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Born to the nobility, but little else is known of his early life. Elected to the papacy and raised to the throne without waiting for approval by emperor Lothar. Lothar sent an army under his son Louis to enforce the emperor’s perogative to approve the choice of pope, but peace was negotiated, and Louis was crowned king of Lombardy by Sergius. In August 846, Rome and churches of the Vatican were sacked by Saracens.

The custom of the Pope changing his Christian name on his accession to the papacy was introduced by Sergius II who thought it would be presumptuous to call himself Peter II, making it look as though he were comparing himself to Saint Peter the Apostle. Following his lead, no pope has since retained or assumed the name of Peter.

Born

• Rome, Italy as Peter di Porca

Papal Ascension

• 844 by popular acclamation of the clergy and people of Rome

Died

• 27 January 847 of natural causes

MLA Citation

• “Pope Sergius II“. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 February 2019. Web. 24 September 2020. <>