'Pope Stephen VIII', was a native of
Germany, was
pope from about
July 14,
939 until his death towards the end of October,
942.
During his pontificate he was subject to
Alberic II of Spoleto, Prince of the Romans, and did not effectively rule the
Papal States. His period as pope was during a brief interruption from the period when the church had been ruled by the so-called "
pornocracy" of Theodora and
Marozia,
Roman noblewomen.

Pope Stephen VIII
References
★ 9th edition (1880s) of the
Encyclopædia Britannica