) this Apostolic See, which I zealously serve with God’s urging, has suffered through, and then how many repeated hammers and frequent blows She has been subjected to through the brokers of simonaical heresy, so much that the Column of the Living God almost seemed to totter and the net of the Highest Fisherman, with the storms swelling, would be driven into the depths of shipwreck to be submerged.

§ 1. Wherefore, if it please thy Brotherhood, We ought, with God assisting, take care prudently for future cases and this by Ecclesiastical statute, provide in the hereafter that (these) evils, revived, not prevail.  On which account, having been instructed by Our predecessor and by the authority of the other Holy Fathers, We decree, and establish, that with the passing of the Pontiff of this universal Roman Church, first of all, the Cardinal Bishops, treating (the election) together with the most diligent consideration, summon immediately the Cardinal Clerics to themselves; and in this manner let the rest of the Clergy, and the People, approach to consent to the new election, so that, lest the deadly disease of venality insinuate itself by occasion, the most religious men be the chief leaders in the election of the Pontiff to be promoted, but the rest be their followers.

§ 2. And certainly the right and legitimate order of the election is here considered carefully, if it be gathered from having examined the diverse rules of the Fathers or their deeds, (and) even that sentence of Blessed Leo, (Our) predecessor, (who) said: “No reason permits, that there be had among Bishops, those who have neither been elected from the Clerics, nor requested by the common people, nor consecrated by the co-provincial Bishops with the judgement of the Metropolitans” (Pope Leo I, Letter to Rusticus of Narbonne, Migne PL 54, p. 1203 A/B). But because the Apostolic See takes precedence to all other Churches throughout the earth, and for that reason, too, She can have over Her no Metropolitan, the Cardinal Bishops with out doubt serve instead as Metropolitans, who namely promote the one elected as High Priest (antistitem) to the apex of the Apostolic Summit.  Moreover, let them elect (him) from the very womb of the Church, if one is found suitable, and/or if he not be found in Her, let him be taken from another; with due honor being served, and reverence for Our beloved son, Henry, who is held as King at the present and with God conceding hoped (to be) the future Emperor, as We have already conceded to him and to his successors, who personally begged this right from this Apostolic See.

§ 3. Wherefore, if the perversity of depraved and iniquitous men, so prevail, that a pure, sincere and free election cannot be held in the City, let the Cardinal Bishops with the religious Clerics, and the Catholic laity, though few, obtain the right of power (ius potestatis) to elect the Pontiff of the Apostolic See, where they might judge it to be more fitting. Plainly, after the election has been completed, if there be a bellicose conflict, and/or if the struggle of any kind of men resists by the earnestness of wickedness, such that he, who has been elected, cannot prevail to be enthroned in the Apostolic See according to the custom, nevertheless, let the elect obtain as Pope the authority to rule the Roman Church and to dispose of all Her faculties, which Blessed Gregory, We know, did, before his own consecration.

§4. On which account, if anyone has been elected, or even ordained, or enthroned, against this Decree of Ours promulgated by Synodal sentence, whether through sedition, and/or presumption, or any guile, let him be cast down by the Divine Authority and that of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, by a perpetual anathema with his promoters and supporters and followers as one separated from the thresholds of the Holy Church, just as the Anti-Christ, both invader and destroyer of the whole of Christendom, and let no audience be given him over this, but let him be deposed from every ecclesiastical grade unto whatever was before his, without any objection made, to whom if anyone whatsoever adheres, and/or exhibits any kind of reverence as to the Pontiff, or presumes to defend him in anything, let him be abandoned by equal sentence, which if anyone shows himself to be a violator of this sentence of Our Holy Decree, and has tried to confound the Roman Church by his presumption, and to raise disturbance against this Statute, let him be damned by perpetual anathema and excommunication, and let him be reputed among “the impious“, who “shall not rise again in judgement” (Psalm 1:5), let him know the wrath of the Omnipotent One against him, and that of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, whose Church he has presumed to fool, let him know a ravaging madness in this life and in the future; “Let his dwelling become deserted, and let there be no one who dwells in his tents” (cf. Psalm 69:26): “Let his sons be orphans, and his wife a widow” (Psalm 108:9), “Let him be shaken completely” (cf. Psalm 108:10) to madness, and “may his sons go about begging, and be cast out of their dwellings” (Psalm 108:10). “May the money-lender ravage all his substance, and may the foreigner lay waste all his labors” (Psalm 108:11); “Let the whole world fight against” (cf. Wisdom 5:21) him, and let all the other elements be against him, and may the merits of all the Saints, at rest, confound him and in this life may they show open vengeance upon him.

