158th Pope of the Catholic Church. Pontificate 1086 - 1087. Victor III birth name was Dauferius Epifani. Victor had little desire to become pope, he only submitted after the cardinals proclaimed him against his will. Victor became seriously ill during a counsel and retired to Monte Cassino to die. He had himself carried into the chapter-house, issued various decrees for the benefit of the abbey, appointed with the consent of the monks the prior, Cardinal Oderisius, to succeed him in the abbacy, just as he himself had been appointed by Stephen IX, and proposed Odo of Ostia to the assembled cardinals and bishops as the next pope.