St. Mark was Peter’s scribe and disciple
St. Linus (67-76) 2nd Pope
Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, severing the Church’s last connection with Jerusalem.
St. Cletus (76-88) 3rd Pope
St. Clement I (88-97) 4th Pope
He instituted the notary public, recording the facts of the martyrdoms and persecutions.
His famous letter to the Church in Corinth sets for the doctrine of apostolic succession.
Russian Catholics, Rusian Orthodox, Ukranian Catholics, Ukranian Orthodox claim St. Clement I as their founder.
St. John, last of the Apostles, was still alive, when a schism in Corinth was resolved by St. Clement I
He founded the first seven diaconates, considered to be the origin of the College of Cardinals
St. Alexander I (105-115) 7th Pope
St. Sixtus I (115-125) 8th Pope
St. Telesphorus (125-136) 9th Pope
and peace to his people on earth.
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
for you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen”
St. Hyginus (136-140) 10th Pope
St. Pius I (140-155) 11th Pope
St. Anicetus (155-160) 12th Pope
St. Soter (166-175) 13th Pope
St. Eleutherius (175-189) 14th Pope
St. Victor I (189-199) 15th Pope
St. Zephyrinus (199-217) 16th Pope
He consolidated the pontifical supremacy over the bishops
He renewed the discipline of the Church toward adultery and immorality
Masses were said on top of the tombs. This started the practice of placing saints’s relics into altars.
Bitter arguments over the relationship between the human and divine nature of Jesus appear
The Church’s first formal schism appears
Some Christians believed that Jesus became man, not God.(Monarchianism)
Some Christians believed that it was the Father who died on the cross (Modalism)
St. Callixtus (217-22) 17th Pope
He was a slave who suffered for his faith
There were large numbers of Christians throughout all the cities of the empire
In Rome Christianity appealed to the highest and lowest classes
Previously, it had been custom to exclude sacraments from any Christian who committed adultery and fornication
In order to adapt to growing Christianity, He decreed that those guilty of sexual crimes might return to the sacraments after due penance.
He ruled that early baptism was preferable
He claimed altering this custom fell under the binding and loosing authority given to Peter and his successors
He declared that within the Church that slave and free were equal
He declared that the laws of the Church regarding marriage take precedence over laws of the state
He was responsible for the excavation of the catacombs on the Via Appia
His opposition lead to the creation of the first anti-pope, Hippolytus
St. Urban I (222-230) 18th Pope
He consented to the acquisition of property by the Church
He ordered that chalices and patens were to be made of gold and silver
Because of persecutions, Christians began to gather in the catacombs for the Liturgy
St. Pontian (230-235) 19th Pope
He ordered chanting of the Psalms
He convened a synod condemning that heresy that all men (including the devil) will eventually be reconciled with God (Origenism)
St. Anterus (235-236) 20th Pope
He wrote many epistles promoting tightening hierarchical relationships with the Church during the growing persecution
He ordered that the acts and relics of the martyrs be stored in churches
Some Christians followed a deterministic and dualistic Gnostic belief that the soul is good, but that matter is evil (Manicheanism)
St. Fabian (236-250) 21st Pope
He reorganized the local clergy into diaconates for the administration of social welfare.
He was responsible for founding several churches in Gaul
He originated the consecration of holy oils on Holy Thursday
Upon his election of pope, a dove landed on his head
The persecution in Rome gave rise to the hermetical life of the anchorites.
St. Cornelius (251-253) 22nd Pope
The fierce persecution of the Church prevented the election of a new pope after St. Fabian for 16 months
Novation, the second anti-pope, was elected
Novation introduced the heresy that those guilty of grave sins were permanently excluded and prevented from receiving absolution from the Church (Novationism)
Some Christians became lapsi by renouncing their faith. These lapsi offered incense to the gods or emperor, and turned over their bible to the Roman authorities.(traditores)
Cornelius convened a synod to deal with these lapsi who wished to return to the Church
The lapsi could rejoin the Church after a severe penance. Lapsi priests and bisho
p would lose their priestly authority
St. Lucius (253-254) 23rd Pope
He declared those who stole Church
assets to excommunicated.
He continued the policies of St. Cornelius toward the Lapsi
St. Stephen I (254-257) 24th Pope
The main event of this pontificate was the dispute of the re-baptized
He reasserted the traditional Roman Catholic teaching that baptism, done in the Trinitarian formula, is valid
He ordered that vestments used at Mass could not be worn as everyday wear
St. Sixtus II (257-258) 25th Pope
For fear of imperial confiscation, He ordered the remaining Church treasures to be distributed among the poor
St. Dionysius (Denis) (259-268) 26th Pope
The new emperor issued an edict of toleration, giving the Church its legal existence
The churches and cemeteries were restored to Catholic ownership
He reorganized the parishes in Rome that were disrupted during the persecution
He was elected a year after his successor because of the persecution
St. Felix I (269-274) 27th Pope
He began the practice of burying martyrs under church altars
He ordered that Masses should be celebrated on the tombs of the martyrs
He asserted the divinity and humanity of Jesus
He asserted the two natures, divinity and humanity, in one person
Some Christians believed that Jesus was merely a man, but had acted as the Temple of the Holy Spirit, in whom the Divine Word dwelt through its operation.
St. Eutychian (275-283) 28th Pope
Manicheanism spread throughout the empire, becoming very powerful, arousing great concern
He instituted blessing of the crops
He ordered that martyrs be covered with a Dalmatic, a cloak worn by the Roman emperors.
The Dalmatic is a sacred vestment worn by the deacon at solemn religious functions
St. Caius (283-296) 29th Pope
He was the grandson of the emperor
He ordered that all bishops must through several degrees of the clergy
The bloodiest persecution of Diocletian occurs
St. Marcellinus ( 296-304) 30th Pope
He was lenient toward the lapsi, which angered the Donatists and Novationists
St. Marcellus I (308-309) 31st Pope
The persecutions were so great that there was no pope for four years
He was very strict against those Christians who had been guilty of weakness and idolatry during the persecutions
For refusing to adore the idols, He was forced into slavery as stable horse groom
He decreed that a council could not be held without authorization by the pope
St. Eusebius (310) 32nd Pope
He fought against Rigorists who refused to administer penance against people who lapsed during the persecutions.
He fought against Heraclius and others who demanded that the lapsi be readmitted to the sacraments without penance
St. Miltiades (311-314) 33rd Pope
He was able to obtain the confiscated Church assets from the emperor
Constantine became the new emperor
Constantine allowed liberty to the Christians and the freedom of church building
In 313 Constantine enacted the Edict of Milan which allowed toleration of all religions in the empire
Birthrates and marriages dwindled sharply due to the decadent Roman lifestyle. Abortion, homosexuality, widespread divorce, and contraception prevailed.
To combat these evils, Constantine ordered that new marriage laws be based on the Church’s principles
Constantine gave the Lateran Palace to the papacy. This would be the place were the popes would preside. Today, it houses the administrative offices of the Diocese of Rome.
This cathederal is dedicated to John the Evangelist and John the Bapist. It is the first cathedral in Rome
St. Miltiades convened a synod condemning the Donatists as heretics
Blessed bread dates from this time
St. Sylvester I (314-335) 34th Pope
The Church continued to benefit from Constantine’s patronage. The basilica of St. Peter, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and Nativity in Bethlehem were given to the Church. Building and renovation of St. John Lateran continues.
Sylvester helped Constantine in his continuing education in Christiantity
Some Christians believed that Christ was the highest of God’s creatures (not God) (Arianism)
Sylvester and Constantine jointly convened the First Council at Nicaea, the imperial summer home.
Sylvester send Bishop Hosius of Cordova to preside over the 250 bishops in his name
The council condemened Arianism and composed the Nicene Creed used at Mass today
The Nicene Creed affirms Christ’s status as 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity
Sylvester instituted Sunday as a holy day in memory of the resurrection
Contstantine was most likely baptized at his deathbed
St. Marcus I (336) 35th Pope
He decreed the use of the pallium to be worn by only popes, denoting their authority.
This a wool garment from a previously blessed lamb, decorated with black crosses
St. Julius I (337-352) 36th Pope
He convened a synod condemning Arianism
He convened a council reaffirming the decrees of Nicaea against the Arians. This This council allowed deposed bishops to appeal to the pope.
He ordered that the Church should celebrate Christmas on December 25
He is considered to be founder of the archives of the Holy See
Liberius (352-366) 37th Pope
He was the first pope not to be canonized in the Western Church.
He ordered the building of the basilica of St. Mary Major. This site was signified by a Marian apparition and confirmation by a miraculous fall of snow on the lot in the middle of August
The Arian heresy was at its height in influence. The emperor and all but five of the bishops followed Arianism
Bishops, like St. Athanasius, were driven from their dioceses.
Arianism appealed to the intellectuals because it was easily accessible to human reason
Arianism appealed to Jews and the more literate pagans because of its simple monotheism
Arianism de-divinizing of Jesus snipped the tension filled bridge between heaven and earth
Denial of the incarnation put God safely away in heaven, appealing to emperors to reign peacefully on earth
The emperor exiled Liberius and appointed the third anti-pope, Felix II. The emperor convened a “council”, approving several ambiguous semi-Arian creeds.
Under great pressure, Liberius endorsed these semi-Arian creeds in return for being allowed to return to Rome in 358
Similar pressure led Liberius to excommunicate St. Athanasius for a time.
Liberius received opposition for offering pardon for those Arian bishops who would renounce their heresy
Anti Pope Felix II was forced out of Rome. He refused to accept Arianism
St. Damasus I (366-383) 38th Pope
Althought he continued to struggle against Arianism, the tide had turned against this heresy
Some Christians believed that Christ had a human body
but no human intellect or free will. His flesh was united with His Godhood. Christ was neither God nor man. (Apollinarianism)
In 368 he convened a synod which condemned Apollinarism
There were three patriarchates in existence: Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch
The defeat and death of the emperor at the hands of the Visogoths (Barbarians) signified the beginning of the end of the Roman empire
The next emperor Theodesius I made Christianity the official religion of the empire. Official Roman citizenship was granted to all who were baptized
Damasus and Theodesius I convened the Council of Constantinople approving the final version of the Nicene Creed as recited today. This council defined and approved the Canon of Scripture
Damasus beautified churches and transformed the catacombs into shrines
He revised the Roman liturgy
He commissioned St. Jerome to make a new translation of the Bible from Hebrew into Latin, becoming the Vulgate
He authorized singing of the psalms by alternate choirs (Abrosian Rite).