§5. Moreover, may the grace of the Omnipotent God protect the observers of this Our decree, and by the authority of the Blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul may it absolve them from all bonds of sins.

I, Nicholas, Bishop of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church,
have signed this Decree promulgated by Us, here above, as it reads.

Transcription

Source

Here follows a Spanish translation using the Spanish of the New World (Latin America). Many thanks to the Mexican-American reader of FromRome.Info for this!

Papa Nicolás II

EN EL NOMBRE DEL SEÑOR DIOS, nuestro Senor Jesucristo, del año de Su Encarnación, 1058, en el mes de abril, en la Duodécima Indicción, con los Evangelios Sacrosantos expuestos, también con el Reverendísimo y Bendito Nicolás, presidiendo como el Papa Apostólico, en la Basílica de Letrán del Patriarca, quien es llamado el Constantiniano, también con los Arzobispos, Obispos, Abades o venerables sacerdotes y diaconos acompañando, sentado, el mismo Venerable Pontifíce, decretando con Autoridad Apostólica, lo relacionado con la elección del Sumo Pontifíce dijo:

Muy amados Hermanos y co-Obispos y también miembros inferiores del clero, su Bienaventuranza, sabe y no se oculta, que con el deceso de Nuestro predecessor, el señor Esteban de grata memoria, cuantos problemas ha sufrido esta Sede Apostólica a la cual sirvo celosamente con el impulso de Dios y luego a cuantos martillazos repetidos y golpes frecuentes ella ha sido sometida a través de los agentes de la herejía simoniaca, tanto así que la Columna de Dios Viviente casi parecía tambalearse y la red del Pescador Supremo, con las tempestades incrementándose sería impulsada hacia las profundidades del naufragio para ser sumergido.

§ 1. Por lo tanto, si place a Su Hermandad, Nosotros debemos, con la asistencia de Dios, cuidar prudentemente para casos futuros y esto por estatuto Eclesiástico, proveer en el futuro que estos males, revividos, no prevalezcan. Por lo cual, habiendo sido instruidos por nuestro predecesor y por la autoridad de los otros Santos Padres, decretamos, y establecemos, que con el fallecimiento del Pontífice de esta Iglesia Romana universal, en primer lugar, los Cardenales Obispos, tratando la elección junto con la más diligente consideración, convoquen inmediatamente a los Cardenales Clérigos en persona, y de esta manera que el resto del clero y el pueblo, se acerquen a consentir a la nueva elección, de modo que, para que no se insinue la mortal enfermedad de la venalidad, los hombres más religiosos sean los principales líderes en la elección del Pontífice a ser promovido, pero el resto sean sus seguidores.

§ 2. Y ciertamente el orden justo y legítimo de la elección se considera aquí cuidadosamente, si se deduce de haber examinado las diversas reglas de los Padres o sus hechos, e incluso aquella sentencia del Beato León, Nuestro predecesor, quien dijo: “Ninguna razón permite que entre los Obispos haya quienes no hayan sido elegidos entre los Clérigos, ni solicitados por el pueblo común, ni consagrados por los Obispos coprovinciales con el juicio de los Metropolitas” (Papa León I, Carta a Rústico de Narbona, Migne PL54, p. 1203 A/B). Pero debido a que la Sede Apostólica tiene precedencia sobre todas las demás Iglesias en toda la tierra, y por esa razón, también, Ella no puede tener sobre Ella ningún Metropolitano, los Obispos Cardenales sin duda sirven en cambio con Metropolitanos, quienes concretamente promueven al elegido como Sumo Sacerdote (antistitem) a la cúspide de la Cumbre Apostólica. Además, que lo elijan del mismo seno de la Iglesia, si se encuentra uno adecuado, y/o si no se encuentra en ella, que se le tome de otra, con el debido honor servido, y reverencia para nuestro amado hijo, Enrique, quien es tenido como Rey en el presente y con Dios concediendo se espera que sea el futuro Emperador, como ya le hemos concedido a él y a sus sucesores, quienes personalmente rogar este derecho de esta Sede Apostólica.

