Popes

The Pope made two visits to the Philippines - in 1981 and again in 1995.

The pope is a member of the clergy of the Catholic Church and is therefore bound by a vow of chastity, although the vow does not specifically require an absence of sexual activity before being ordained. However, it is well known that very many popes were sexually active, at least until their later years.

Most protestants don't hate the pope himself but none don't believe in the authority of the pope and his infallibility. Some in the past have experienced bad popes on the throne and pass on the stereotype that all popes are bad.

St. Peter, the first Pope, brought Christ to see his in-laws, so one can infer that the first Pope was married. Priestly celibacy was never mandatory until much much later, though always heartily encouraged.

Pope Gregory VII took the position that the Church was separate from and superior to secular institutions, such as the laws of kings and emperors. He also took a strong and effective stand against simony, the practice of selling positions in the Church, and in favor of celibate priests.

There is a link to an article on the reforms of Pope Gregory VII below.

There was a Pope Constantine, who reigned from 708-715. He was the only pope to use the name "Constantine."

The magisterium

The current Pope is Francis (the first), born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936. He is is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, elected on 13 March 2013 after Pope Benedit XVI announced his resignation on 11 February 2013, which resignation took effect on 28 February 2013. Though of Italian descent, Frances was born in Buenos Aires (in Argentina). He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969, and served as Argentina's Provincial superior of the Society of Jesus from 1973 to 1979; so he was already, then, on a fast track to high rank in the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Argentina. He became the country's Arch Bishop in 1998; then its Cardinal in 2001. He is the first Latin-American Pope.

Benedict XVI was the first Pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so on his own initiative since Pope Celestine V in 1294. He now holds the title "Pope Emeritus," and lives in retirement in the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery at the Vatican.

It has never publicly been released how much it cost to dress the Pope. The Pope's outfit needs toÊshow reverence and honor to his position.

It is called a conclave from the Latin cum clave - with a key. It refers to the fact that the cardinals are locked into the Sistine Chapel until after the election.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is no longer the pope and no longer works for the Church. He moved into the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican for his retirement on May 2, 2013. There he reads, studies, writes and prays but is no longer involved in the administration of the Church.

Pope Urban II in the year 1095.

He was chosen in a secret election between cardinals called a conclave.

There have been 11 papal resignations, or assumed resignations. For a complet list along with explanations, click on this link.

No, he is not a pedophile. Many people are angry with Pope Benedict because they feel he should have given a harsher punishment to priests who were found to be pedophiles.
No, the pope is not a pedophile.

The pope is a religious leader and considered man's representative on earth of God. He runs the offices of the Vatican which is a city state within the city of Rome. His authority is from God to the people of the Catholic Church.

Nobody. Freemasonry evolved in part from the Stonemasons' guilds in medieval Britain, and from various speculative societies. The complete history of its origin is very obscure, but there is no point in history which can be pointed to as a founding point.

Modern Masonry dates from 1717 when four Lodges in London formed the Grand Lodge of England at the Goose and Gridiron pub. But those Lodges were already in existence at that time.

Pope Urban II was not married.

John W. Casperson (A Chalice of Miracles) says that not only was Pope Urban II not married, he even ordered married priests to be imprisoned and their wives and children sold into slavery, and the proceeds go to the church. He only allowed clergy to have mistresses, provided they paid an annual fee called the 'callagium' to the papacy. There is no doubt he considered marriage an improper state for clergy.

Paul VI (1963-78)

Pope Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council which began in 1868.

Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council which began in 1962.

Pope Paul VI reconvened the Second Vatican Council in 1963 after it was suspended due to the death of Pope John.

Pope John had to close the First Vatican Council before opening the Second Council since the First Council was never officially closed by Pius, it ended abruptly, or temporarily suspended because the Franco-Prussian War broke out and the bishops in attendance wanted to return to their diocese. After Rome was captured, Pope Pius permanently suspended the Council but did not close it officially.

Pope John died during the intermission break between the first and second session of the Second Council to which it was suspended. Once Cardinal Giovanni Montini was elected as Pope Paul VI, he reconvened the Second Council and presided over it until its ending in 1965.

Actually, all the bishops of the Church, especially the cardinals, act as advisers to the pope. In day to day running of the Church the pope relies on the Roman Curia to not only advise him, but to run the various offices and ministries of the Vatican.