Pope: list of church leaders, names and dates

There were times when there was no church organization, worship, dogma, there were no officials. From the mass of ordinary believers came out prophets and preachers, teachers and apostles. They replaced the priests. It was believed that they are endowed with power and capable of teaching, prophesying, miracles, even healing. Any charitable adherent of the Christian faith could be called a charismatic. Such a person often even ran the affairs of the community, if a certain number of like-minded people joined him. Only by the middle of the second century the bishops gradually began to direct all the affairs of the Christian communities.

The name "Papa" (from the Greek word - father, mentor) appeared in the 5th century. At the same time, according to the edict of the Emperor of Rome, all the bishops were subordinated to the papal court.

The top of the power of papal power was the document, which appeared in 1075, under the title "Dad's Dad".

Papacy at different periods of its history survived dependence on the emperors, as well as their governors, from the kings of France, even from the barbarians, the schism of the church, forever dividing all the adherents of Christianity into Orthodox and Catholics, the strengthening of power and the rise of the papacy, the crusades.

Who was awarded such a high title of "Pope"? A list of these people is presented in your article.

The secular authority of the Pope

Until 1870 inclusive, the popes were the lords of the multiple territories of Italy, which was called the papal region.

The Vatican became the residence of the Holy See. Today there is no less state in the world, and it is completely located within the boundaries of Rome.

The Holy See, and, consequently, the Vatican, the Roman Pontiff (Pope), is headed. He is elected for life for a lifetime by the conclave (the College of Cardinals).

The Power of the Pope in the Church

In the Catholic Church, the pontiff has all the power. It does not depend on the influence of any person.

He has the right to issue laws, called canons, which are obligatory for the church, to interpret and change them, even to cancel. They are combined in the canon law codes . The first - 451-th year.

In the church, the pope also has apostolic authority. He controls the purity of the dogma, carries out the spread of faith. He is authorized to convene the Ecumenical Council, to hold its meeting and to confirm the decisions taken by him, to postpone or dissolve the cathedral.

The pontiff in the church belongs to the judiciary. He considers cases as first instance. Appeal against Daddy's verdict in a secular court is prohibited.

And, finally, as the highest executive authority, he has the right to establish bishoprics and liquidate them, appoint and displace bishops. He also places the holy ones in the blessed ones.

Sovereign papal authority. And this is very important, since legality allows us to observe and maintain order.

Pope: List

The oldest of the lists is given in the treatise of Irenaeus of Lyons "Against Heresies" and ends in 189 when Pope Eleutherius died. It is recognized by most researchers as reliable.

In the list of Eusebius, who was brought to the year 304, when Pope Marcellinus completed his earthly journey, information is provided on the time of the ascension of each of the pontiffs to the throne with the duration of their pontificates.

So who was awarded the title "Pope"? The list of corrections in the Roman edition was compiled by Pope Liberia and appeared in his Catalog. And here, in addition to the names of each bishop, starting with St. Peter, and the duration of the pontificates with the greatest possible accuracy (up to the day), there are other details, such as dates of consulates, the name of the emperor that ruled during these terms. The very same Liberia died in 366 year.

Researchers note that the chronology of the papal boards up to the year 235 has been largely computed, and therefore their historical value is questionable.

For a more authoritative of the lists for a long time attributed to the Book of Pope, which contains descriptions before Pope Honorius inclusive, who died in 1130. But, for the sake of justice, it is worth noting that the Pope's Directory of Liberia became a source of information about the Pope of early periods.

Is there an exact list of people who received the title "Pope"? The list was made by many historians. They were influenced by the developing history, as well as the author's point of view on the canonical legitimacy of this or that election or deposition. Moreover, the pontificates of the popes of antiquity usually began counting from the moment when their ordination to the bishops was accomplished. With the emergence of a custom that had existed until the ninth century, when the pope was crowned, the period of government began to be calculated from the moment of coronation. And later, from the pontificate of Gregory VII - from the election, that is, from the moment when the Pope received the dignity. There were pontiffs that were elected, and even proclaimed themselves as such at the peak of being elected canonically.

Pope - the wicked

In the history of the Vatican, counting over 2000 years, there are not only white blank pages, but the Popes are not always and not all the standards of virtue and the righteous. The Vatican recognized the pontiffs - thieves, debauches, usurpers, warmongers.

At all times, no Pope had the right to remain aloof from the policies of European countries. Perhaps that's why some of them used her methods, often quite brutal, and as the most wicked, remained in the memory of their contemporaries.

• Stephen VI (VII - in separate sources).

(From May 896 to August 897)

They say that he not only "inherited". On his initiative in 897 a court was held, which was later called the "corpse synod." He gave orders for exhumation and brought the body of Pope Formos, who was not just his predecessor, but also an ideological adversary. The accused, or rather, the corpse of the pontiff, already half-decayed, was seated on the throne and interrogated. It was an eerie court hearing. Pape Formosa was charged with perfidy, and his election was also declared invalid. And even this sacrilege of the pontiff was not enough, and the accused had his fingers cut off, and then dragged along the city streets. He was buried in a grave with strangers.

