Formosus, bishop of Porto (Portugal), fled his bishopric out of fear of Pope John and refused to return at the behest of the pope who removed, defrocked and excommunicated him. In addition, Formosus was required to foreswear ever again becoming a bishop and never again to enter Rome.
Following the death of Pope John, Martin II14 became pope and restored Formosus’ bishopric. Against his former oath, Formosus returned to Rome and was made pope following the death of Pope Stephen (V).
Following Formosus’ death there was Bonifacius and then Stephen VI. Although the latter was made bishop by Formosus, Stephen VI overturned all of Formosus’ decrees and during a bishops’ synod actually had Formosus’ remains exhumed and stripped of all papal adornment15. Pope Stephen then ordered that two fingers of Formosus’ right hand be cut off and that the body be thrown into the Tiber River.
Following Stephen VI, Theodore (II) was made Roman bishop. He restored all those appointed by Formosus to their offices16. Following Theodore, John IX reigned, who called a synod in Ravenna that declared the conviction of Formosus as illegal. Those popes who followed were Benedict IV and Leo V, the latter removed by force and jailed by a Cardinal Christopher17.
Seven months later Sergio III took the throne, declared Cardinal Christopher an evildoer and thief, and had him jailed. During his reign Formosus’ had declared Sergio as unworthy of wearing the papal tiara. Sergio had fled to the French, who aided him in returning and regaining papal worthiness.
In revenge, Sergio III disinterred Formosus’ body again and placed it on the throne clad in papal raiment. He then had the body beheaded and threw the remains in the Tiber River18. Soon after the remains were found by a fisherman and returned to St. Peter’s. People of faith tell that sacred images appeared before him and welcomed him as he was entombed the last time.
14More correctly, Marinus I.
15This posthumous trial, known as the Cadaver Synod, during which not only was Formosus sentenced posthumously but everyone who he had appointed was removed from office. Other accounts say Sergio III removed the appointees.
16Besides rehabilitating Formosus, Theodore II allowed Formosus’ followers to reinterr his remains in St. Peter’s Basilica.
17Current papal history shows Sergio III as being responsible for the imprisonment and death of both Leo V and Cardinal Christopher.
18Current papal history shows that Sergio III also had Formosus’ remaining fingers of the right hand removed.