151. Benedict IX:
November 8, 1047 - July 16, 1048
Pope Benedict IX was the nephew of his predecessor, Pope John XIX, and some records suggest that he was only twelve years old when he assumed the papacy.
152. Damasus II:
July 17, 1048 - August 9, 1048 (24 days)
The reign Damasus II was one of the shortest on record - so short, in fact, that there were rumors that he had been poisoned; it is more likley, however, that he died of malaria.
153. St. Leo IX:
February 12, 1049 - April 19, 1054 (5 years)
Pope Leo IX was elected in Worms, but he conditioned his acceptance of the papacy that he be canonically elected by the clergy and people in Rome. He travelled to Rome as a pilgrim and was greeted well, thus leading to his consecration.
154. Victor II:
April 13, 1055 - July 28, 1057 (2 years)
Victor II was the first pope after the Western and Eastern churches split - at the time, however, this was regarded as simply one more division in a long line of disagreements, so it wasn't perceived as being as decisive and final as later historians saw it.
155. Stephen X IX:
August 2, 1057 - March 29, 1058 (7 months)
The reign of Stephen IX was short, but he was a strong backer of church reforms, something which garnered him quite a bit of opposition from other powerful forces. When he was elected pope he was already abbot of the Monte Cassino, a position which he never gave up.
156. Nicholas II:
December 6, 1058 - July 19 or 27, 1061 (2 years, 7 months)
Nicholas II saw as one of his most important tasks the reform of how popes were to be elected. To that end he called for a synod at the Lateran palace in 1059. This meeting arrived at a number of decisions which were designed to ensure that papal elections were in the hands of cardinals and removed from the influence of secular rulers and Roman mobs.
157. Alexander II:
September 30, 1061 - April 21, 1073 (11 years)
Pope Alexander II came to power in a Rome divided by intense power struggles. Alexander wanted to reform the Roman curia and the papacy, but he was opposed by powerful interests that sought their own enrichment.
158. St. Gregory VII:
April 22, 1073 - May 25, 1085 (12 years)
Gregory VII was a reform-minded pope who issues decrees forbidding practices like clerical marriage (and concubinage) and simony - demonstrating that even at this date such activity was still quite common.
159. Blessed Victor III:
May 24, 1086 - September 16, 1087 (1 year)
Victor III was not eager to become pope and was evidently embarrassed that the cardinals had elected him. In fact, after election he abandoned Rome for Monte Cassino (where he was abbot).
160. Blessed Urban II:
March 12, 1088 - July 29, 1099 (11 years)
Pope Urban II was a strong supporter of church reforms, particularly those advocated by his predecessor, Pope Gregory VII. He issued decrees against simony, clerical marriage, and many other transgressions.
161. Paschal II:
August 13, 1099 - January 21, 1118 (18 years)
Paschal II's mark in history lies primarily with his involvement in the Investiture Conflict with various European rulers. Although he managed to reach an accord with Henry I of England and Philip I of France, matters were not nearly so peaceful with Henry IV and Henry V of the Holy Roman Empire.