He introduced the use of the Hebrew term “alleluia”.
Ursicinus became the fourth anti-pope as a result of opposition to Pope Liberius. Ursicinus, banished by the emperor, eventually converted to Ariansim
St. Siricius (384-399) 39th Pope
He was strong advocate of the Roman primacy
He issued many decrees for all the churches
His letter to Bishop Himerius of Tarragona is the earliest actual papal decree still existing
He assumed the title of Pope (Papa) from the Greek “Father”
Papa-anagram for Petri Apostoli Potestatem Accipiens
He upheld the necessity of celibacy for priests
St. Anastasius I (399-401) 40th Pope
He condemned the Origensists (who promote abuses in the Origen’s theology)
He condemned the Donatists
He declared that baptism by Donatists’ clergy to be valid
He declared that repentant Donatist clergy may return to their churches
He maintained that the Divinity was also hidden in material things.
He decreed that priests should remain standing during the gospel
St. Innocent I (401-417) 41st Pope
Two weak emperors ruled the empire
He consolidated papal supervision of the Church
He issued decrees promoting celibacy and combating adultery
Alaric, king of the Visigoths entered Italy and the emperor fled to Ravenna
Alaric sacked Rome, but spared the Churches and monastery, out of deference to Innocent I
The remaining pagans claimed that Rome fell because it had abandoned worship of the old gods.
St. Augustine refuted this claim in his work City of God
Innocent ordered that the repentant dying people cannot be refused final absolution
He decreed that only bishops should give the sacrament of confirmation
Some Christians believed in the heresy that denied both original sin and divine grace. This heresy held that one’s own personal will, good intentions and works, regardless of belief or sacraments, will win one’s salvation (Pelagiansism)
He established the Roman rite
He persuaded the emperor to gladiator contests in the arenas
St. Zosimus (417-418) 42nd Pope
He reconfirmed the condemnation of Pelagiansim
He insisted on the rights of the Church against foreign interference’
St. Boniface I (418-422) 43rd Pope
He continued the fight against Pelagianism
He enforced the law forbidding slaves to become priests
This time marks the beginning of secular interference in the election of popes
St. Celestine I (422-432) 44th Pope
Some Christians believed in the heresy that there were two persons in Christ, one human, one divine.
Because of this, the Virgin Mary could not be called the Mother of God, but only Mother of Christ (Nestorianism)
A Roman synod and the council of Ephesus condemned Nestorianism.
Ephesus was the location where Mary was placed in the care of John until her death
The condemnation of the council carried the force of the law, because Church laws were civil as well
Nestorianism spread into the Persian frontier. Nestorians took control of churches in Persia.
Persian authorities persucted Christians tied to Rome
St. Celestine sent missionaries to Britian and Ireland to evangelize and combat Pelagianism
Mention is first made in this period of the pastoral staff
St. Sixtus III (432-440) 45th Pope
He was very lenient against the Nestorians and Pelagians
He rebuilt the basilica of St. Mary Major in commemoration of the council of Ephesus reaffirmation of Mary’s divine motherhood
He restored the baptistery of the basilica of St. John Lateran
St. Leo I (440-461) 46th Pope
Against the background of crumbling imperial authority and barbarian invasions, He took a firm hand in Church affairs
Some Christians believed in the heresy that the human body is evil (Priscillianism)
Some Christians believed in the heresy that Christ had a single divine nature. (Monophystism)
He convened the council at Chalcedon which condemned Monophystism
Through misinterpretation of the council, many Christians in the East separated from the main body of the Church
Those Christians in the East did not separate were called Melkites (Royalists)
Attila the Hun came south into Italy. St. Leo convinced Attila to spare Rome
Gaiseric, king of the Vandals, came north into Italy. St. Leo convinced Gaiseric to spare Rome
St. Leo is called “Great” because of his energetic work in maintaining the unity of the Church
St. Hilarius (461-468) 47th Pope
He decreed that popes and bishops should not nominate their successors
He ordered that annual synods be held in southern Gaul
St. Simplicius ( 468-483) 48th Pope
The Church was ever more threatened by external and internal enemies
The Western emperor was deposed by the Odoacer, head of his Germanic guards
Arian Vandals ruled north Africa
Arian Visogoths ruled Spain and southern Gaul
Pagan Franks ruled northern Gaul
Odoacer proclaimed himself king of Italy, saying that empire needed one ruler
He resisted the Constantinople archbishops desire for greater power
The two older eastern patriarchates were in a virtual state of civil war
The struggle against Monophysitism was severe. This heresy was favored by three successive emperors
The Coptic Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Churches developed as a result of these struggles in the East
For the first time since Constantine, there was not a single Catholic king on earth
He regulated the distribution of offerings to pilgrims and for new churches
St. Felix III (483-492) 49th Pope
His grandson was to become Pope St. Gregory I
He had to deal with the ongoing struggle of Monophytism
He condemned the emperor, leading to another schism
He decreed strict regulations for the readmission into the Church of those who had accepted Arianism
St. Gelasius I (492-496) 50th Pope
He also continued to struggle with schism
Pelagiansim and Manicheanism continued
He ordered that the laity to receive from the cup, contradicting the Manichean claim that wine is evil
He ended the pagan festival of Lupercalia. This festival featured goat sacrifices and physical striking
He was a great liturgist, instituting the code for ceremonies and rites
He inserted the Kyrie eleison, a responsorial psalm in the opening rite in the Mass. Kyrie eleison is Greek for “Lord have mercy.”
Anastasius II ( 496-498) 51st Pope
Clovis, king of France, was baptized. This was the first of the barbarian kings to Catholicism
Anastasius continued to fight against schism
He maintained that sacraments given by schismatic priest were valid.
He condemned the heresy Traducianism. This heresy teaches that human souls were handed down to children by their parents, rather than creations by God at the moment of conception
St. Symmachus (498-514) 52nd Pope
He was a convert from paganism
He issued regulations regarding papal elections
He ordered that the Gloria was to be sung at all Sunday Masses
He consolidated Church property
He ransomed all slaves, giving them their desired freedom
He started the first construction of the Vatican Palace
Laurentius was chosen as the 5th anti-pope. He was chosen by those who were lenient toward the schismatic
St. Hormisdas (514-523) 53rd Pope
He was a widower before he went into major orders
His son Silverius would later some day be pope
The Acacian schism at long last ended
The eastern bishops accepted the council of Chalcedon and the authority of Rome in matters of faith
During this time St. Benedict founded the Benedictine Order
He decreed that the office of bishop not bestowed with privilege
St. John I (523-526) 54th Pope
He inherited a church at peace
The emperor turned over the Arian churches to the Catholics. The emperor ordered all the Arian Goths to convert
The papacy and empire were now closely aligned
He crowned the emperor
He was the first pope to go to Constantinople
St. Felix (526-530) 55th Pope
Pelagianim had been defeated
A moderated form (semi-Pelagianism) had become popular in southern Gaul. This was condemned by the pope
He approved the local council of Orange which explained Original Sin and condemned Pelagianism
The new emperor intended to reconquer the West from the barbarians. The next several pontificates would be deeply affected by this-for good or bad
The emperor’s political needs tended to compete with his religious aspirations
Owing to the papacy’s interest in doctrinal orthodoxy regardless of political result, conflict would be inevitable
The emperor at times favored compromise that successive popes found intolerable
St. Boniface II (530-532) 56th Pope
The old Roman families who had produced the many popes were in decline
The priest were divided into factions
Thus set the stage for the first pope of Germanic origin, considered by some as a “barbarous foreigner”
The majority of the Roman clergy refused to accept Boniface. They elected an anti-pope Dioscurus.
After Dioscurus died, Boniface was accepted by all
He dealt with matters of whether or not appointing papal successors. This was later rejected
He approved the second council of Orange which condemned semi-Pelagianism
John II (533-535) 57th Pope
Problems appeared with the process of appointing papal successors. Simony and promising of votes were outlawed
His original name was Projectus, a pagan god’s name. He was the first pope to change his name
Another dispute over the Trinity had broken out in the East. He settled this matter
He solved some jurisdictional problems in southern Gaul
The emperor invaded Africa, defeating the Vandals. The Church was freed from persecution
The pope was recognized as head of the bishops of the whole world
St. Agapetus I (535-536) 58th Pope
He was immediately faced with the question of lapsed Arian bishops in Africa
He ruled that these Arian bishops could be readmitted to the Church, but without their former clerical authority
He was poisoned by emperor’s wife Theodora in Constantinople
He deposed a semi-Monophysite patriarch in Constantinople
St. Silverius (536-537) 59th Pope
He was the son of Pope St. Hormisdas
He was appointed by a Goth king and later ratified by the Roman clergy. The Gothic ruler wanted to a loyal pope in Rome
Italy and Rome were once again reoccupied by the Emperor.
The empress Theodora pursued her goal of making Monophysitism the religion of Church and empire.
Empress Theodora sought to arrange Vigillius to be the next pope. This next pope would revoke St. Agapetus’s condemnation of the semi-Monophysite patriach and eventual rejection of the Council of Chalcedon
Silverius was accused by high treason, being appointed by a Goth King
Vigilius (537-555) 60th Pope
The empress Theodora sought to make an ally of him
The majority of the Roman clergy initially refused to recognize him
He reiterated his approval of the teachings of Ephesus and Chalcedon and the condemnation of the eastern patriarch
The emperor conceded to the pope certain aspects of the civil administration in Italy
Pelagius I (556-561) 61st Pope
Rome was no a province of the Byzantine empire
He persuaded the emperor to condemn Origenism
He used his personal fortunes to relieve the starving city of Rome
His reputation was tarnished
He reorganized the Church’s estates
He organized tribunals to deal with clerical abuses that had grown over the years
John III (561-574) 62nd Pope
Like Pelagius, he helped the poor and renovated Italy
He saved Italy from the Lombard barbarians
He rallied all the Italians against the Lombards
Benedict I (575-579) 63rd Pope
The Lombards had succeeded in isolating Rome
Famine appeared throughout Italy
He ordered selling and reassigning Church properties to bring relief to the starving
He tried to restore order in Italy and France
He confirmed the council of Constantinople
Pelagius II (579-590) 64th Pope
He was born at Rome of a Gothic father
He convinced the Lombards to cease from their siege of Rome
The empire was exhausted by constant wars and constant skirmishing
He looked to the west to the kingdom of the Franks.
