Son of a priest named Leo.
142nd pope, elected through the influence of John Crescentius during a period of political turmoil in Rome.
Consented to the Roman Synod of 1007.
Approved the establishment of the diocese of Bamberg, and the re-established of the diocese of Merseburg.
![[Pope John XVIII]](pope0142.jpg "11kb jpg detail of a portrait of Pope John XVIII, date unknown, artist unknown; please do not write to ask about the image")
