Popes

Avignon, which at the beginning of the 14th century was a town of no great importance, underwent extensive development during the time the seven Avignon popes and two anti-popes, Clement V to Benedict XIII, resided there.

In spite of his friendliness towards the Roman Church and his cordial relations with all the Popes, Manuel was never honoured with the title of Augustus by the Popes.

Popes Alexander VI-VIII are really the fifth through seventh popes by that name.

Popes Benedict XI-Benedict XVI are, from an official point of view, the tenth through fifteenth popes by that name.

Popes Benedict XI-XVI are, from an official point of view, the tenth through fifteenth popes by that name.

Popes Martin IV–V were actually the second and third popes by that name.

Some writers, but not all, consequently increased the numbering of later Popes of that name, making them Popes Stephen III-X.

The council declared both existing popes to be schismatic (Gregory XII from Rome, Benedict XIII from Avignon) and appointed a new one, Alexander V. The existing popes refused to resign and thus there were three papal claimants.

Fine Gael Councillor Mike Kennelly is angry over delays in carrying out safety works at the accident-prone Popes Cross on the N69 Tralee-Listowel Road.

Georg Gaenswein, Benedict's personal secretary who was seen kissing his wooden coffin in St Peter's Square last week, has embarrassed the Vatican with a series of revelations about the private conversations between the two popes.

I know many think the two popes were at odds.

In the history of the Catholic Church which is almost as old as the history of Christianity itself, only a couple of Popes have resigned and only one Pope has actually quit.

Perhaps the lesson is that if popes want to float peace plans, they should avoid the number seven.

Pope Benedict XVI was one of the three popes in 2,000 years who visited a mosque, which is an extraordinary gesture.

Sister André saw 18 French presidents and ten popes and served her nation at a hospital.

Those of us who want change may be disappointed by this incremental way of proceeding, but more rapid change in Protestant churches has often resulted in schisms, something popes want to avoid at all costs.

Usually they were innocuous, but one 2020 book — in which Benedict defended the celibate priesthood at a time when Francis was considering an exception — sparked demands for future "popes emeritus" to keep quiet.

He quotes freely from earlier Popes and theologians, refers less to such current issues as war, global warming and artificial intelligence, and his words generally lack the saltiness we have become accustomed to.

Popes JPII and Benedict often referred to the need for a preferential option for the poor but that is not the same as making it an authentic Catholic theology.

Several commissions set up by popes have already dealt with the issue without coming to a clear conclusion.