The Franks successfully held off the Lombards. The Lombards bribed the Franks to go home
Plague swept Rome
St. Gregory I (590-604) 65th Pope
He bought and freed some slaves
He kept open table for the poor.
He codified the Roman canon of the Mass(called the Eucharist prayer I) into its present form
He regulated the chants to be used in the liturgy. (Gregorian chants)
He wrote many sermons, commentaries, and letters
He fought against Arianism, paganism, simony, Manichaenism, and Donatism
He was able to begin the conversion of the Lombards
He reaffirmed the civil authority of the pope
Sabinian (604-606) 66th Pope
The Lombards went on the warpath again
He replaced many of Pope Gregory’s monks with secular monks
He regulated the ringing of the bells for meditation and prayer
He decreed that sanctuary lamps be always kept burning in the churches
Boniface III (607) 67th Pope
He held a synod which excommunicated anyone who discussed or lobbied a pope or bishop’s successor
He decreed that the only universal bishop was that of Rome, the pope
He forbid arrangements for election of the new pope until three days have passed since the death of the predecessor
St. Boniface IV (608-615) 68th Pope
He turned an old pagan temple into a church
He led a synod dealing with affairs of the English Church
The Persians took control over Syria, Persia, Palestine, and Jerusalem
He instituted All Saints Day on November 1st
He sanctioned moral and material improvements for the lower clergy
St. Deusdedit I (615-618) 69th Pope
He ordered that churches too small to hold their congregation, Masses could be held twice on Sunday
He tended lepers and the plague stricken.
His is the oldest pontifical seat preserved in the Vatican
He was the first to affix leaden seals (Bullae) to his decrees. Hence the common word for a document, a “bull.”
St. Boniface V (619-625) 70th Pope
He immediately work on administrative questions that previous pontificates had ignored
He established the right of sanctuary, whereby criminals could elude their pursuers for a period if they could reach a church
He further enacted that notaries must follow the laws of the empire in their work
He ruled that acolytes could not move from one church to another
Mohammed began preaching during this time
Honorius I (625-638) 71st Pope
He was much concerned with English affairs of the Church, granting authority to the archbishops at York and Canturbury
He oversaw the reorganization of the Church in Spain. After the Visogoths converted, Catholicism became the state church
The southern Irish bishops expressed fidelity to the papacy
He reconciled many of the schismatic churches of northern Italy and restored a number of northern churches
The emperor drove out the Persians out of the empire territories
The Monophysite followers helped paved the way for the easy fall of the provinces to the Persians
Followers of Mohammed felt obligated to subject the whole world to their idea of God, Allah
The emperor felt some compromise formula was needed that both Catholics and Monophysites could accept in order to maintain the empire
This compromise formula created the heresy, that although there were indeed two natures in Christ, there was one “will” between them. (Monothelitism)
However, there is a problem with this statement. If these two wills were united, Jesus would cease to be perfect Man and perfect God.
He was asked to provide a clarification of these doctrinal matters. He avoided this matter by neither defining nor condemning these teachings. He did not speak in an official teaching manner, nor attempting to bind the Church.
He was the first pope ever to be condemned as a heretic by an ecumenical council. The notion of papal infallibility was unclearly defined and determined
The Persians retook Syria, Palestine, and Jerusalem, and northern Africa, changing the Christian landscape
Most of the flourishing cities turned to ruins
Fertile fields and green forests became desert
Churches were turned into mosques
Small bands of native Christians remained in the Near East
The emperor decreed that all residents of the empire accept Monothelitism
Severinus (640) 72nd Pope
He declared once again that Christ had two wills and two natures
Monothelites believed their formula was the only method for reuniting the Copts and Syrians with Constantinople in the face of the Muslim threat. These believers saw the orthodox as stiff-neck fanatics willing to endanger the military security of the empire for mere religious beliefs
In refusing to accept Monothelitism, the emperor punished the pope by ransacking the Latern basilica and palace
John IV (640-642) 73rd Pope
He asked the northern Irish bishops to observe Easter in the Roman calendar.
He renewed his predecessor’s condemnation of Monothelitism
He himself ordained priests and bishops
Theodore I (642-649) 74th Pope
He was a benefactor of the poor
He repaired churches
He added the title “Sovereign” to “Pontiff’
He restored order to the internal jurisdiction of the clergy
St. Martin I (649-655) 75th Pope
He was aware of the Monoethelite problems
He held a council at Lateran, condemning Monothelitism
He was arrested and exiled for this action
St. Eugene I (654-657) 76th Pope
He reiterated the condemnations made by his predecessor
He decreed the observance of chastity for all priests
The emperor was fighting against Arabs, Avars, and Slavs
St. Vitalin (657-672) 77th Pope
He sought to bring the English Church in agreement to observation of Easter in the Roman calendar
He was the first pope to regulate the liturgical use of the organ, using it during religious ceremonies
In 671 the Lombards were converted to Christianity
Adeodatus II (672-676) 78th Pop
He defended orthodoxy against the Monothelites
He was an avid restorer of churches
He took the monasteries in Canterbury and France under direct papal protection
Constantinople was under siege by the Arabs
He sent missionaries to convert the Marionites
He was the first pope to use the in his letters, “Health and Apostolic Benediction
Donus (676-678) 79th Pope
He paved the courtyard in front of St. Peter’s
He ended the schism of the Church in Ravenna
He encouraged the bishops to support new schools in Gaul and Cambridge
St. Agatho (678-681) 80th Pope
He presided over a council condemning the Monothelites.
Pope Honorius was posthumously condemned as a heretic by that council
He sought to reintroduce the Gregorian Chant into England
He performed many miracles, receiving the title, “Healer”
He maintained strong relationships with the English bishops
He encourages Ireland as a center of culture
St. Leo II (682-683) 81st Pope
He reformed the Gregorian Chant
He condemned Honorious I
He reconciled the last holdouts of the Northern schism
He celebrated the sacred functions with great pomp in order to make the faithful more aware of the majesty of God
He introduced the sprinkling of the people with holy water during religious functions
St. Benedict II (684-685) 82nd Pope
He succeeded in liberating the emperor confirming the pope
He restored the privilege of sanctuary
He was known for his singing ability and knowledge of scripture
He work to suppress Monothelitism
He helped the clergy and supported the care for the poor
John V (685-686) 83rd Pope
He was able to have emperor reduce the taxes on papal states
He was known for his generosity to the poor
Conon (686-687) 84th Pope
He had a reputation for holiness
His pontificate was deeply disturbed by the anarchy which prevailed in the Church
St. Sergius I (687-701) 85th Pope
He refused to accept disciplinary canon authorized by the emperor
He was much concerned with internal Church affairs
He added the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) to the Roman Mass
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace
He instituted processions of the feasts of the Nativity, Purification, Annunciation, and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
He had sought to end the schism in Rome
John VI (701-705) 86th Pope
The Lombards marched on Rome
He defended the Church against the emperor
He ransomed many slaves
John VII (705-707) 87th Pope
He renovated and built churches
The Lombards returned papal states in northern Italy
He faced pressure from the emperor
He convinced English priests in Rome to wear the collar
Sisinnius (708) 88th Pope
He fortified the walls of Rome against invaders
Constantine (708-715) 89th Pope
Famine broke out around Rome for about four years
The Moors invaded Spain
He encouraged the Christians in Spain in their struggles against the Moors
He succeeded in bring some form of peace between the Church and the empire
St. Gregory II (715-731) 90th Pope
He was much interested in missionary work
The emperor violently opposed the use of images in churhes. (Inconoclasm)
He condemned the emperor’s actions
St. Gregory III (731-741) 91st Pope
He condemned iconoclasm and excommunicated the emperor
He sought help form Charles Martel, leader of the Franks, for protection from the Lombards
St. Zachary (741-752) 92nd Pope
He dealt with the Lombard problem, creating a truce
The Frankish Church was reorganized and revitalized
The reign of the “do nothing kings” ended
Pepin became the first in the Carolingian kings
He consecrated Pepin, the first investiture of a king by a pope
Stephen II (752-752) 93rd Pope
He died of a stroke while dealing with Church affairs.
Stephen III (752-757) 94th Pope
He sought the aid of Pepin in defeating the Lombards
The emperor convened a council condemning the use of images
Pepin bestowed sovereign papal states to the papacy
From this time popes would be temporal and spiritual leaders
He was loved by the Roman poor
He built hospitals around St. Peters church
St. Paul (757- 767) 95th Pope
He was the brother of Stephen II
He aligned himself with the Franks, enjoying peace with the Lombards
He welcomed monks who fled to escape persecution for their love of images
He freed prisoners condemned with debts
He forgave the injuries the Lombards had done to the Church.
Stephen IV (768-772) 96th Pope
Several political groups sought to name candidates for pope
In response to recent events, the council of Lateran in 769 declared that only cardinals could be elected pope
He was not able to restrain the Roman mob killed his rivals despite his protest.
The Frankish leaders returned back to the Vatican some previously confiscated lands.
Adrian I (772-795) 97th Pope
The “Donation of Charlemagne” provided the future papal states
Charlemagne became the King of the Franks and Lombards, becoming the official protector of Rome and the papacy
He restored the walls of Rome and the ancient aqueducts
St. Leo III (795-816) 98th Pope
He elevated Cologne and Salzburg into archdioceses
Some Christians believed in the heresy that Jesus was not God but merely a man whom special graces were given (Adoptionism)
He fled Rome seeking the aid of Charlemagne
He returned to Rome with an escort of Frankish nobles
He crowned, anointed and swore allegiance to Charlemagne
Charlemagne is the first Holy Roman emperor
The Roman and Gaulish rites were fused
Charlemagne united all of Europe, providing the foundation of modern Europe
The matter of clarification of the Trinity comes up in Spain. The Nicene Creed in its original form specifies that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father
Charlemagne urged Leo to add Filoque (“and the son”) to the Nicene Creed. This custom of adding Filoque spread from Spain to Gaul
Stephen V (816-817) 99th Pope
He was renowned for his generosity to the poor
He was the first to administer the oath of allegiance to the emperor
St. Paschal I (817-824) 100th Pope
He commissioned the evangelization of Denmark
The emperor in the east reverted to iconoclasm and renewed his persecution
He helped in the discovery and preservation of the catacombs
Eugene II (824-827) 101st Pope
He was very forceful in protecting and preserving the rights of the Church
A clerical group and an imperial leaning group sought their influence to name a pope
He and the emperor developed principals of the relationship between the pope and the emperor
Those under Papal or Imperial protection were inviolable and were to be obeyed
Church property was not be plundered after the death of a pope
Only those who were permitted, cardinals, could participate in papal elections
He established schools at cathedral
He deposed ignorant of illiterate preists
He is attributed to the institution of seminaries
He put into effect canons and law, becoming the origin present Roman Curia
Valentine (827) 102nd Pope
He was capable at reconciling all parties
He was loved by the people
Gregory IV (827-844) 103rd Pope
He was known by his piety.
