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Popes
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Pope is also head of state of the Vatican City, a sovereign city-state entirely enclaved by Rome.
2,799 Questions
Who was the first pope to live in the Vatican?
Actually, the Vatican as we know it today has only been in existence since 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty. Pope Pius XI is the first pope to reside in the newly created city-state and is its sovereign ruler.
A:
Pope Gregory XIII, born Ugo Boncompagni, was leader of the Catholic Church from 1572 to 1585. His greatest accomplishment was to commission the Gregorian calendar, which is the standard calendar used around the world today.
Gregory was certainly no saint. He had an illegitimate son before he took holy orders, and his previous life had been "rather worldly". While apologists frequently claim that Gregory was above nepotism, the opposite is true. One of his first acts as Pope was to appoint his son a Cardinal at age 24 and prefect of Castel Sant'Angelo. Pope Gregory VIII also made him General Governor of the Papal Army. In 1576 he appointed his son Governor of Fermo. Gregory had numerous nephews, and created two of them as cardinals
Upon hearing of the wholesale slaughter of the French Huguenots, known as St. Bartholomew's massacre, Pope Gregory had a medal struck to celebrate the event, and celebrated the massacre at mass.
Why did the late 14th century popes refuse to live in Rome?
After Pope Benedict X died, Bertrand de Got of France was elected. He was to never to step foot on Italian soil, so the following six French Popes chose to stay in France as well.
Does the Pope decide who becomes a saint?
The process by which someone becomes a saint is called canonization. The Catholic church has canonized around 3,000 people -- the exact number is unknown because not all saints were officially canonized. According to the church, the pope does not make someone a saint -- the designation of sainthood only recognizes what God has already done. For centuries, saints were chosen through public opinion. In the 10th century, Pope John XV developed an official canonization process.
So overall No.
Clarification:
Investigations into a candidate's qualifications to be declared a saint are carried out under the auspices of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Once they feel they have sufficient information, they pass the case along to the pope who makes the final decision.
What title was later given to the Bishop of Rome?
The Bishop of Rome became known as the pope or Holy Father.
What was the shortest papal election?
The papal conclave of October 1503 elected Giuliano della Rovere as Pope Julius II to succeed Pope Pius III and lasted just 10 hours - the shortest conclave in history.
Gross over-simplification, but:
The 'church' (it wasn't called that, then) split into factions; Paul mentions his concern that people were following their favourite human leader, one saying, 'I am of Paul' and another, 'I am of Apollos', but he stressed their unity as followers of Christ. However, a more serious split occurred between what might be called the 'Gentile-inclusive' church, under Paul and Peter, and the Jerusalem group, strongly Judaistic, under Jesus' brother, James. The latter group seem to have faded out, or were reabsorbed into mainstream Judaism.
Later, a collegiate form grew around the Mediterranean with each Bishop preaching their own variant, some Gnostic in nature. They were eventually united in the time of Constantine. It would seem he saw great political advantage in a unified religion for the Empire; the old roman religion was a bit tired - people were joining the mystery cults, but they were too small and anarchic for political purposes; Mithraism, a strikingly similar faith to Christianity, was widespread and popular with the army - but he may have rejected it for that very reason; the army were enough of a danger to the emperors without handing them the priesthood as well. Better to knock Christanity into the desired shape. He assembled the Bishops and they voted for the doctrines they wanted; thus the Roman church developed.
There seems to be an element of truth in the idea that Thomas went to India; when Christianity was 'introduced' there by missionaries, they discovered an existing Christian church. Unfortunately, their beliefs and practices were viewed as heretical, and the adherents were more-or-less forcibly integrated into what is now (since the reformation) called Roman Catholicism. I have heard that there is a remnant of the original still existing; but haven't good info on that.
Roman Catholic AnswerJesus established His Church on the rock, Peter (Peter in Greek, or Kephas in Hebrew, means Rock - it had never been used as a name before then) as his Vicar or Prime Minister (Matthew 16:18). The apostles, in union with him, were the beginning of the Church and Jesus continued it through them promising to be with them and it until the end of time (until the consummation of the world) (Matthew 28:20).What are the pope's hobbies and interests?
Pope Benedict enjoys reading, listening to classical music and playing the piano.
Give name of the last 5 popes in the Vatican?
Pope John Paul II (from 16 October 1978 to 02 April 2005)
Pope John Paul I (from 26 August 1978 to 28 September 1978)
Pope Paul VI (from 21 June 1963 06 August 1978)
Pope John XXIII (from 28 October 1958 to 03 June 1963)
Pope Pius XII (from 02 March 1939 09 October 1958)
Pope Pius XI (from 06 February to 10 February 1939)
Who was the first Benedictine to become pope?
