Sergios 60 was pope Sergius II, bishop of Rome from 844 to 847. A native of Rome, he was the son of noble parents (cf. Lib. Pont. 104. 2: "parentum eius nobilitatem"), Sergios 59 and Anonyma 52, a lady of illustrious status who organised his early education after his father died; they lived in the fourth district of Rome; Sergios 60 was strictly brought up and removed from all temptation, and is described as developing a character worthy of his noble ancestors ("moribus clarescere maiorum coepit nobilium"); when his mother also died, Sergios was only in his twelfth year, and he lived in his parents' house together with his brothers: Lib. Pont. 104. 1. One of his brothers was Benedictus (Benediktos 6): Lib. Pont. 104. 40A.

Sergios 60 was left an orphan during the pontificate of Leo III (Leo 11) (795-816); he was introduced to Leo 11, who approved of him and sent him to continue his education and to study singing at the "schola cantorum" ("praesul eum scolae cantorum ad erudiendum communes tradidit litteras et ut mellifluis instrueretur cantilaenae melodiis"); he proved an outstanding pupil: Lib. Pont. 104. 2. Leo 11 then appointed him an acolyte in the church at Rome ("tunc eum acolitum in sancta constituit Romana aecclesia"); Leo 11's successor, Stephen V (IV) (Stephanos 90) (816-817), made him a subdeacon ("protinus illi subdiaconatus concessit officium"), and Stephen 90's successor, Paschal (Paschalis 5), consecrated him priest of the titulus of St Silvester ("a quo idem vir ... tituli beati Silvestri confessoris atque pontificis presbiter consecratur"); then under pope Gregory IV (Gregorios 82) Sergios 60 was made an archpriest ("archipresbiterum eum in sancta ordinavit ecclesia"): Lib. Pont. 104. 3-4, cf. 105. 4 (cited below). He was a candidate for the succession after the death of Gregorios 82 (in 844) and emerged as the choice of the leaders and nobles at Rome and of the crowd; an attempt to seize the Lateran palace and occupy the see by Ioannes 247 was defeated and Sergios 60 was consecrated: Lib. Pont. 104. 4-7, cf. 105. 4 (on the death of Gregory, "Sergius archipresbiter sanctae Romanae ecclesiae praesul effectus").

His character is described in conventional and rhetorical terms at Lib. Pont. 104. 7, where, among other qualities, he is described as of distinguished origin ("origine insignis"), pure in the faith, humble before God, keen-eyed and even keener witted, a supporter of the poor and protector of widows, and a devotee of learning.

Sergios 60 arranged a grand welcome at Rome for king Louis (Lodoïchos 1) and greeted him personally on the steps of St Peter's, on 8 June (844): Lib. Pont. 104. 9-11. On 15 June, again in St Peter's, Sergios 60 crowned Lodoïchos 1 king of the Lombards with all due ceremonial: Lib. Pont. 104. 13. He answered criticisms of himself made at a Council in Rome, convened by Drogo 1 in 844: Lib. Pont. 104. 14. This probably took place before the coronation of Lodoïchos 1; see the note of Duchesne, Lib. Pont., p. 101, n. 8. The Council probably met to settle the dispute about the confirmation of the pope's election. He rejected a request that the leading Romans should take an oath of loyalty to Lodoïchos 1, but agreed that an oath be taken to the emperor Lothair (Lotharios 1); then the pope, the king, all the archbishops and bishops, with the remaining clergy and the leaders of the Franks and the Romans took an oath of loyalty to the Frankish emperor: Lib. Pont. 104. 15. Sergios 60 refused to reinstate the deposed archbishops of Reims and Narbo, Ebbo 1 and Bartholomaios 2, but allowed them to take communion among the laity: Lib. Pont. 104. 16. He received and gave a blessing to the ruler of the people of Beneventum, Siconulf 1: Lib. Pont. 104. 17. After Lodoïchos 1 returned to Pavia, the people of Rome acclaimed Sergios 60 for restoring peace: Lib. Pont. 104. 18.

A list of his restorations and foundations and of the donations which he made to churches and monasteries is given in Lib. Pont. 104. 19-39. The latter part of this Life records a less favourable tradition about Sergios 60. He suffered from gout and consequently had difficulty both in walking and in using his hands; he was irritable ("animosus"), untidy and abusive ("ore incomptus et convitiis deditus"), contradicted himself in word and deed ("actu et sermonibus instabilis"), and generally lacked seriousness; consequently the leaders at Rome ("optimates Romanorum") disregarded him; his brother Benedictus (Benediktos 6) took advantage of the situation and made himself the effective ruler of Rome, with the support of Lotharios 1: Lib. Pont. 104. 40A. Simony was widespread during his pontificate: Lib. Pont. 104. 43A.

In 846 the Saracens attacked Italy from the sea (Lib. Pont. 104. 44A-47A) and both St Peter's and St Paul's were plundered by them, causing great distress: Lib. Pont. 104. 4-5. Sergios 60 died after three years as bishop of Rome and was buried in St Peter's: Lib. Pont. 104. 48B. He was related to the later pope Hadrian II (Hadrianos 8) and also to pope Stephen V (IV) (Stephanos 90): Lib. Pont. 108. 1. He ordained Leo 121 to the priesthood and made him priest of the titulus of the Sancti Quattuor Coronati: Lib. Pont. 105. 4.

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