§ 3 Por lo tanto, si la perversidad de hombres depravados e inicuos prevaleciera hasta tal punto que no se pudiera celebrar una elección pura, sincera y libre en la Ciudad, que los Cardenales Obispos con los Clérigos religiosos y los laicos católicos, aunque pocos, obtengan el derecho de poder (ius potestatis) para elegir al Pontífice de la Sede Apostólica donde juzguen que es más apropiado. Claramente, después de que la elección se haya completado, si hay un conflicto belicoso, y/o si la lucha de algunos hombres se resiste por la seriedad de la maldad, de tal manera que aquel, quien ha sido elegido, no puede prevalecer para ser entronizado en la Sede Apostólica según la costumbre, sin embargo, que el electo obtenga como Papa la autoridad para gobernar la Iglesia Romana y para obtener de todas sus facultades, lo cual sabemos hizo el Beato Gregorio, antes de su propia consagración.

§ 4. En cuenta de aquel, si alguien ha sido elegido, o incluso ordenado, o entronizado, en contra de este Nuestro Decreto promulgado por sentencia Sinodal, ya sea por sedición, y/o presunción, o cualquier engaño, que sea derribado por la Autoridad Divina y la de los Santos Apóstoles, Pedro y Pablo, mediante un anatema perpetuo con sus promotores, seguidores y partidarios como uno separado de los umbrales de la Santa Iglesia, así como el Anticristo, tanto invasor como destructor de toda la cristiandad, y que no se le conceda audiencia sobre esto, sin que se haga ninguna objeción; a quien si alguien se adhiere o exhibe cualquier tipo de reverencia hacia él como al Pontífice, o se presume defenderlo en algo, sea igualmente abandonado por sentencia igual, quienquiera que se muestre violador de esta sentencia de Nuestro Decreto, y haya tratado de confundir a la Iglesia Romana por su presunción, y de levantar disturbios contra este Estatuto, sea condenado por anatema perpetuo y excomunión, y sea reputado entre los “impíos que no se levantarán en el juicio” (Salmo 1:5), que conozca la ira del Omnipotente contra él, y la de los Santos Apóstoles, Pedro y Pablo, cuya Iglesia ha presumido engañar; que conozca una locura devastadora en esta vida y en la futura, “Quede desolada su morada y no haya quien habite en sus tiendas” (cf. Salmo 69:26): Sean sus hijos huérfanos, y su mujer viuda” (Salmo 108:9), “Sea sacudido por completo” (cf. Salmo 108:10) hasta la locura y “vaguen sus hijos mendigando, y sean echados de sus moradas” (Salmo 108:10). “Que el acreedor se apodere de todo lo que tiene, y los extraños saqueen el fruto de su trabajo” (Salmo 108:11); que todo el mundo luche contra (cf. Sabiduría 5,21) él, y que todos los demás elementos estén contra él, y que los méritos de todos los Santos, en reposo, lo confundan y que en esta vida muestren venganza manifiesta sobre él.

§ 5. Además, que la gracia del Dios Omnipotente proteja a los observadores de este Nuestro Decreto, y por la autoridad de los Bienaventurados Apóstoles, Pedro y Pablo, que los absuelva de todas las ataduras de pecados.

Yo, Nicolás, Obispo de la Santa Iglesia Católica y Apostólica Romana, he firmado este Decreto promulgado por Nosotros, aquí arriba, tal como se lee.

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News

The Church of Rome must now return to Sutri!

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by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

Traduction Française

In the days before Christmas in the year of Our Lord One Thousand and Forty-Six, the King of the Germans, Henry III came to Sutri, Italy, in the environs of Viterbo to put in order the Roman Church.

As he descended with his armed knights into Italy, he sent emissaries to Pope Gregory VI to summon a provincial council there, to settle once and for all who was the real pope.