He made himself known through his work for the poor.
Imperial concerns would dominate his pontificate.
Viking raids increased.
Muslims took Siciliy and intervened in Southern Italy.
He appointed Nov. 1 as Feast of All Saints.
The Gregorian Chant spread through Europe.
Sergius II (844-847) 104th Pope
He suffered physical pain and gout
The Muslims came very close to seizing Rome
He carried out improvements on churches and aqueducts
St. Leo IV (847-855) 105th Pope
He sought to strengthen the defenses of Rome against the Muslims
He built up the walls around Rome
He repaired and beautified St. Peter’s
He was the first pope to put the date on official documents
Benedict III (855-858) 106th Pope
The Frankish Church suffered from squabbles between the Carolingians
Many of these bishops were fearful to speak out against evils
St. Nicholas I (858-867) 107th Pope
Both secular rulers and archbishops sought to run Church affairs as their own
He was known for his fearlessness and piety
He faced difficult resistance among the secular rulers
The schism between east and west begin during this time
The Slavic alphabet “Cyrillic” is invented to teach Christianity to the Slavs
He encourages the missionary activity of the Church
He rebuilt and endowed several churhes
He constantly encourage religious vocations
He appointed August 15 as Feast of the Assumption
Adrian II (867-872) 108th Pope
He tried to settle the deep quarrels among the catholic people
He crowned the first sovereign blessed English king
The governance of the Church fell into the hands of a clique of unscrupulous clerics
John VIII (872-882) 109th Pope
He could not clean out corruption in Church affairs for fear of reprisal
He later eventually moved to clean up the Roman administration
He excommunicated a Church official in exchange for return of land to the Latin Church
He was defeated by the Arabs
The Christians were slowly were reconquering Spain from the Muslims
Marinus (882-884) 110th Pope
He tried to end the factionalism in Rome
He sought to take action against the schism in the east
St. Adrian III (884-885) 111st Pope
Rome was beset with a famine
Stephen VI (885-891) 112nd Pope
A plague of locusts reduced Rome to
starvation
He used his father’s fortune to buy food, free prisoners, and to repair churches
He forbade trial by fire or water
Formosus (891-896) 113th Pope
The Vikings besieged Paris
The French decided to have a king of their own
The Bulgarians were converted to Christianity
Boniface VI (896) 114th Pope
The papacy was at the mercy of the great feudal families of Italy
Stephen VII (896-897) 115th Pope
He had the pope’s body thrown into the Tiber river after a mock trial
He incorrectly declared that Formosus’ sacramental acts as invalid
Romanus (897) 116th Pope
He had a reputation of virtue
He help rehabilitated the memory of Formosus
Theodore II (897) 117th Pope
He restored full pontifical honors to Formosus
He reinstated clerics deposed by Stephen
He declared Formosus’ sacramental acts as valid
John IX (898-900) 118th Pope
He sought to eliminate the anarchy that overwhelmed Rome and Italy because of factionalism and the breakdown of the empire
He restored the clerics deposed by Stephen
He ordered an end to the plunder of the papal states
He reaffirmed the supremacy of the Church over Rome and its territories
He reestablished the right of imperial intervention in the consecration of popes
Benedict IV (900-903) 119th Pope
He succeeded in maintain the integrity of the papacy
He constantly sought out the way of justice
Leo V (903) 120th Pope
He was known for his holiness
He was elected in hopes that an outsider would be above the bitter factionalism that was destroying the Church
Sergius III (904-911) 121st Pope
He officially reinstated the posthumous trial of Formosus
He declared Formosus appointments invalid, creating sacramental confusion
He defended the rights of the Church against feudal lords
Anastasius III (911-913) 122nd Pope
He was known for moderation
The papacy was beset with persistent internal disorders
Lando (913-914) 123rd Pope
His appointment was a result of the actions of a political faction
John X (914-928) 124th Pope
His efforts were in fighting the Muslims
He consented to a royal appoint in return for the release of a king
His election was due to political intrigues
Leo VI (928-929) 125th Pope
His election was due to political intrigues
He tried to restore peace among the various factions
Stephen VIII (929-931) 126th Pope
His election was due to political intrigues
John XI (931-935) 127th Pope
This papacy was truly one of the most depressing in history
He tried to settle the political intrigues
Leo VII (936-939) 128th Pope
He forbade the forcible conversion of Jews
He wrote to France and Germany condemnation of witches and fortune tellers
He reformed and reorganized monastic life
Stephen IX (939-942) 129th Pope
He compelled the French nobles to remain loyal to the Carolingian king
He tried to convert the lords of the east and west to the Gospel
Marinus II (942-946) 130th Pope
He initiated reform
He looked after both the poor and the repair of churches
He restored Rome as the moral capital of the world
He modified the rules of orders
Agapetus II (946-955) 131st Pope
He worked on the repair of churches and relief of the poor
He encouraged the growth of Catholicism among the Danes
He did his utmost to raise the moral condition of the clergy
John XII (955-964) 132nd Pope
His election had been arranged in advance
The Lateran palace was called a brothel
He unwittingly set into motion the cleansing of Rome by the imperial army
The emperor rescued the papal states
From this time forward, popes were to swear allegiance to the emperors
He insisted on the temporal rights of the Church
He died in the arms of his mistress
Leo VIII (963-965) 133rd Pope
Pope John XII was deposed by the emperor.
He was elected as a lay person by the emperor. All of the holy orders were hurriedly bestows upon him
His reign dealt with issues with his predecessor and successor
Pope John XII degraded all the clerics ordained and appointed by him
Benedict V (964) 134th Pope
The clergy and the Roman citizens elected him.
He was exiled to Hamburg by the emperor
His investiture was recognized upon the death of his predecessor
John XIII (965-972) 135th Pope
The death of Leo VIII prompted the Romans to petition the emperor to return Benedict V. The emperor refused. John XIII was elected
The Roman nobility resented and imprisoned him. He fled Rome
The Romans asked him to return to Rome
He convened synods
He and the emperor cooperated in a worthy manner
The papal-imperial alliance was sealed
The two imperial traditions were united. The western emperor’s son was married to a Byzantine princess
Missionary work was undertaken in the now central Germany and Czech Republic
He introduced the custom of blessing and giving names to bells
Benedict VI (972-974) 136th Pope
He was imprisoned and killed
He granted various privileges to churches and monasteries
He converted the Hungarian people to Christianity
He was replaced by the anti-pope by those who killed him
Benedict VII (974-983) 137th Pope
He was being menaced by that anti-pope’s advocates
He promoted the growth of monastaries
He gave aid to the persecuted Christians of North Africa who were being strangled out of existence by the Muslims
He tried to stem the debauchery and ignorance that pervaded Italy and the Christian world
He promoted the development of agriculture
John XIV (983-984) 138th Pope
The anti-pope Boniface VII overthrew and murdered him
John XV (985-996) 139th Pope
He was restricted access by a political faction.
He sought the empress help to prevent this
He was the first pope to canonize a saint, St. Ulrich, bishop of Hapsburg
The king of England and Duke of Normandy were locked in a dispute that foreshadowed the Normandy invasion of England
Gregory V (996-999) 140th Pope
He was the emperor’s cousin
He faced political forces and was forced out of Rome. An antipope was appointed
He instituted the commemoration of the dead
Sylvester II (999-1003) 141st Pope
He was the first Frenchman to become pope
He promulgated many bulls
He was so well educated that he became one of the greatest scientists in Christendom
He strongly contributed to the adoption of the decimal system in Europe
He was a great instructor
He intervened everywhere in the West
In collaboration with the emperor, he created two new national churches in Poland and Hungary
He was a reconciler, unifier and bridge builder between the Eastern empire and Western empire
He tried to repress the debauchery
Many considered the year 1000 crucial for the Final Judgment
John XVII (1003) 142nd Pope
He was a lay person elected by a powerful political faction
John XVIII (1003-1009) 143rd Pope
He was elected through the actions of a powerful political faction
He confirmed or extended privileges to churches and abbeys
He briefly renewed the union between the Latin and Greek churches
He worked zealously to spread the Christianity to the barbarians and pagans
Sergius IV (1009-1012) 144th Pope
He greatly relieved the sufferings of the poor during a famine
He tried in vain to reduce the immorality among the bishop and powerful abbots
Benedict VIII (1012-1024) 145th Pope
He was elected to the papacy by force
He was a strong, pious man
The emperor confirmed papal rule over Ravenna
He help defeat the Muslims in another assault
He befriended the Normans who were beginning to take over southern Italy
He condemned simony and clerical marriage
John XIX (1024-1032) 146th Pope
He was Benedict VIII’s brother
He sought to find some reconciliation with the Byzantine emperor
Many reformers in Italy and France objected, stating that the Eastern church was corrupt
He was elected a lay person. He rapidly received all the holy orders in sucession.
He confirmed and extended the Pax Dei, a custom that clerics, religious and noncombatants would be exempt from warfare. Church and monasteries are off limits. Sundays would be a day of truce
Guido of Arezzo invents solfeggio (do-re-me…). He was inventor of the 7 musical notes
Benedict IX (1032-1045) 147th Pope
His two uncles had been pope. He regard the papacy as a family legacy
He led a disgusting personal life
One of the political factions drove him out of Rome. He vacated the papacy
The people elected John (soon to be Sylvester III)
Sylvester III (1045) 148th Pope
Benedict IX returned and expelled Sylvester
Benedict IX sold the papacy to John (soon to be Gregory V)
After Benedict IX sold the papacy, Sylvester III resigned his claim to the papacy in favor of Gregory V
Sylvester III reasserted his claim to the papacy
The emperor deposed Benedict IX and Gregory V
He is sometimes called an antipope
He was elected by one of the political factions
The Church recognizes him as a legitimate pope
Benedict IX (1045) 149th Pope
He sold the papacy to his godfather John (soon to be Gregory V) for money so that he can get married
Gregory VI (1045-1046) 150th Pope
John was only too happy to get Benedict IX out of the picture
The Romans and others welcomed him as the new pope
He faced an empty treasury and many problems
Sylvester III and Benedict IX were soon plotting their respective returns
The Roman clergy under Benedict IX had become extremely immoral
The opposing factions under Sylvester III and Benedict IX were powerful
Each of the three papal claimants occupied a major basilica
The city of the popes became a present day Belfast
A large number of the clergy appealed to the King of Germany to sort this situation out
Sylvester III and Benedict IX were deposed.