Gregory I, also known as St. Gregory or Gregory the Great, the first pope of that name and the last of the four doctors of the Latin Church, was born in Rome about the year 540. His father was Gordianus "the regionary", a wealthy man of senatorial rank, owner of large estates in Sicily and of a palace on the Caelian Hill in Rome; his mother was Silvia, who is commemorated as a saint on the 3rd of November. Of Gregory's early period we know few details, and almost all the dates are conjectural. He received the best education to be had at the time, and was noted for his proficiency in the arts of grammar, rhetoric and dialectic. Entering on a public career he held, about 573, the high office of Prefect of the city of Rome; but about 574, feeling irresistibly attracted to the "religious" life, he resigned his post, founded six monasteries in Sicily and one in Rome, and in the last -- the famous monastery of St. Andrew -- became himself a monk. This grateful seclusion, however, he was not permitted long to enjoy. About 578 he was ordained "seventh deacon" (or possibly archdeacon) of the Roman Church, and in the following spring Pope Pelagius II appointed him "apocrisiarius", or resident ambassador, at the imperial court in Constantinople. Here he represented the interests of his church until about 586, when he returned to Rome and was made abbot of St. Andrew's monastery. His rule, though popular, was characterized by great severity, as may be inferred from the story of the monk Justus, who was denied Christian burial because he had secreted a small sum of money. About this time Gregory completed and published his well-known exposition of the book of Job, commenced in Constantinople; he also delivered lectures on the Heptateuch, the books of Kings, the Prophets, the book of Proverbs and the Song of Songs. To this period, moreover, Bede's incident of the English slave-boys (if indeed it be accepted as historical) ought to be assigned. Passing one day through the Forum, Gregory saw some handsome slaves offered for sale, and inquired their nation. "Angles", was the reply. "Good", said the abbot, "they have the faces of angels, and should be coheirs with the angels in heaven. From what province do they come?" "From Deira." "Deira. Yea, verily, they shall be saved from God's ire and called to the mercy of Christ. How is the king of that country named?" "Aella." "Then must Allelulia be sung in AElla's land." Gregory determined personally to undertake the conversion of Britain, and with the pope's consent actually set out upon the mission, but on the third day of his journey he was overtaken by messengers recalling him to Rome. In the year 590 Pelagius II died of the plague that was raging in the city; whereupon the clergy and people unanimously chose Gregory as his successor. The abbot did his best to avoid the dignity, petitioned the emperor Maurice not to ratify his election, and even meditated going into hiding; but, "while he was preparing for flight and concealment, he was seized and carried off and dragged to the basilica of St. Peter", and there consecrated bishop, on the 3rd of September 590.
The newly elected pope chooses what name he wishes to be known by during his reign. He does not have to choose a new name. He is free to use is Baptismal name.
How many Hispanic popes have there been in the Vatican?
Before the election of Pope Francis I there were only two popes from Spain,
Pope Alexander VI and Pope Callixtus III. Pope Francis is the first pope from Latin America
Who was the last Pope to have a beard?
Many of the earlier popes had facial hair. Perhaps the last one to sport a beard and/or mustache was Pope Innocent XII (see image above) who reigned as pope from July 12, 1691, to his death in 1700.
Has the Pope ever married a couple?
Yes. It is likely that most, if not all popes would have done this.
Almost all popes have risen through the 'ranks' and have, at one time or another, been priests. It is therefore highly likely that during the time that they were priests they will have conducted marriage services.
What did the popes relocation of his headquarters signify to many europeans?
from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980
Avignon Popes. The legitimate popes who lived at Avignon in France from 1309 to 1377. They were Clement V, John XXII, Benedict XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI, Urban V, and Gregory XI. The Pope became temporal ruler of Avignon in 1348 and later on the territory was governed by a papal legate. All were French, and their absence form Rome contributed substantially to the Western Schism and later to the Protestant Reformation. The period of the Avignon Papacy is often referred to as the Babylonian Captivity. Moreover, the antipopes Robert of Geneva (Clement VII) and Peter of Luna (Benedict XIII) resided at Avignon from 1379 to 1411.
What are the names and dates in office of each Pope since 1950?
Pope Pius XII (1939-58) Pope John XXIII (1958-63) Pope Paul VI (1963-78) Pope John Paul I (August-September 1978)
Pope John Paul II (1978-2005)
Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013)
Pope Francis (2013-)
What was the time length of longest conclave to elect new pope?
The longest interregnum followed the death of Clement IV in November 29 of 1268 and did not end until September 1 of 1271 with the election of Pope Gregory X. This prompted Gregory to declare that in future conclaves the cardinals would be locked away until a pope was chosen.
Who was the most murderous pope?
A:
Throughout history, popes have generally considered themselves above the law, which means that if a pope wished to commit murder or, more usually, order a victim to be murdered, he was free to do so. For this reason, it is hard to establish which pope was probably the most murderous. A likely candidate for this dubious honour is Pope Benedict IX, who is also the first sexually active pope said to have been primarily homosexual.
Was Pope Clement the VII a canonized saint?
A:
Although historically there was no Pope Clement I, Catholic tradition says that he was pope approximately 92-97 CE. Francis A. Sullivan SJ (From Apostles to Bishops) says that it is the consensus of scholars that the church of Rome was led by a college of presbyters, rather than a single bishop, so if Clement really existed he would simply have been one of the presbyters of the church in Rome. There is a fanciful legend from the fourth century, describing miracles Clement performed and his martyrdom, and thus he is recognised as a saint.
Did Cardinal Laurenti refuse to be pope?
No one could actually be forced to be Pope if they did not want to be; Cardinals can resign if they so desire. But it would be considered very inappropriate for a Cardinal to refuse an appointment to the Papacy. In principle, all Cardinals are too modest to wish to become Pope; the appetite for power is not regarded as a virtue by Catholic theology. But then, recognizing that they really would have preferred if someone else had been chosen, Cardinals must also be sufficiently obedient to the will of the Church to accept their own election as Pope.
Who is in charge of the Roman Catholic CHurch when the pope dies?
The camarlengo is in charge of the day to day running of the Church if a pope dies, resigns or becomes in some way incapable of carrying out the duties of the office. His principal responsibility at this time is to arrange for the funeral of the previous pope and make all the arrangements for the conclave to elect a new pope.