For in the year 1046, there were 3 claimants to the Papacy. One whom had been juridically elected, but sold the papacy and resigned, but then returned to claim it again. This was Pope Benedict IX, a teenager known for debauching himself with both sexes. Then, there was an errant Bishop who came to Rome and paid the clergy to acclaim him, so that they would have a decent man rather than this young perp. That was Pope Sylvester III. And then there was the Cardinal John Gratian, a wealthy man, who disgusted at the immoral depravity of the teenager Pope, offered to buy the papacy from him, so that he could be free to run off and marry his girlfriend. He accepted. This third claimant was Pope Gregory VI.

I have spoken about the facts before here, in my article The Doors to Sutri are opening, back in 2020, where I cited the Polish ecclesiastical historian, Prof. Grzegorz Kucharczyk, who pointed out the historical importance of Sutri for the Church of today. See all my articles on the Synod of Sutri, here.

Actually there were two Synods of Sutri, one in 1046, which I have just described, and another in 1061, for the reformation of the discipline of the clergy of the Roman Church. So obscure is this history, that even at Sutri, the first Council has been forgotten. It just runs contrary to too many theologians ideals of an exaggerated papal authority: the thought that the Church can depose Popes.

Sutri today is still in the ecclesiastical province of Rome. But it belongs to the Diocese of Civita Castellana. Sutri is also important in the story of the Papal States, on account of the fact that it was the first city put under the jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff in 728 A. D., by the King of the Lombards, Luitprand, in the Donation of Sutri.

Because of the important historical value of this Synod, held 977 years ago, I made a long pilgrimage to Sutri this evening to attend mass in the Church of Saint Sylvester, where in 1046 3 popes were deposed in the presence of the the German King, Henry, at whose consent only one was canonically elected.

Sanctuary of the Cathedral of Sutri, Italy, as seen at 5:40 PM, Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The Synod was not held in the Cathedral of the City (shown in the feature image above and here to the right), whose large dimensions inspired the imagination to conceive of rows and rows of nobles, knights, Cardinals, Bishops, clergy, monks, faithful, all gathered in the most solemn array, to witness the most unique event in all Church history, the deposition of 3 popes on the same day.

No, it was held in the Church of Saint Sylvester, which is no bigger than a chapel in a Seminary. (This was probably done so that the combined body warmth of all those attending would heat the building on those cold December days of 1046.) And in that room from December 23-24, there stood not only Henry III, who would be crowned Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day at Rome, but also Saint Hildebrand (the future great Pope Gregory VII, savior of the medieval Papacy), who was at that time still the acolyte of Pope Gregory VI, and Bl. Daufer, who would ascend the Apostolic Throne as Pope Victor III only twenty years later.

The events of 1046 show us that despite the scandals and tribulations of history, Our Lord remains in charge of His Church. After Mass He showed this by inspiring the priest to expose Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament at the center of the Altar, to receive the praise, love and above all adoration of the Faithful.

In the image above, Saint Anne teaches Our Lady to read from Sacred Scripture, while Saint Peter prays for Pope Saint Sylvester, Martyr. Our Lord remains with us, and His Saints are at His back! This is where we should be: upholding His unchanging will for Holy Mother Church.

And this is why we must all now insist, as I have recently urged, that a provincial council be called. Read that article to see what can do, to make it happen!

Church History, Ecclesiology

The Dictatus of Pope St. Gregory VII

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by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

In the present hour of darkness and confusion, it behooves all to turn their gaze back to the sound and eternal judgement of the saintly popes of old, of which one of the greatest was Pope Saint Gregory VIII, in life called Hildebrand, who single-handedly saved the Catholic Church from the filthy and avaricious hands of godless men who usurped the right to name Bishops, Abbots and distribute the benefices of the Church to their friends and political allies.

During his papacy, there was entered into the official register of papal laws, the Dictatus papae, a collection of solemn truths which regard the Catholic Faith on the Papal Primacy and the Roman Church. See here for the Latin text and a copy of one of the most ancient manuscripts containing it.

Due to the relative obscurity of this magisterial text, I share with you now the text in both Latin and my English translation. (The Video above includes the Latin text) I pray that it might be for your enlightenment and for the confirmation of your faith in these troubled times, when true doctrine is being so obscured.

