Who was the last married Roman Catholic Pope while serving as Pope?

Pope Adrian II was the last pope who was married while serving as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Some scholars say that he refused celibacy. Pope Adrian II was married to Stephania before he took Holy Orders. His wife was still living when he was elected Pope and resided with him in the Lateran Palace. Until they were murdered, both his wife and daughter lived with him during his papacy.

In 872, after serving about five years as pope, Adrian II died. He became pope at the advanced age of 75. He died when he was 80 years old. As Pope, his papacy was troubled and faced several important political issues.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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57 Comments

John Grove

Other sources indicate it was Pope Clement IV from 1265-1268 A.D.

William Laughlin

spg cool dude, John Grove, Gentlemen, check your facts and reread the question. The question asks specifically who was the last Pope to be married "WHILE SERVING as Pope". Although Clement IV was married at one point in his life, his wife was deceased when he served as Pope from 1265-1268. In fact, he hadn't entered the clergy and been sworn to celibacy until after her death.

Jim Kinsey

So why did they change it? Seems that procreation is one of God's gifts to man. No wonder they have so much trouble with pedophilia.

billyboy915

Kevin Coleman, Clement IV was not married while he was in the clergy, including his Papacy. The question clearly asks who was married WHILE he served as Pope. His wife died before he ever entered the priesthood.

billyboy915

Kenneth Traylor, Reread the question. It asks for the LAST Pope to be married while serving as Pope; not the FIRST!

John W Shreve

williamrlaughlin, Thanks again, Wiliam. I commented on Peter being married, but that's recorded in the Gospels before he could have served as Pope. There's no record of him being married while serving in that capacity. In fact, you can argue that there's no record of his ever being Pope either.

Karin Johansson

Now i really understand why USA is in a mess. People can't read or hear or think at all. What is wrong with most of you. Is it so difficult to read a whole sentense?

Special Patrol Group

Pope Clement IV was married 1265-1268 AD

JRW

Chris Brown, 3 of them were no longer married (ie widowed) before becoming pope! Please read all aspects of the question.

Lone Wolf

So originally all could be married and have children. However after too many claims against the church by widows and children legitimate and otherwise they introduced celibacy as a way of protecting the Churches property.

sidlevangie

Clement iv was a widower when he became pope

eculleeney

Another misworded question, I was going to skip it, so my bad. This answer is not correct.

mapiferuk

John Grove, I thought I had read that somewhere so I answered wrong

Chris Brown

I don't think so. Here is what I found: There have been at least four Popes who were legally married before taking Holy Orders: St Hormisdas (514–523), Adrian II (867–872), John XVII (1003) and Clement IV (1265–68) – though Hormisdas was already a widower by the time of his election.