By the way, at this very time an earthquake happened, the Romans perceived as a sign for the overthrow of the Pope, given from above.

• John XII.

(December 16, 955 to May 14, 964)

The list of charges is impressive: adultery, the sale of lands belonging to the church, and privileges.

The fact of his adultery with a lot of different women, among them a female partner of her father and her own niece, is recorded in the chronicles of Liutpranda Cremonsky. Even a woman was deprived of her husband's life, who caught him in bed with her.

• Benedict IX.

(From November 8, 1047 to July 17, 1048)

He turned out to be the most cynical pontiff without any moral, "the devil from hell in the guise of a priest." In a far from complete list of his acts of rape, sodomy, organization of orgies.

It is also known about the Pope's attempts to sell the throne, after which he again dreamed of power and planned to return to it.

• Urban VI.

(From April 18, 1378 to October 15, 1389)

He initiated Split in the Roman Catholic Church in 1378. For nearly forty years, those who fought for the throne were at enmity. He was a cruel man, a real despot.

• John XXII.

(From September 5, 1316 to December 4, 1334)

It was he who decided that one can make good money on the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness for more serious sins was more expensive.

• Leo X.

(From March 19, 1513 to December 1, 1521)

A direct follower of the work begun by John XXII. "Tariffs" he considered to be low and requiring an increase. Now it was enough to pay off a large sum, and the sins of the murderer or one who committed the incest could easily be released.

• Alexander VI.

(From August 26, 1492 to August 18, 1503)

A man who has a reputation for being the most immoral and scandalous Pope. He deserved such fame with debauchery and nepotism. He was called a poisoner and an adulterer, even accused of incest. They say that he even got the place of the Pope with the help of bribery.

For the sake of justice, it should be noted that there are enough rumors about his name.

The popes who were brutally murdered

The history of the church is rich in bloodshed. Victims of brutal murders became many ministers of the Catholic Church.

• October 64 St. Peter.

St. Peter, as the legend says, chose to die the death of a martyr, as his teacher Jesus. He expressed a desire to be crucified on the cross, only his head down, and this undoubtedly intensified the suffering. And after his death, he was revered as the first Pope.

• Saint Clement I.

(From 88 to 99)

There is a tradition by which, being in exile in the quarries, with the help of prayer, he practically created a miracle. Where the prisoners suffered from unbearable heat and thirst, out of nowhere appeared a lamb, and from the ground in this very place the source was hammered. Christian ranks were replenished by those who witnessed a miracle, among them convicts, local residents. And Klimentia was executed by guards, they tied an anchor to the neck and threw the corpse into the sea.

• Saint Stephen I.

(From May 12, 254 to August 2, 257)

Only 3 years he was a pontiff when he had to fall prey to discord, which was engulfed by the Catholic Church. Right in the middle of the sermon, he was beheaded by soldiers serving the emperor Valerian, who persecuted Christians. The throne that was flooded with his blood, the church kept until the XVIII century.

• Sixtus II.

(From August 30, 257 to August 6, 258)

He repeated the fate of his predecessor, Stephen I.

• John VII.

(From March 1, 705 to October 18, 707)

By the way, he was the first among the Pope, born in a noble family. He was beaten to death by the husband of a woman when he found them in bed.

• John VIII.

(From December 14, 872 to December 16, 882)

He is considered almost the greatest figure of the church in history. His name historians are connected, first of all, with a large number of political intrigues. And it's not surprising that he himself became their victim. It is known that he was poisoned and received a hammer blow to the head. So it remained a mystery what was the real reason for his murder.

• Stephen VII.

(From May 896 to August 897)

He got a scandalous fame over the Pope Formos. The "corpse synod" clearly did not receive the approval of the supporters of Catholicism. In the end, he was imprisoned, where he was later executed.

• John XII.

(From December 16, 955 to May 14, 964)

He became a dad at eighteen. And for the majority he was a leader, inspirational and pious. At the same time he did not disdain theft and incest, he was a player. He is even credited with being involved in political murders. And he himself died at the hands of a jealous husband, his wife, who found him in bed with his wife.

• John XXI.

(From September 20, 1276 to May 20, 1277)

This pontiff is known to the world also as a scientist and philosopher. From his pen came out philosophical and medical tracts. He died some time after the collapse of the roof in the new wing of his palace in Italy, in his own bed, from his injuries.

About some representatives of the papacy

Pius XII ( from March 2, 1939 to October 9, 1958).

He had to head the church during the Second World War. They chose a very cautious attitude towards Hitlerism. But at his command, the Catholic churches sheltered the Jews. And how many representatives of the Vatican helped Jews to escape from concentration camps, issuing new passports to them. The pope used all possible means of diplomacy for these purposes.

Pius XII never concealed his anti-Sovietism. In the hearts of Catholics, he will remain a pope, who proclaimed the dogma of the Ascension of the Mother of God.

The pontificate of Pius XII completes the "Piev era".

First Pope with a double name

John Paul I (from August 26, 1978 to September 29, 1978)

The first in the history of the Pope, who chose a double name for himself, which consisted of the names of his two predecessors. John Paul I ingeniously admitted that there is no education in him alone and the wisdom of the other. But he wanted to continue their business.

