Aided monasteries 939STEPHEN IX May have conspired against Alberic. URBAN I Martyr 230ST. Poisoned 985JOHN XV First pope to canonize a saint (Ulric). Briefly returned to Rome. Sold food for profit during famine 607BONIFACE IIIForbade all discussion of papal succession until three days after a pope's death 608ST. SYLVESTER I Council of Nicaea defined divinity of Christ. Pope between sixtus iii and hilarious face. Banned meeting places for heretics in Rome 468ST. He rehabilitated Formosus, then was poisoned 898JOHN IXProhibited trials of the deceased 900BENEDICT IV Political, social chaos in Italy. Papal protection shifts to Franks 757ST. MARTIN I Last pope to be recognized as a martyr 654ST. SIXTUS III Erected, embellished churches. He opposed Italian nationalism, freedom of press 1846PIUS IXVatican Council I defines papal infallibility.
Sold papal crown and gave proceeds to charity 1978JOHN PAUL I First pope in a millennium to refuse to wear crown. Went to war with antipope. Following a vision Constantine declared Christianity the official religion 314ST. Exiled 533JOHN II First to change pope name (from pagan Mercury).
Plotted to take Constantinople by force. Built St Peter's Basilica, employed Raphael, Michelangelo 1513LEO X Selling of offices and indulgences sparked the Reformation 1522ADRIAN VI Dutch. Refused to readmit priests who had lied to escape persecution 401ST. 32-year pontificate 1878LEO XIII First pope to attempt to reconcile the church with the modern world 1903ST. Promoted reform 1585SIXTUS VRequired bishops to visit Rome every five years, a practice still in force 1590URBAN VII Died of malaria after 12 days 1590GREGORY XIV Unpopular. STEPHEN IPersecutions continue. Pope between sixtus iii and hilarious quotes. Died mysteriously after six months 914JOHN X Defeated Saracens. AGAPITUS I Went to Constantinople to control Byzantine Emperor Justinian, but poisoned by Justinian's wife 536ST. Reformer 1059NICHOLAS II French. Now popes validate the emperors 817ST. DEUSDEDIT IAttended to lepers and plague sufferers 619BONIFACE VEstablished principle of Church 'sanctuary' for those seeking refuge from persecution 625HONORIUS I Sent missionaries all over the world. 1003JOHN XVII Probably a relative of Rome's dominant family 1004JOHN XVIII Briefly restored union between Greek and Latin churches 1009SERGIUS IV One of two popes to change name because birth name was Peter. Muslims defeat Christianity in North Africa 701JOHN VIEphesian.
PONTIAN Ordered singing of psalms. First to impose Roman standards (the date of Easter) elsewhere 199ST. Anarchy in Rome 1406GREGORY XII Last pope to abdicate 1417MARTIN VElection ended Western schism. Possibly poisoned 884ST. Gestures toward East came to nothing 1272GREGORY X The Holy See was vacant for three years until the people threatened to starve cardinals 1276INNOCENT V Spread Christianity to Mongolia, baptised the Great Khan's ambassadors 1276ADRIAN V Lasted just 39 days 1276JOHN XXIPortuguese. Politically inept 418ST. Legitimacy is open to question 1045BENEDICT IX Elected again for a short time 1045GREGORY VI Bought papacy from Benedict, then was deposed by emperor 1046CLEMENT II Saxon. Tried to restore order 561JOHN III Incited Italians to defend themselves from new threat of Barbarian invaders 575BENEDICT IBarbarians lay siege to Rome. Probably poisoned 649ST. Beheaded by Roman forces during a liturgical service 259ST. Power collapsed and he fled. Theologically, Saint Peter, whom Christ had made the principal apostle, had gone to Rome. But nepotism returns 1691INNOCENT XIIReformist, issued decree against nepotism.
Constantinpole falls to Turks 1455CALIXTUS III Spaniard. One account says he was killed by a stone while trying to stop a riot 1145EUGENE III Fled and wandered Italy and France until wars ended. Decreed a two-thirds majority, not unanimity, needed for papal election 1181LUCIUS III Urged use of force to defeat heresy 1185URBAN III Legend says he died of sorrow when Muslims reclaimed Jerusalem 1187GREGORY VIII Died after two months 1187CLEMENT III Ended 60 years of tension between church and empire. It was first used by Pope Siricius in the fourth century. Muhammad (570-632) builds following 640SEVERINUS Fought with Emperor Heraclus in East 640JOHN IV Croatian. NICHOLAS I (THE GREAT) Took care of poor, protected the oppressed. Introduced sung 'Gloria' in Sunday liturgy 514ST. HORMISDASBenedictines founded 523ST. His ministry - including strengthening the other apostles and their successors, the bishops, in faith, and speaking for the whole church - was not intended to end with his death.
Only time two legitimate popes have served at once 657ST. Spread Christianity to Sweden, Denmark, Norway 1458PIUS II Encouraged arts and literature 1464PAUL II Very unpopular.