Hadrian di Roma

Born [date unknown] in Rome, Papal States

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Biography

Pope Adrian III di Roma is Notable.

Adrian was born in Rome in the 9th Century.^[1][2][3]

He became pope on 17 May 884^[1] and his pontificate ended in August or September 885^[1]. However, Wikipedia states he died in July 885 and his feast day is 8 July.^[2] Platina supports the July date stating that he "died in the first year and second month of his Popedom, and was buried in St Peter's Church,with the general lamentation of the people for the unseasonable loss of such a father".

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia^[4] he "died near Modena in the summer of the following year, while on his way to the diet summoned by Charles the Fat to determine the succession to the Empire. He was buried in the monastery of Nonantula, where his memory has ever since been held in local veneration. By decree of Pope Leo XIII the clergy of Rome and Modena celebrate his Mass and office ritu duplici on 7 September."

He died in 885 near Modena.^[4]

Flocknote Popes in a Year^[5] tells us:

A Roman by birth, the rest of Adrian’s life prior to being pope is lost to history. He took office May 17, 884 and reigned for barely 13 months. The Holy Roman Empire during this time had fallen to Emperor Charles the Fat after numerous ruling family members died and left their territories to him. Since Charles had no legitimate heirs, he convened a meeting to discuss imperial succession, as well as the growing power of the Saracens, and said “Yo, Adrian. I need your help.” The meeting, known as the Imperial Diet (the irony), was held at Worms (pronounced VOHRms) in Germany, but the pope never made it. He died en route, on July 8, 885, and was buried in the Nonantola Abbey near Modena.

Though little is known about St. Adrian III’s brief time as pope, it’s clear that he brought the papacy back in line with the policies of John VIII, particularly when it came to disciplining the Roman nobility. The nobility seemed to stop at nothing to advance themselves at the expense of all else, which made the situation in Rome very dire. It was so bad, in fact, that Pope Adrian, a very holy man, was forced to consider unusual punishments for scheming nobles when nothing else worked. For example, one man, John VIII’s sworn enemy, George of Aventine, was tried, condemned, and blinded for his intrigues.

Unlike most early popes, Adrian III wasn’t recognized as a saint for more than 1,000 years. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on June 2, 1891 and his feast day is July 8.

At this time: In 885, the Vikings began their siege of Paris and continued it through the summer of 886, when the imperial army arrived and forced a retreat.

Research Notes

This profile is being updated by the Popes Project.

Death date based on Catholic Encyclopedia^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Vatican
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Wikipedia Pope Adrian III
3. ↑ Platina, Bartolomeo (1479) The Lives of the Popes From the Time of Our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII, I, London: Griffith Farran & Co., p234-235, retrieved 2021-04-04.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Pope St Adrian III
5. ↑ Flocknote Popes in a Year
   SOURCES (and further reading)
   John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
   Pope St. Adrian III - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01156b.htm
   Pope Adrian III - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Adrian_III
   Siege of Paris - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Paris_(885–86)