He was nicknamed "The Merry Daddy of the Curia", for constantly smiling, even laughing unconcerned, which was even unusual. Especially after a serious and gloomy predecessor.

Protocol etiquette has become an almost unbearable burden for him. He even very simply explained himself in the most solemn moments. Sincerely even his enthronement. He refused the tiats, walked to the altar on foot, did not sit down in the cardboard, and the cannon crash replaced the choir's sounds.

Only 33 days his pontificate lasted until he was overtaken by myocardial infarction.

Pope Francis

(From March 13, 2013 to this day)

The first pontiff from the New World. This message was joyfully received by Catholics throughout the world. He gained fame as a brilliant orator and talented leader. Pope Francis is intelligent and deeply educated. He is concerned with various issues: from the possibility of the outbreak of the Third World War to illegitimate children, from interethnic relations to sexual minorities. Pope Francis is a very modest man. He refuses luxury apartments, also from a personal chef, he does not even use "papamobile".

The Pilgrim's Pope

Paul VI ( from June 21, 1963 to August 6, 1978)

Dad, the last born in the XIX century, and the last, who was crowned with a tiara. Later this tradition was canceled. He established the Synod of Bishops.

Because they were condemned for contraception and artificial birth control, he was accused of conservatism and retrograde. It was in his reign that the priests were given the right to make a mass face to the people.

And he was nicknamed "the Pilgrim Pope" for the fact that each of the five continents visited personally.

The creator of the movement "Catholic Action"

Pius XI (from February 6, 1922 to February 10, 1939)

The pope restored the old tradition when he addressed the believers with a blessing from the balcony of the palace. This was the first act of the pontiff. He became the creator of the movement "Catholic Action", designed to bring to life the principles of Catholicism. They established the feast of Christ the King and defined the principles of the doctrine of family and marriage. He did not condemn democracy, like many of his predecessors. It was according to the Lateran agreements signed by the Pope in February 1929 that the Holy See had sovereignty over a territory of 44 hectares, known to this day as the Vatican City-State with all its attributes: the coat of arms and the flag, banks and currency, telegraph, radio, Newspaper, prison, etc.

The pope repeatedly spoke out condemning fascism. Only death prevented him from once again making an angry speech.

Conservative pontiff

Benedict XV (from September 3, 1914 to January 22, 1922)

He is considered a conservative pontiff. He categorically rejects homosexuality, contraception and abortion, genetic experiments. He was against the ordination of women in priests, homosexuals and married men. He set up Muslims against himself, disrespectfully speaking about the Prophet Muhammad. And although later he brought an apology for his words, mass protest actions among Muslims could not be avoided.

First Pope of United Italy

Leo XIII (from February 20, 1878 to July 20, 1903)

He was a versatile and educated man. Dante cited from memory, wrote poems in Latin. He was the first to open access to some archives for those who study in Catholic educational institutions, but at the same time left the results of conducted research, their publication and content under personal control.

He became the first in united Italy. He died the same year, when he marked a quarter of a century since his election. The long-lived among the popes lived 93 years.

Gregory XVI

(From February 2, 1831 to June 1, 1846)

He had to take the throne when the revolutionary movement, which was headed by Giuseppe Mazzini, arose in Italy and grew . The Pope reacted very negatively to the doctrine of liberalism, propagated at that time in France, and condemned the December insurrection in Poland. He died of cancer.

Interesting Facts

Everyone knows that the Pope's residence is in Rome. But it was not always so. The King of France Philip the Beautiful, who was in conflict with the clergy, gave the popes in 1309 in Avignon a new residence. For about seventy years, the "Avignon Captivity" continued. Seven Pontiffs changed during this time. In Rome, the papacy returns only in 1377.

Pope John Paul II has always sought to improve the relationship of Christianity with Islam and is known for all his active actions in this direction. He visited the mosque first from the Popes, and even prayed in it. And after completing the prayer, he kissed the Koran. This happened in 2001 in Damascus.

Traditional Christian icons over the heads of saints depict round nimbuses. But there are canvases on which the nimbus of other forms. For example, triangular - in God the Father, symbolizing the Trinity. And the heads of the still-dead Roman popes are decorated with rectangular halos.

On the television tower in Berlin there is a ball of stainless steel. In the bright rays of the sun, a cross is reflected on it. This fact was the reason for the emergence of several witty nicknames, and the "revenge of the Pope" is one of them.

The throne of the Pope depicts a cross, but inverted. It is known that such a symbol is used by Satanists, it is also found in black metal bands. But Catholics know him as the Cross of St. Peter. Indeed, it was on the inverted cross that he wished to be crucified, finding it unworthy for himself to die, like his Teacher.

Pushkin's "The Tale of a Fisherman and a Fish" in Russia is known to everyone, adults and children. But does everyone know that there is one more that is called "The Fisherman and His Wife" and created by her famous storytellers the Brothers Grimm. At the Russian poet the old woman returned to the broken trough when she wanted to become a sea lord. But at Grimm she became the Pope. When I wanted to become God, I stayed with nothing.