Disease of Pope Syzyniusz and Boniface VI.
Pius IX, who managed it for 32 years, can boast of the longest pontificate in the history of the Church. Not much shorter, almost 27 years, John Paul II sat on the Peter Throne. On Thursday, May 8, the Vatican chose a new pope. The American from the USA – Robert Prevost was the first time. Leon XIV, because he took such a name, is 69 years old and a good chance of a long -term pontificate.
However, it should be remembered that some performed this function only a dozen or so days – just like Sisinius, who died shortly after the choice. 20 days later. At that time, he only managed to ordain the bishop intended for Corsica and began preparations for the reconstruction of the walls of Rome destroyed by the Arabs and Longobards.
Boniface VI also did not start the pontificate in good health. It lasted even shorter, just 15 days. Both seriously they suffered from a supply, They died in Rome and were buried in the Basilica of St. Piotr.
Interestingly, Bonifacy VI was the son of Bishop Hadrian and was elected as soon as he was chosen after Formosus’ death. The election was forced by the agitated and armed Roman people, demonstrating the reluctance to the emperor. Although in the past Jan VIII twice sushed him because of an immoral lifestyle – first as a subdicon, and then as a priest. And although before the pope he was removed from the priesthood, he is still on the official list of popes in the Vatican as the successor of Saint. Piotr.
However, this disease not only affected the popes. It was also suffered by kings and Sarmatians who did not shun sumptuous feasts. King Henry VIII and politician Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders of the United States, were well -known victims of Podagry. It is also possible that Zygmunt III Waza and Jan III Sobieski suffered from it.
This disease was also hit by the Italian family of Medici. Thanks to Wawrzyniec, the fantastic family prestige increased to such an extent that many Italian princes treated him like a sovereign. However, the attacks of the podagry often upset him. Like – his father and grandfather – he had to endure sudden and painful episodes of the disease. The attacks prevented him from acting on the leader of the Florentine Republic. He suffered so severely that he could not accept diplomats. Despite the intensive search for medicine, he failed to win the disease.
Gout (gout) as a curse of rulers and popes
And what is this disease? It manifests itself, among others Arthritis and is caused by too high levels of uric acid in the body.
In the Middle Ages, this problem was described in detail by the chaplain of Bishop Chichester in England, who worked as a papal notary public. The causes of the disease found in the disorders of one of the so -called humor. According to the assumptions – humoral theory – the four main body fluids were to decide about human health. He thought that when one of the moods « dripped » to the pond, he caused severe pain, redness and swelling. And the lack of effective medicine at that time meant constant torments for the suffering. Often leading to death due to complications.
In turn, the English 17th-century doctor Thomas Sydenham described one of his patients suffering from gout. – He falls asleep calmly so that around two in the morning he is woken by piercing pain in a large finger at the foot, heel, calf or ankle. With every hour, the pain becomes stronger, to such an extent that the patient is not able to endure the burden of bedding – he noted.
Many literary descriptions of Podagry attack are also known, including at the famous Casanova. « How sometimes I am in a big finger, » Zagłoba complained in « Fire and Sword ».
Interestingly, for centuries it was also thought that this disease affects almost exclusively men.
See also:
He became the new pope. Who is Robert Prevost?
What is behind the name of the new pope? « It is not accidental »
White smoke over the Vatican. Vaticanists comment on an unusual sign
This article was first appeared on the page of Fakt on 7.05.2025.