Dictatus Papae

Number Latin English translation
I Quod Romana ecclesia a solo Domino sit fundata. That the Roman Church has been founded by the Lord alone.
II Quod solus Romanus pontifex iure dicatur universalis. That the Roman Pontiff alone is called “universal” by right.
III Quod ille solus possit deponere episcopos vel reconciliare. That He alone can depose and/or reconcile Bishops.
IV Quod legatus eius omnibus episcopis presit in concilio etiam inferioris gradus et adversus eos sententiam depositionis possit dare. That His legate takes precedence in council to all bishops even when he is of inferior grade and can give a sentence of deposition against them.
V Quod absentes papa possit deponere. That the Pope can depose those absent.
VI Quod cum excommunicatis ab illo inter cetera nec in eadem domo debemus manere. That among other things we neither ought to remain in the same house of the one excommunicated by him.
VII Quod illi soli licet pro temporis necessitate novas leges condere, novas plebes congregare, de canonica abatiam facere et e contra, divitem episcopatum dividere et inopes unire. That for him alone is it licit, according to the necessity of time to establish new laws, to welcome new peoples, to make new abbacies of canonical right and, contrariwise, to divide rich bishoprics and unite needy ones.
VIII Quod solus possit uti imperialibus insigniis. That he alone can use the imperial insignia.
IX Quod solius pape pedes omnes principes deosculentur. That all princes are to kiss the feet of the pope alone.
X Quod illius solius nomen in ecclesiis recitetur. That the name of him alone is to be recited in the churches (in the Canon of the Mass).
XI Quod hoc unicum est nomen in mundo. That this (his name as Pope) is the only one in the world.
XII Quod illi liceat imperatores deponere. That for him it is licit to depose emperors.
XIII Quod illi liceat de sede ad sedem necessitate cogente episcopos transmutare. That for him it is licit when driven by necessity to transfer bishops from see to see.
XIV Quod de omni ecclesia quocunque voluerit clericum valeat ordinare. That he validly ordains any cleric from every church wheresoever.
XV Quod ab illo ordinatus alii eclesie preesse potest, sed non militare; et quod ab aliquo episcopo non debet superiorem gradum accipere. That the one ordained by him can take charge of any church, but not serve as a soldier; and that he ought not accept a superior grade from any bishop.
XVI Quod nulla synodus absque precepto eius debet generalis vocari. That no synod without his precept ought to be called “general”.
XVII Quod nullum capitulum nullusque liber canonicus habeatur absque illius auctoritate. That no chapter be held and no canonical book be recognized without his authority.
XVIII Quod sententia illius a nullo debeat retractari et ipse omnium solus retractare possit. That his sentence ought to be retracted by no one and that he alone can retract that of all.
XIX Quod a nemine ipse iudicare debeat. That he himself be judged by no one.
XX Quo nullus audeat condemnare apostolicam sedem apellantem. That no one dare condemn the one appealing to the Apostolic See.
XXI Quod maiores cause cuiscunque ecclesie ad eam referri debeant. That the greater cases of every church whatsoever ought to be referred to Her.
XXII Quod Romana ecclesia nunquam erravit nec imperpetuum scriptura testante errabit. That the Roman Church has never erred nor shall ever err in perpetuity, as Scripture testifies.
XXIII Quod Romanus pontifex, si canonice fuerit ordinatus, meritis beati Petri indubitanter efficitur sanctus testante sancto Ennodio Papiensi episcopo ei multis sanctis patribus faventibus, sicut in decretis beati Symachi pape continetur. That the Roman Pontiff, if he has been canonically ordained, is undoubtedly made holy by the merits of Blessed Peter, according to the testimony of Saint Ennodius, Bishop of Pavia, with many holy Fathers favoring him, just as is contained in the decrees of Blessed Pope Symachus.
XXIV Quod illius precepto et licentia subiectis liceat accusare. That by his precept and license it is licit for his subjects to bring accusations.
XXV Quod absque synodali conventu possit episcopus deponere et reconciliare. That he can depose and reconcile bishops without the convening of a synod.
XXVI Quod catholicus non habeatur, qui non concordat Romane ecclesie. That one is not to be held to be Catholic, who is not in agreement with the Roman Church.
XXVII Quod a fidelitate iniquorum subiectos potest absolvere. That he can absolve the subjects of the iniquitous from fealty.