Convinced that he had committed simony by paying Benedict IX to leave, Gregory V voluntarily abdicated the papacy
The emperor selected Suidger, bishop of Germany, (soon to be Clement II) to become the next pope
He is attributed to forming the first pontifical army
Clement II (1046-1047) 151st Pope
He was born in Homborg, Germany
He had a reputation for holiness
He convened a synod which condemned simony
He was preoccupied with the arrogance of the Count-Bishops, the cause of much bitter fighting among vassals
Benedict IX (1047-1048) 152nd Pope
Taking advantage of Clement II’s death, he returned to rule in Rome. He was again driven out of Rome
He once and for all abdicated
He gave up his sinful ways and died a penitent death
Damasus II (1048) 153rd Pope
The emperor appointed Poppo (soon to be Damasus II)
Benedict IX was driven out of Rome
St. Leo IX (1049-1054) 154th Pope
He freely elected by the clergy and people of Rome
He entered Rome barefoot as a sign of humility
He began to reorganize the extremely muddled affairs of the church
He convened synods which condemned simony, lave investiture, clerical immorality
He condemned a heretic who denied the Real Presence in the Eucharist
The Normans were gobbling up more territories in southern Italy
The Normans defeated the imperial army and captured Leo IX
Ecclesiastical politics was becoming very nasty
He excommunicated Michael Cerularis who was responsible for causing the schism of the Greek Church with the Latin Church
In response Michael Cerularis repeated charges made by past patriarchs against Rome, closed ass Latin churches in Constantinople, desecrated hosts in their tabernacles
This was the final stroke of the schism between East and West
At this point time East and West both believed in: the common enemy of the Muslims, Apostolic succession, commonality of doctrine on most points, the idea that schism was wrong
Victor II (1055-1057) 155th Pope
He accepted being pope on condition that the emperor restore to the Holy See certain territories taken by the emperor and his predecessors
He fought simony, priestly fornication, other misdeeds
He assisted the emperor in imperial reform
Stephen X (1057-1058) 156th Pope
He shown an early commitment to reform
He sought to enforce reform of clerical morality
He planned to reopen negotiations with Constantinople
He south to work against the growing Norman power
He forbad matrimony between blood relations
On his deathbed, he asked the cardinals to wait until his cardinal aide to return to Rome
The imperially powered reform popes were unable to stamp out the political faction who supported Benedict IX
The Cardinals were forced by corruption or threat to elect John Mincius (soon to be Benedict X). This reign of this anti-pope was short lived
Nicholas II (1058-1061) 157th Pope
He set about repairing the damage inflicted on Rome by the political faction of Benedict, who were still carrying out guerilla warfare in the papal states
The Normans at last removed the last traces of Byzantium rule in Italy
He made an alliance with the Normans. In return in for recognizing Norman authority, the Normans were sent to root out this political faction of Benedict.
He was able to correct some abuses and confirm children
In Milan the clergy were sunk deep in simony and vice
H declared that papal elections needed to be more clearly defined and regulated. Henceforth, the cardinals alone were to vote for the pope. The clergy and the people of Rome still had the right to acclaim the elect. A similar right was given to the emperor
He negotiated with the Norman dukes and princes. In return for retaking lands occupied by the Muslims, the pope would recognize their Norman control over these lands. They would pay tribute to the Holy See and hold the lands as a papal vassal
The Normans forced the Benedictine political faction to surrender
He convened a synod which forbade the investiture of bishops without papal authorization
Alexander II (1061-1073) 158th Pope
Two main political factions exerted their influences to select the next pope.
Most of the cardinals chose Anselm (soon to be Alexander II)
The immoral clerics, Roman nobles, and pro-imperialists chose the immoral Bishop Cadalus of Parma
The empress favored Cadalus. The empress convened a council without cardinals to declare Cadalus as pope. Thus Cadalus (soon to be Honorius II) became anti-pope
Alexander had some advantages: a Norman alliance and the friendship of a power countess in Tuscany. Rome stayed safely in papal hands
The new regent (overthrowing the empress) recognized Alexander II as pope
He sought to put down simony, vice, immoral prelates
He blessed the banners of William the Conquer, a Normon, invading England and Roger Guiscard invading Sicily
William the Conqueror took in the fugitive Prince Edward of England. Edward would promise his throne to William
William the Conqueror sought the required legality and authority by the emperor. Thus the pope was able to support William in his invasion of England
Muslim Turks retook Asia Minor, remaining Muslim ever since
He institute the feast of the Holy Trinity on the Sunday following Pentecost
Honorius II’s forces defeated forces loyal to Alexander II
Honorius II was driven out by Tuscan forces
Gregory VII (1073-1085) 159th Pope
He promulgated decrees against simony, clerical immorality, and lay investiture
Because he refused to accept the emperor’s appointment and investiture of bishops with their clerical insignia, the emperor declared Gregory VII deposed
The emperor set up an antipope Clement III, besieging Gregory VII in the process. The Norman Robert Guiscard rescued Gregory VII
A council declared that the pope is universal. No one can judge him
Clement III’s “pontificate” extended no further than the lands held by the emperor
Clement III continued to as anti-pope for the next three pontificates
Blessed Victor III (1086-1087) 160th Pope
He was a great statesman
He reconfirmed all of Gregory VII’s condemnations and policies
He excommunicated Clement III
He took residence on the fortified Tiber Island
Blessed Urban II (1088-1099) 161th Pope
Henry’s and Clement III’s forces were in control of Rome, forcing him out
He traveled to France where he advocated a prohibition against lay investiture and bishops and abbots doing homage to lay magnates
He preached the first Crusade
There was little that Urban do with the aftermath of the Great Schism
The Muslim Turks extorted and tortured Christian natives and pilgrims
The Muslims destroyed holy places in Palestine
He was a holy man
He persuaded the fractious western kings and nobles to drop their petty differences and unite under the Cross to free the holy place, secure the Byzantium empire, and drive out the Muslims back from where they had come
These Crusades were actually defensive actions, launched for justifiable reasons. However, today most people deplore the Crusades for the many excesses that occurred. In fact, Pope John Paul II has apologized to the Muslims for them
There were seven crusades
An unexpected byproduct of the Crusade was that some of its leaders would see the recovery of Rome as a more immediate goal. Rome was still in control of Clement III’s faction
Paschal II (1099-1118) 162nd Pope
He continued the flow of Crusades to the East to help maintain and consolidate the conquests there
The new German king continued to give out dioceses to friends.
Paschall II again denounced lay investiture again
An accord was made. The king would renounce investitures while the pope ordered all bishops and abbots to restore the properties to imperial jurisdiction.
The Roman diocese was exempted from this confiscation
His traveling endeared him to the Catholic people
The antipope Clement III was succeeded by Theodorus, Alberic, and Sylvester III
His personal emissary Maurice Bourdin defected to the king’s faction
St. Gelasius II (1118-1119) 163rd Pope
He was captured, dragged, and thrown into a dungeon.
He forgave his captor
Callixtus (1119-1124) 164th Pope
He spent much of his time suppressing lay investiture
Lay investiture was declared heretical
He had a familial connection with the kings of Germany, France, England, and Denmark. It was considered that he would be able to deal with the King on equal terms
Most bishops in Medieval Europe were also feudal lords. These prelates owed their lands and fealty to the emperor or the kings
Temporal authorities sought control over the spiritual side of the bishops’ office as well
An agreement was reached. The king would invest the bishops as their feudal overlord, with lands of the diocese. But the ring and mitre, spiritual authority would be given by the Church
The papacy emerged as the victor in this dispute. The weakening of the stature of the imperial office contributed to instability in Italy and Germany
Honorius II (1124-1130) 165th Pope
He reconciled the king to the Church
He abdicated his office because of a schism among the cardinals
The king of England was nibbling away at the Church’s rights. The king stated that archbishop of Cantuerbury was the only papal legate in the realm
He renewed friendly relations with the European courts
Innocent II (1130-1143) 166th Pope
He was forced to flee Rome
Along with three saintly supporters, he conquered the Catholic world
Anacletus II was chosen as antipope by other opposing cardinals. The antipope plundered churches. Anacletus II crowned a Norman duke as a king of Italy. Anacletus II’s sucessor was Victor IV. Victor IV eventually submitted to Innocent II
Celestine II (1143-1144) 167th Pope
He had a great love of France
He earned a reputation of holiness
He settled the internal differences of the Church
He tried to end the war between England and Scotland
Lucius II (1144-1145) 168th Pope
He was librarian and chancellor of the Church
He intervened in a number of foreign questions
Rome independent Senate was demanding that clergy cease to occupy any political role
He decided to lead his own army against the Senate
This time begins the end of the Middle Ages
Blessed Eugene III (1145-1153) 169th Pope
Various Crusader stronghold had fallen to the Muslims
He called for the second Crusade
The leadership of the Senate revolutions proclaimed the city’s second republic
He convened as synod to combat clerical corruption
He signed a treaty with the emperor, binding the empire to protect the papacy
He began construction of the Papal Palace
Anastasius IV (1153-1154) 170th Pope
The Pantheon was restored
He was much concerned with German affairs
He wrote a treatise on the Trinity
He succeeded in bringing about the pacification of temporal domains of the Church
Adrian IV (1154-1159) 171st Pope
He is the only Englishman to hold the papal throne
He was called the Apostle of the North
The Roman republicans were in control of Rome. The robber barons were plundering where they could
The western emperor deserted the pope in a battle. The eastern emperor came to the pope’s aid
Ireland was ruled by many kings, breaking down into endemic warfare.
