# Pope Benedict VIII

_Pope_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-viii
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Benedict VIII (Latin: Benedictus VIII; c. 980 – 9 April 1024) was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 18 May 1012 until 1024. He was born Theophylact of Tusculum to the noble family of the counts of Tusculum. Unusually for a medieval pope, he had strong authority both in Rome and abroad.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 980 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102#P19))
- **Died:** 15 April 1024 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102#P27))
- **Positions held:** Pope (24 May 1012 – 9 April 1024) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102#P39))

## About

Theophylact was born to Count Gregory I of Tusculum. The family had already produced three popes: John XI (r. 931–935), John XII (r. 955–964), and Benedict VII (r. 973–974). Theophylact became pope on 18 May 1012 and took the name Benedict VIII.

## Questions

**When was Pope Benedict VIII born?**  
Pope Benedict VIII was born on 980 in Rome.

**What positions has Pope Benedict VIII held?**  
Positions held by Pope Benedict VIII include: Pope (1012–1024).

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Benedict VIII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_VIII) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q162102](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162102) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Benedykt VIII.jpg by Berasategui (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benedykt_VIII.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Benedict VIII, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Benedykt VIII.jpg — Berasategui, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Pope Benedict VIII". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-viii. Retrieved 6 November 2026.