Reigned from 1024 to 1032. Born in Rome, Italy as Romanus; died there. A brother of Benedict VIII, he was a layman at the time of his election. As pope he refused the request of the Eastern emperor, Basil II, to allow the Byzantine patriarchs to assume the title "AEcumenical patriarch"; crowned Conrad the Salian emperor, 1027; allowed the subjects of King Canute of Denmark and England to travel to Italy free of customs duties; and settled a dispute between the archbishops of Milan and Ravenna in favor of the former. A patron of art, he encouraged the musician, Guido of Arezzo, and decorated many buildings in Rome.