He made King Henry II of England “lord” of Ireland in hopes of imposing order to bring peace. This resulted in an invasion of Ireland by the Anglo-Normans and the beginning of the troubles that continue to this day
He was a strenuous defender of papal supremacy
Alexander III (1159-1181) 172nd Pope
The first great European university was in the process of developing
He was the leader of the “independence” party of the cardinals who wanted to free the papacy from imperial influence through the Norman alliance
He was driven out of Rome after being chosen as pope
An antipope (Victor IV) was chosen by a small number of cardinals
He convened a council limiting the vote for pope to 2/3 or more of the cardinals
He encouraged growth of the new university movement, whereby scholars concentrate with teachers in a given town.
Lucius III (1181-1185) 173rd Pope
The republican were making life difficult for him
He convened a synod condemning the resurgent heresy Manicheanism
The papacy had been able to exert some independence from the emperor through the alliance with the Normans. This would soon come to an end with the upcoming betrothal of Norman heiress and the emperor
He exhorted all those in authority to suppress heresy by force of arms
Urban III (1185-1187) 174th Pope
The cardinals quickly selected him as to prevent the emperor from interfering in this process
The Tuscan and Norman estates were claimed by the emperor
Gregory VIII (1187) 175th Pope
The Muslims had retaken Jerusalem
All of the petty squabbles of Christendom, for the moment, receded into the background. All Christendom became aware of the setback it had sustained
He investigated the murder of St. Thomas Becket
He assisted the Christians in the Holy Land
He sent letters to all kings, princes in Europe to make peace
Clement III (1187-1191) 176th Pope
He organized the third Crusade
Celestine III (1191-1198) 177th Pope
He was elected at age 85
He granted many privileges to Templars
He sustained the indissolubility of marriage
Innocent III (1198-1216) 178th Pope
When elected pope, he secured the Papal State
In Germany, two candidates for emperor appeared
He declared that imperial coronation gives the pope the right to rule upon the suitability of the candidate
He acted in the affairs of many nations
He preached a Crusade against the Spanish Muslims
His greatest interest was the healing of the Eastern Schism and recovery of the Holy Land
The fourth Crusade was to attack Constantinople. Horrible sacrileges occurred which the Greeks have never forgiven
A Latin emperor and patriarch were installed
Byzantium princes fled, harboring bitter hatred toward the Latins
Relics from the East were taken to pay for the funds of the Crusade
In southern France some believed a heresy that matter was evil, created by an evil god. By contrast, the good god created spirit. This good god was the object of Albigense worship (Albgensinism)
He went missionaries to convert the Albigenses
He convened a council with needed disciplinary decrees, a call for a new Crusade, an new creed.
This council helped defined the term transubstantiation. This term is perhaps the greatest legacy of Innocent’s pontificate
He was all too aware of the decline in the quality and apostolic character of the clergy
He recognized a dream of his as a sign to approve a new order, the Franciscans
He also approved the Dominican order and the Trinitarians
The Fransicans maintained as special devotion to poverty and evangelization
The Dominicans had a special devotion to skilled preaching
The Trinitarians raised money to pay for ransoms and substituted themselves for those captured
He authorized the sending missionaries to Prussia
He help established the institution of the modern hospital, of which he founded in Rome. The notion of putting a number of doctors under one roof, with the poor paying little or nothing for their services, was quite revolutionary at the time
He reestablished the temporal authority within the papal states
Honorius III (1216-1227) 179th Pope
This was the first time that cardinals compromised in choosing a pope
He sought to achieve moral reformation of the Church
He sought to carry out a Crusade
He encourages evangelization of Prussia
He granted privileges to the universities,
He canonized a number of saints
He wrote a great deal
He defined the rights of the popes
Christianity spread into Estonia
Gregory IX (1227-1241) 180th Pope
A standard conclave was used to elect him
He was an experienced diplomat
He and the emperor vision of the Church and empire were irreconciable
He was a close friend of Saints Francis and Dominic, patronizing their orders and canonizing them and St. Anthony of Padua
He enacted a curriculum for parish schools, the world’s first for primary education
Manicheanism grew in Italy
He decreed that unrepentant heretics might be handed over to the secular authorities for punishment. Heresy was considered as treason to the state
He is looked upon as the originator of the Inquisition
The Inquisitions would be staffed with Dominicans and Franciscans. Its scope included both transgressions against Faith and morals
Celestine IV (1241) 181st Pope
He was elected in the first recognizable conclave
The word conclave (under lock and key)
Innocent IV (1243-1254) 182nd Pope
The Latins retained their hold on Constaninople
He safeguarded Henry VIII’ throne in England
He instituted the feast of the Visitation
He was a celebrated canonist
Alexander IV (1254-1261) 183rd Pope
He was a great friend and defender of the orders of friars
He canonized St. Clair of Assis, having seen her stigmata himself
He forbade summary trials for heresy
He condemned the flagellanti (self-floggers)
Urban IV (1261-1264) 184th Pope
Constaninople fell to the Greeks
He began the creation of new cardinals
He approved the feast of Corpus Christi
Clement IV (1265-1268) 185th Pope
He was a man of the world
He was a renowned lawyer
Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276) 186th Pope
He reformed the life of the Church
He sought papal control of the Papal States
Blessed Innocent V (1276) 187th Pope
He joined the Dominican order
He extended Christianity to far off Mongolia by baptizing foreign ambassadors
Adrian V (1276) 188th Pope
He annulled Bl. Gregory X’s rigid rules on conclaves
He decreed ecclesiastical laws
John XXI (1276-1277) 189th Pope
He acquired a reputation as a magician
He was much attracted to the philosophy of Aristotle
He issued new rules for the conclave and order punishment for those who rioted
He obtained the promise that churches and their income would be respected in the kingdom
Nicholas III (1277-1280) 190th Pope
He was a great friend of St. Francis and his order
He became renowned for his honesty
He sought to keep the papacy independent from the emperor
He promulgated a decree forbidding imperial interference in the selection of Roman senators and magistrates. He hoped to safeguard papal elections from secular interference
He was the first to permanently reside in the Vatican
He began to layout the famous gardens
Martin IV (1281-1285) 191st Pope
He strove to unite the kings and lords in the bonds of charity
Honorius (1285-1287) 192nd Pope
He was so old that he had to have his hands mechanically lifted during the elevation at Mass
All the Papal States were returned to the papacy
He was a great friend to the Franciscans, Carmelites, Augustinians
He condemned those who claimed to live the life of the original Apostles in absolute poverty (Apostolici)
He sought to establish closer relations with the Greek Church
He tried to reach some agreement with Islam
Nicholas IV (1288-1292) 193rd Pope
He was the first Franciscan pope
The Crusader strongholds fell in Palestine
He urged the merger of the Templars and Hospitallers
He renewed condemnation of the Apostolici
St. Celestine V (1294) 194th Pope
He became a Benedictine
He was unable to govern and resigned. It if for this act that Dante put him in hell
He refused to be a mere instrument in the hands of the lords
He decreed that the newly elected pope has the right to refuse his election
Bonface VII (1294-1303) 195th Pope
He was zealous for the rights of the Church
He felt compelled to safeguard the Celestine V under house arrest
He issued a clerical bull which renewed prohibitions against lay authorities taxing the clergy
Blessed Benedict XI (1303-1304) 196th Pope
He became a Dominican
He was respected for his holiness
Clement V (1305-1314) 197th Pope
The papal tiara was lost
He settled in Avignon, beginning the “Babylonian captivity” of the papacy. This region would be known for it vineyards (wine)
A council pronounced a decree on baptism
He codified canon law
He founded the University of Oxford
John XXII (1316-1334) 198th Pope
He repeated papal declarations that during such vacancies, imperial appointments rested with the pope
He reconstructed the financial affairs of the Church
He had a habit of privately teaching erroneous opinions
He instituted the feast of the Most Holy Trinity
The emperor appointed an anti-pope Nicholas V
Benedict XII (1334-1342) 199th Pope
He immediately funded the restoration of St. Peter’s and St. John Lateran
He put to an end to many of the financial abuses whereby church bureaucrats had found ways of extracting money
He used the stick of the Inquisition and gentle persuasion to combat heresy
He required bishops to live in their dioceses
Clement VI (1342-1352) 200th Pope
He was completely devoted to the interests of France
He took the name of Clement in honor of the pontiff who had removed the papacy to France
The Canary Island would be Europe’s first colonial effort
He worked for the poor
The Black Plague hit Avignon in 1348-1349
He visited the highly contagious sick
Many superstitious blamed the Jews of being plague carriers
He protected the Jews
Innocent VI (1352-1362) 201st Pope
He ordered all non-resident clerics back to their dioceses and parishes
He ended all luxury at the Papal Court
He restored a great deal of papal prestige
He fostered arts and culture
Blessed Urban V (1362-1370) 202nd Pope
He was a Benedictine
He was known for his holiness and dedication
The eastern emperor sought reconcilation with the papacy
He happily received and reconciled the eastern emperor
The refusal of the Western princes to rally to the aid of the eastern Christians doomed this effort
The Turks were now loose in Asia Minor. Constantinople was under siege by the Turks
He added the third crown (imperial power) to royal and spiritual power
Gregory XI (1370-1378) 203rd Pope
He was noted for his learning in theology and piety
He was concerned with reunion with the Greeks
St. Catherine of Sienna called on Gregory XI to return to Rome
He condemned the heretical teachings of John Wycliff. These errors included the denial of Transubstantiation,, the primacy of preaching over the sacraments, sola scriptura, and the denial of papal primacy
The Roman senate donated a part of Vatican Hill to him
Urban VI (1378-1389) 204th Pope
The French wanted another Frenchman for the papacy. They wanted to return to Avignon
Their Italian counterparts and Italian mob wanted an Italian
He was anxious to reform the Church, which the French cardinals resented
The malcontents declared that the papal election to be invalid. They appointed the anti-pope Clement VII who moved the papacy to Avignon
This began the Great Western Schism, which lasted forty years
This was the first conclave to be held in the Vatican
Boniface IX (1389-1404) 205th Pope
He had a number of difficulties to deal with
Owing to the great lack of money in papal coffers, he issued a new tax on Christians
This helped pave the way for problems in the next century
He appealed for a crusade to assist the hard-pressed Eastern emperor. This received little response
He made little headway the resolving the schism with the anti-pope
Benedict XIII replaced Clement VII as the next anti-pope
Negotiations for both popes to resign faltered.
