Papacy of John XIX begins 1024

On the 19th of April 2024, ten days after the death of his brother Benedict VIII, Romanus was elected pope and took the name John XIX. Both both he and his brother were members of the powerful house of Tusculum, and he had been a consul, senator and a civil leader of Rome.

His election as pope was said to have been the result of bribery and he retained his secular positions making him both civil and religious leader of Rome.

A layman at the time of his election he had to be ordained and consecrated a bishop before he could take up his position as pontiff.