Why was Pope Benedict important?

Answer 1

There have been 16 popes named Benedict. Please be specific.

The Pope, no matter who he is, is important to Catholics because he is the voice of Jesus on earth, he is the man appointed by God, through His Church, to be His official voice in matters of faith and morals, and thereby is infallible when speaking on those matters to the entire Church due to Christ's guarantee and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Answer 2

Pope Paul III (1534-1547) was important for several reasons:

He is the pope who gave official approval to Ignatius to found the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Although he had led a scandalous life, he underwent a change of heart upon his election and became one of the great reforming popes. He reformed canon law and papal finances, especially the intricate network of exemptions from rules that had been the cause of so much corruption. He named Cardinals Contarini, Carafe, Pole, and Sadoleto to a Commission for the Reform of the Church. This was the impetus needed for the reform of the Church which came to fruition in the Council of Trent.

Answer 3

As of February 2013, there have been twelve Popes who have taken the name Pius from Pope Pius I in 140 A.D., until Pope Pius XII from 1939 until 1958.