A number of cardinals elect deposed these two popes and select another pope. Now there were three who claimed to be pope
Innocent VII (1404-1406) 206th Pope
He had taken an oath to end the schism in any way possible
He was a man of great culture but of weak character
He failed to resolve the schism
He enlarged the faculties of Greek and Medicine
Gregory XII (1406-1415) 207th Pope
The Roman cardinals took an oath, that if elected, they would resign the tiara to bring reunion with Avignon
He notified Benedict X111 that he would abdicate if Benedict would also abdicate. Benedict refused
A council of cardinals deposed both popes and elected the next anti-pope Alexander V
Another anti-pope was selected
Martin V (1417-1431) 208th Pope
The council of Constance was, in a real sense, the ultimate governing authority of the Church for a short period of time
The papacy had been severely tarnished by the behavior of its multiple holders
The cardinals were blamed for the terrible state of affairs that had just ended
The state of the clergy was very poor in Europe because of poor supervision
Civil war in various places contributed to general unrest in Europe
The Turks were encroaching
The cardinals could not be trusted in electing a pope by themselves
Reform measures were passed by Church authorities
The council Fathers condemned Jan Hus, a Czech priest, who was a disciple of Wyclif
The fourteenth century left Rome and the Papal States in poor shape. The churches were neglect and is in disabuse. Mercenaries occupied portions of the city
He immediately began work rebuilding Rome, bringing in artists and architects from Florence
He was dealing with the idea that church councils becoming more superior to the popes (Conciliarism)
This time began the beginning of the Renaissance
For the first time a “holy door” was opened in the basilica of St. John Lateran
Eugene IV (1431-1447) 209th Pope
He was extremely holy
He had a hatred of nepotism, infuriating powerful families and cardinals
The Medici ruled the Humanist movement in Florence. The Humanists sought to base learning culture and learning upon the examples of Greece and Rome
A Christian movement advocated giving the Eucharist and cup to the laity. (Calixtines, “men of the cup” Calix-L. chalice, cup
The Turks were probing the Danube frontier pressuring Constantinople
The council ruled that the pope was superior to the council
Those opposed elected an anti-pope Felix V
Nicholas V (1447-1455) 210th Pope
He became friendly with some of the leading Humanists of his time
He had an immense learning and administrative skills
He loved learning and the arts
He resolved to make Rome a center of Humanism, of beauty and knowledge
He is credited for the Vatican library and the current appearance of the Papal palace
He called a Jubilee year in 1450
He quashed the proceedings against St. Joan of Arch, paving the way for her canonization
Mass was preached to open air assemblies. Countless people of all ages returned to the practice of the Faith and reception of the sacraments
The Sultan was now master of the Balkans, outside Constantinople
Few in the west responded to the Eastern emperor’s plea for help against the Turks
The Turks overtook Constantinople
The eastern Emperor’s daughter married the prince of Muscovy. She brought her imperial throne in dowry. From this time, Muscovite rulers called themselves “Tsar” (Emperor, becoming practical heads of Eastern Orthodoxy
He began construction of the present St. Peter’s basilica
Callixtus III (1455-1458) 211st Pope
He was renowned for his penitential lifestyle and humble manner
His first interest was to pursue the Crusade and free Constantinople
He ordered the universal ringing of bell at noon everyday
He brought about the growth of Christianity in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
He instituted the feast of the Transfiguration
Pius II (1458-1464) 212th Pope
He had live a past immoral life
He put his efforts in promoting a crusade
He found that the petty and personal strife of Europe was important to the continent’s rulers than their sworn obligations to the Church
He was very reform minded
He issued legislation reforming monastic life
Paul II (1464-1471) 213rd Pope
He introduced elaborate carnival celebrations at Rome in imitation of his native Venice
He was in general a patron of Humanism
He fought various Manichean-style heretics
He ordered that only cardinals wear the read caps
Sixtus IV (1471-1484) 214th Pope
He was a Franciscan
He first interest was the crusade. However, there was little interest in this
He built the Sistine Chapel and the bridge across the Tiber river
Nepotism became his only major vice
He was a generous patron of the arts
He instituted Father’s day
Innocent VIII (1484-1492) 215th Pope
He father children out of wedlock
He sought to launch a crusade
He confirmed the rights of Henry VII and his heirs to occupy the throne
He issued a bull against withcraft
Heresy was seen as a threat to individuals, communites, Church and state
He was known for his backing for witch hunting
Crime ran rampant in Rome
He assisted Columbus endeavor to discover the New World
Alexander VI (1492-1503) 216th Pope
He is seen as one of the worst popes
As a cardinal, he had a mistress
He had to deal with the question of the New World. Since membership in the Church was essential for salvation, he had to decide how to evangelize those natives
He divided the world into two parts. The Portugueese colonized the East Indes and Brazil. The Spanish would look after the rest of the New World and the Phillipines
The cultural divide between Brazil and the rest of Latin is attributed to him
He cracked down heavily on crime in Rome, laying the foundation for modern Rome’s police authority
He passed anti-witch and anti-black magic legislation
He encouraged Humanism
He encouraged the arts
Pius III (1503) 217th Pope
His ill health forced him to celebrate Mass while sitting
Julius II (1503-1513) 218th Pope
Though not too pastoral, he was an energetic pope
He led a series of campaigns to retake the Papal States
He established the first diocese in Latin America
He declared that bribery nullified papal elections
He was a patron of the arts
He commissioned Michangelo’s frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
He completed the construction of St. Peter’s
Leo X (1513-1521) 219th Pope
He was generous to a fault
He had a love of secular amusements of all kind
Rome became a haven for artists, scholars, poets, playwright, musicians
He emptied the treasury. He created offices and sold them
He was loved in Rome and by the Humanists
Priests were living in sin. Clerics of all sorts were no longer wearing clerical garb. Many bishops and abbots were more concerned with revenue collection. Many places neglected catechetical teaching. Knowledge of church dogma hardly existed.
This vacuum caused heresy and witchcraft to flourish
Pawn shops for the poor were created for the issuance of low interest loans’
Luther nailed his 95 Theses. Luther was initially annoyed with the Church’s abuse of indulgences
Luther preached salvation through faith alone. He preached private judgment that the Holy Spirit will tell each person what the bible means (sola scriptura). This would provide the starting point for New Age philosophy (create your own reality)
Luther called upon princes to reform the Church by taking over complete control of it in their respective realms
The Reformation merged private judgment and state control. Anyone may believe what they like, so long as it is private. The state maintains absolute power to legislate right and wrong.
The power of the papacy was destroyed in virtually all countries in Europe
Adrian VI (1522-1523) 220th Pope
He would be the last non-Italian pope elected until 1978
He immediately set to reform the curia
He could do little about the Protestant threat
Clement VII (1523-1534) 221st Pope
He was a very indecisive person
He wanted to convert all the Americas, reform the Church conciliate the Lutherans, reunite with the Eastern Church and launch a crusade
All over the Protestant world, enemies devastated churches, desecrated the Blessed Sacrament, and destroyed priceless artwork
Nuns were raped and clerics were killed
The Reformation was spreading beyond imperial boundaries
He refused to approve of King Henry VIII’s marriage
He commissioned Michaelangelo to do the famous last judgment for the Sistine Chapel
He approved formation of the Capuchins
Paul III (1534-1549) 222nd Pope
He was very pious
He faced opposition with the reform he put into place
He wanted to reaffirm the Church’s teachings as clearly as possible
The council of Trent defined the Catholic teaching on scriptures, the sacraments, and other matters
He approve the formation of the Jesuits
He was a great patron of culture and the arts
Julius III (1550-1555) 223rd Pope
Reform had progressed
The Jesuits flourished
Marcellus II (1555) 224th Pope
He was renowned for his love of piety and learning
He stamped his own sense of austerity and justice to the curia
Paul IV (1555-1559) 225th Pope
He joined the Dominican orders
He continued the work of reform
He used the Inquisition to oppose the Lutheran heresy
Pius IV (1559-1565) 226th Pope
He issued a bull summarizing the doctrines Catholics must believe
He pardoned all sinners
St. Pius V (1566-1572) 227th Pope
He help to spread liturgical reform
As a Dominican, he continued to wear the white habit of his order. The popes have worn white ever since
He issued the Catechism of Trent
Some say he launched the Counter-Reformation, a movement of orders that reformed and purified the Church
Preaching and doctrinally rich hymns became a priority
Baroque architecture would develop
He promoted culture among people to prevent the spread of heresy
He decreed the use of the Roman missal
Gregory XIII (1572-1585) 228th Pope
His major goals were to combat the spread of Protestantism, reconvert those nations fallen to it, evangelize the Americas, Asia, and Africa
He further the work of reform in the Church
He appointed a commission to correct the Julian calendar, creating the Gregorian calendar
He opened seminaries throughout Europe
Sixtus (1585-1590) 229th Pope
He made many improvements in the Roman infrastructure
He organized the system of congregations
Urban VII (1590) 230th Pope
He ordered that a list of all the poor in Rome be made up in order to relieve them
He required his entourage make sacrifices to pay for these expenses
He left all his wealth for works of charity
Gregory XIV (1590-1591) 231st Pope
He was known for his piety
He confirmed an order whose special vocation was to assist the dying
He ordered the freedom of all slaves made by the Spanish in the Phillipines
He is partly responsible for the Phillipines being a Catholic nation
Innocent IX (1591) 232nd Pope
He wrote many writing attacking Machiavelli’s idea of pragmatism
Clement VIII (1592-1605) 233rd Pope
He was know for his personal holiness
He immediately began visiting all the churches, hospitals, charitable and educational institutions in Rome
He instituted 40 hours devotion before the Blessed Sacrament
He fought the lawless Roman nobility
Leo XI (1605) 234th Pope
He was a very generous person
He led an ascetical life
Paul V (1605-1621) 235th Pope
His first act was to send all prelates and cardinals to their dioceses
A Catholicizing element appeared in Lutheranism, which looked toe the Church Fathers and early Middle Ages for inspiration
He sought to prevent the persecution of Christians in Japan and China
He encouraged astronomy but did nothing to impede the condemnation of Copernicus
Gregory XV (1621-1623) 236th Pope
His first interest was to end outside manipulation of papal elections. He outlined precisely how to conduct conclaves and w
hat ceremonies to perform. This methodology would basically remain untouched
He founded the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. This had jurisdiction over mission territories
He also founded a number of religious orders
He encouraged the Irish
Urban VIII (1623-1644) 237th Pope
The new St. Peter’s was completed
He hired many artists and architects to beautify churches, piazzas, and streets in Rome
He revised the Roman Missal
He sent more missionaries to the Far East
He forbad the use of American Indians as slaves
He ordered bishops to live in their dioceses
