Romanus was born inRome. He was the third son of CountGregory I of Tusculum and his wife, Mary.[3] During the pontificate of his brother,Benedict VIII, Romanus held temporal power in the city as consul and senator. Upon the death of Benedict, Romanus, a layman, was elected to succeed him. He was immediatelyordained in all the orders in succession, and consecrated bishop in order to enable him to ascend the papal chair.[4] He took the name of John.[5]
John XIX played a role in the process leading to theSchism of 1054 by rejecting a proposal byPatriarch Eustathius of Constantinople to recognise that patriarchate's sphere of interest in the east.[6] Against the grain of ecclesiastical history, John XIX agreed, upon being paid a large bribe, to recognize thepatriarch of Constantinople's claim to the title ofecumenical bishop.[4] However, this proposal excited general indignation throughout the Church, immediately compelling him to withdraw from the agreement.
John invited the celebrated musician,Guido of Arezzo, to visit Rome and explain the musical notation invented by him. He encouraged the Benedictine to instruct the Roman clergy in music.[7]
On the death of theEmperor Henry II in 1024, John gave his support toEmperor Conrad II, who along with his wife,Gisela of Swabia, was crowned with great pomp atSt. Peter's Basilica onEaster of 1027.[4] Two kings,Rudolph III of Burgundy andCnut the Great of Denmark and England, took part in this journey to Rome.[5] Consistent with his role as a Christian king, Cnut went to Rome to repent for his sins, to pray for redemption and the security of his subjects, and to improve the conditions for pilgrims, as well as merchants, on the road to Rome. Rudolph had control of many of the toll gates. Negotiations being successful, the solemn word of the pope, Conrad and Rudolph was given with the witness of four archbishops, twenty bishops, and "innumerable multitudes of dukes and nobles",[8] suggesting it was before the ceremonies were completed. In 1025 he sent the crown toPoland and blessed the coronation of the Polish kingBolesław I the Brave.[9]
On 6 April 1027, John held a Lateran synod in which he declared for thepatriarch of Aquileia against thepatriarch of Grado, giving its bishop,Poppo of Aquileia, the patriarchal dignity and putting the bishop of Grado under his jurisdiction. In fact, the patriarch took precedence over all Italian bishops. In 1029, John revoked his decision and reaffirmed all the dignities of Grado. John also enacted a papal bull endowing ArchbishopByzantius of Bari with the right to consecrate his own twelve suffragans after the reattachment of the Bariot diocese to Rome in 1025. This was part of a conciliatory agreement with Eustathius, whereby the existence of theByzantine Rite would be allowed in Italy in exchange for the establishment of churches celebrating theLatin liturgical rites in Constantinople.[10]
Pope John XIX took theCluny Abbey under his protection, and renewed its privileges in spite of the protests of Goslin,bishop of Macon. He offeredOdilo of Cluny the archbishopric of Lyons, but Odilo refused and the pope then chided Odilo for disobedience. John XIX died shortly after.[11] He was said to have been killed by a mob of angry peasants, but there is no direct evidence to support this. His nephewBenedict IX was selected to succeed him, although he was still young; according to some sources, he was only 12, but he was more likely to have been about 18 or 20.
John XIX was closely related to five other popes who reigned in the 10th and 11th centuries, as well as some of the most powerful rulers of Italy at the time.[12]
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