Though the position of the pope, i.e. head of the Catholic Church, comes with reverence and respect from most people, it also can attract jealousy and violence. Though there is no official tally for how many popes have been assassinated, it has been estimated by African Journals Online that 25 popes have died of unnatural causes. However, it should be noted their "unnatural" causes included deaths such as starvation in captivity, which is not quite the same thing as an outright assassination.
The first pope who was allegedly murdered was Pope John VIII, who presided over the Vatican from 872 to 882. According to History.com, Pope John VIII was poisoned by one of his own clerics. The poison acted very slowly, however, and the impatient murderer resorted to using a hammer to complete his horrible deed. Pope John VIII's death heralded a turbulent time for the Holy See, and the papal position not only became less powerful, but also descended into political intrigue.