Galileo was condemned for pushing the Copernican system. Galileo was condemned becasues the popes respected the opinions of the contemporary scientific community
He had a problem with nepotism
Innocent X (1644-1655) 238th Pope
He recognized the independence of Portugal
He condemned the idea that emphasized the justice of God to the exclusion of His mercy (Jansenism)
Alexander VII (1655-1667) 239th Pope
He had problems with nepotism
He spent a great deal of time with literary pursuits
He was a great patron of the arts
He used every means to try to prevent the spread of Protestantism
Clement IX (1667-1669) 240th Pope
He was charitable and approachable
He bought the grain monopoly, causing prices to fall
He beatified Rose of Lima, the first saint born in the Americas
He straightened out the papal finances
Clement X (1670-1676) 241th Pope
He canonized a number of saints
He beautified Rome
Blessed Innocent XI (1676-1689) 242nd Pope
His first interest was to reform the curia
He decreed heavy penalties against nepotism
He passed decrees for the propagation of morals in Rome
He outlawed immodest dress in women
He shut down gambling homes
He condemned heretical notions that if one quieted one’s will, and subordinated to God, one would be incapable of sin no matter what he physically did (Quietism, Laxism)
He abolished the right of legal immunity
Alexander VIII (1689-1691) 243rd Pope
He was elected because of his extreme age
Innocent XII (1691-1700) 244th Pope
He decreed that no pope could appoint more than one of his nephews as a cardinal
He built a number of charitable and educational buildings
He condemned Jansensim and Quietism
He ordered priest to wear cassocks daily and to make retreats at regular intervals
Clement XI (1700-1721) 245th Pope
He was renowned for his piety and wit
He reformed prison administration, pioneered public works, and distributed vast amounts of charity
He declared the feast of the Conception of the Virgin as a holy day of obligation
He condemned Jansenism
He was a man of great culture and patron of the arts
Innocent XIII (1721-1724) 246th Pope
He renewed the condemnation of Jansenism
Benedict XIII (1724-1730) 247th Pope
He joined the Dominican order
He sought to abolish the worldly pomp and luxury among cardinals
He renewed the ban on Jansenism
Clement XII (1730-1740) 248th Pope
He was slowly going blind
He work to clear up financial problems of his predecessor
He filled up the treasury
He initiated public works of every sort
He became totally blind in his second year in office
He help assisted the Passionists
He condemned the Freemasons, because of their materialist nature of their creed, and secrecy
He canonized several saints
Benedict XIV (1740-1758) 249th Pope
He was elected because of his honesty and his reputation
He was a truly Renaissance in the best sense of the term
He had a deep personal piety
He did not fear the so-called Enlightenment
He was a prolific writer
He was interested in every facet of Church and civil life
He revised the calendar and the martyrology
He originated the current encyclical
He was one of the most cultured popes
Clement XIII (1758-1769) 250th Pope
He was noted for his personal holiness and public charity
Regalism and Enlightenment were two strains that united in Catholic Europe
Regalism saw a force in the church that must be subordinated to the secular power for the good of the state
Enlightenment measured all things by human reason, all else was dismissed as superstition
The practical effect of this union was to create a ruling class that looked with envy to the complete power Protestant princes exercised over their pet clergy. They sought to purge the Church of anything that seemed repellent to the spirit of the age
Devotions, pilgrimages, orders, Latin in the liturgy should be eliminated
They further frown on evangelizing non Catholics because they believed in universal salvation
Some thought they were saving the Church by keeping the Church relevant to the times
The Jesuits had spread all over the world, making inroads in Protestantism. They were eventually expelled
He was faithful to conservative ideas, not being very popular in many Catholic countries
Clement XIV (1769-1774) 251st Pope
He tolerated the suppression of the Jesuits
The expelling of the Jesuits created a shortage of clergy in the Latin America. This suppression contributed to the revolutionary storm that would soon break out in Europe. This would also lead to the independence movement in Latin America
Pius VI (1775-1799) 252nd Pope
The emperor sought to regulate the life of the Church. Seminary training was henceforth to be regulated by the state. It was the express goal priest good subjects to the state
After the U.S. won its independence, the Catholic organization need reorginazation. American authorities would look with disfavor an appointment made my and English official.
He sought the advice from Benjamin Franklin and John Carroll as the first bishop of Baltimore
The French Revolution also occurred at this time
The French Catholic Church was separated from Rome
Napolean conquered Rome and captured him
Pius VII (1800-1823) 253rd Pope
Napolean was anxious to reconcile his country with the Church
Catholicism was later recognized as the religion of the state in France
He started to reorganize the shattered Church in Europe. This task was made easier by the wave of piety that swept Catholic Europe, starting at the turn of the 18th century
This was partly spearheaded by the Romantic movement. This led to a tremendous rise in faith. Many sought the past was more preferable to the present situation
He created the papal flag
Leo XII (1823-1829) 254th Pope
He managed to rein in the curia officials who had become very venal and bribable
He worked very hard to prevent Protestant proselytizing
He reinstated Galileo’s works
Pius VIII (1829-1830) 255th Pope
He decreed that priest could bless mixed marriage provided that the non-Catholic promised to raise children as Catholic
He strengthened missionary activity
Gregory XVI (1831-1846) 256th Pope
He was renowned for his learning
He condemned democracy, believing that it would inevitably degenerate into oligarchy
At his death, a rise of liberal opinion was rising through Europe
Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878) 257th Pope
He became the first pope to be photographed
He began to acquire a reputation for liberalism
He was known for his amiability and wit
Popes clung to temporal possessions to maintain neutrality in order to maintain his spiritual mission as father of all.
It was a matter of sacrilege.
Donated to the Holy See, these possessions were sacred
He defined the Immaculate Conception in 1854
He convened Vatican I. They declared papal infallibility as gift of the Holy Spirit.
When speaking from the chair of Peter in matters of doctrine and faith, the pope is protected by the Holy Spirit in teaching error.
This cause a firestorm of protest
“Old Catholics” rejected papal infallibility as an innovation. They broke away from the Church.
A network of liberal Catholics wanted to reinterpret many of the Church’s doctrines
He established 26 new dioceses in the United States
He has been pope the longest of all popes
Rome became the capitol of Italy
Leo XIII (1878-1903) 258th Pope
New orders and devotions were growing in every Catholic country
The Industrial Revolution created a great underclass of workers who lived in abysmal poverty. These workers were often cut off from religion and earlier traditions. They were looking for something to believe in
Differing groups of socialists and anarchists were filling this ideological vaccuum. They were offering secular salvation
The Church of England experienced a resurgence of faith. John Neuman converted to Catholicism
The US consumed his interest. There developed tension between Ireland-oriented group and Rome-oriented Catholic cardinals
The Europeans expanded their empires all over the globe. He ensured that missionaries evangelize and protect the locals from explotiation
He favored Catholic social action to assist the working class
He is considered the first modern pope
He is first pope to be filmed
St. Pius X (1903-1914) 259th Pope
He wanted to first spread Eucharistic devotions among the faithful. At this time reception of Communion was received only around Easter
He began a campaign to revive frequent or daily communion
He encouraged frequent confession to receive the sacrament worthily
Young people had generally made their First Communion only after being confirmed. He changed the law, urging children to receive Communion
He encouraged devotions to the Virgin Mary
The struggle with Modernism was the major spiritual problem of his papacy
Many believed that the Church’s government and doctrines had to evolve to the current times. Doctrines were watered down, downplayed, dismissed as not true (Modernism)
Modernism has continued to persist
He concluded codification of canon law
He decreed elevation of the Host and chalice
Benedict XV (1914-1922) 260th Pope
Opponents of the Modernists appeared
WWI took up a large part of his papacy
He sent huge sums of war relief to afflicted on both sides of the war
The Russian revolution and others occurred
Three Portuguese claimed to have a vision of Our Lady at Fatima
He beautified Joan of Arc
Pius XI (1922-1939) 261st Pope
He faced many problems brought about by WWI
There were no Christian emperors or powers
Russia was exporting revolution
He initiated relief efforts
Power vacuum by the destruction of Austria-Hungarian empire and creation of the Weimar republic created instability
Poorly established democratic regimes were followed by totalitarian regimes
Abortion and artificial contraception came to the forefront
The Soviet Union was the first nation to legalize abortion, in keeping with their view that the human individual is subordinate to the state
There was a general lowering of standard of modesty of dress
Freud linked every human endeavor to repressed sexuality
The rise of nationalism appeared in Europe
There was a literary revival all over the Catholic world
There were resurgences in devotions and evangelization
He called for the general recognition of the Kingship of Christ over people
He declared against the Fascists and Communists that the parents were the primary educators, in terms of Christian education
The papacy was on the verge of bankruptcy
Pius XII (1939-1958) 262nd Pope
He aided the Jews in WWII
He used the Vatican to take in Jewish refugees
He also has been accused of being a nazi collaborator
He labored to help the many Catholics were persecuted in Russia and China
He saw the US as the protector of the free world
He was very concerned about the modernist theologians
The liturgical movement sought to restore liturgical rites
Missals in Latin and the vernacular were in the hands of the faithful
He proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
He forbade bishops from using titles of nobility they may have born with
He discovered the tomb of St. Peter
Blessed John XXIII (1958-1963) 263rd Pope
He was to provide quiet stopgap leadership between the traditionalist and progressives
He convened Vatican II. Its purpose was to renew the Church to make her more holy
Soon after his death, the cause for his canonization was opened
He sought to safeguard what is essential in Catholicism by adapting to current needs
Paul VI (1963-1978) 264th Pope
He had a desire to be a “modern” to streamline the Church
His first interest was to continue the work of Vatican II
It was declared that the vernacular should be given a larger role
He issued his new Mass, which had so many variations
He permitted Communion in the hand in areas where it would increase devotion to the Blessed Sacrament
A sort of anarchy appeared to descend upon the Church at all levels outside the Vatican
Whenever one spoke of liturgical or doctrinal abuses, no one seemed responsible
Liturgy, architecture, statues were torn out with new Mass
The wild alteration of sexual mores appeared in the West
He spoke out against the legalization of contraception
He issued Humanae vitae, foretelling the evils of contraception
From 1968 on, He did not really assert his authority against dissent within the Church
For all practical purposes, he abdicated control of most of the local hierarchies
John Paul I (1978) 265th Pope
He was the first pope to choose a double name