Stephen VII
Stephen VII
(VI), pope during a few months, in 896-897. On his attaining to the papal dignity he caused the body of his predecessor and personal enemy, Formosus (q.v.), to be exhumed and mutilated, after which it was thrown into the Tiber. It is alleged that Formosus had, on some former occasion, prevented Stephen from becoming pope. The same partisan fury which enabled Stephen to vent his anger upon a deceased enemy brought about his own destruction. He was strangled to death in prison, and his action towards Formosus was condemned by a synod under John IX (898).
