pope from 946 to 955. Elected on May 10, 946, with the support of Alberic II, he was a wise and pious administrator who endeavoured to restore ecclesiastical discipline. The chief events of his pontificate included the spread of Christianity in Denmark, the settlement of the dispute over the see of Reims, and the German king Otto I's first success in Italy (951). Toward the end of his pontificate, Alberic had the dying pope swear his support for Octavian, Alberic's son, as next pope. Octavian was elected and took the name John XII.