Papal Births, Ascendencies & Deaths Chronology

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67
Aug 01-St. Peter is executed.Ref: 62
115
May 03(date and circumstances speculative) Pope St. Alexander I is martyred.Ref: 69
230
Jul 21Pope St. Pontian is elected Pope.Ref: 69
235
Sep 28Pope St. Pontian abdicates. (He is arrested and abdicates so another can be elected.)Ref: 69
Sep 29St Pontianus ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Nov 21St Anterus begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
236
Jan 03Pope St. Anterus is martyred.Ref: 69
Jan 10St Fabian begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
250
Jan 20St Fabianus Pope (236-50)/saint, dies.Ref: 5
253
Jun 25St Lucius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
254
Mar 05St Lucius I Pope (253-54), dies.Ref: 5
May 12St Stephen I began his reign as the Catholic Church's 23rd pope. According to the "Liber Pontificalis," it was Stephen who instituted the rule that clerics should wear special clothes at their ministrations.Ref: 5
257
Aug 02St Stephen I ends his reign as Catholic PopeRef: 5
Aug 30St Sixtus II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
258
Aug 06Pope Sixtus II is martyred.Ref: 69
260
Jul 22Pope St Dionysius is elected Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
268
Dec 26St Dionysius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
269
Jan 03St Felix I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
274
Jan 04St Eutychian begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Dec 30St Felix I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
283
Dec 07St Eutychian ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Dec 17St Gaius begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
296
Apr 22St Gaius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 2
Jun 30St Marcellinus begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
306
Nov 30St Marcellus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
308
Jan 16St Marcellus I Catholic Pope (-308), dies.Ref: 5
310
Apr 18St. Eusebius begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 2
Oct 21St Eusebius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
311
Jul 02[St] Miltiades was elected 32nd pope of the Catholic Church. During his pontificate, Christianity was finally tolerated by Rome, following the Emperor Constantine's conversionto the Christian faith.Ref: 5
313
Jan 01Start of Roman (Pontifical) Indiction.Ref: 5
314
Jan 11St Militiades ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jan 31St Silvester I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
325
Jun 19The month-long Council of Nicea closed. Known as the first ecumenical council in the history of the Church, it formulated the Nicene Creed and established the method for calculating Easter.Ref: 5
Aug 25The Council of Niceae, the first ecumenical debate held by the early Christian church, concludes with the establishment of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and settled the rules for computing the day for Easter. (Encyclopedia of Religion, Vol 4, p. 125, ISBN 0-02-909730-4) 
335
Dec 31St Silvester I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
336
Jan 18St Mark begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Oct 07St Mark ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
337
Feb 06St Julius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
352
Apr 12Pope St Julius I (337-52), dies.Ref: 5
May 17Liberius is elected 36th pope of the Early Church. During this time the dispute between Arius and Athanasius was at its height, and after vacillating earlier, Liberius vindicated himself as a champion of Nicene orthodoxy.Ref: 5
365
Nov 22Felix II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
366
Sep 24Liberius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Oct 01St Damasus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
384
Dec 11St Damasus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
385
Feb 11Oldest Pope elected; Siricius-bishop of Tarragona.Ref: 5
399
Nov 26St Siricius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Nov 27St Anastasius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
401
Dec 19St Anastasius I Bishop of Rome (399-401), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 22St Innocent I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
417
Mar 11Zosimus becomes bishop of Rome.Ref: 5
Mar 12Innocent I Italian Pope (401-417), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 18St Zosimus begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
418
Dec 26Zosimus Greek Pope (417-8), dies.Ref: 69
Dec 27Antipope Etalius begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Dec 27Zosimus Greek Pope (417-8), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 28St Boniface I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
419
Apr 03Antipope Etalius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
422
Sep 04Pope St. Boniface I dies.Ref: 69
Sep 10St Celestine I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
431
Jul 17The Council of Ephesus adjourned. This third of the 21 ecumenical councils of the Church condemned Nestorianism and Pelagianism, and defined Mary's title as 'theotokos' ('Bearer of God').Ref: 5
432
Jul 27Pope St. Celestine I dies.Ref: 69
Jul 31St Sixtus III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
440
Aug 19St Sixtus III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
461
Nov 10St Leo I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Nov 19St Hilary begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
468
Feb 29Death of Pope St. Hilary (Hilarius), 46th Bishop of Rome (461-468). During his seven-year pontificate, he reaffirmed the earlier church councils of Nicea (325), Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451), at which the major creeds of the Early Church were hammered out.Ref: 5
Mar 03St Simplicius is elected to the papacy succeeding Pope Hilarius.Ref: 69
483
Mar 10St Simplicius, Italian Pope (468-83), dies.Ref: 69
Mar 13St Felix III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
492
Mar 01St Gelasius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Mar 01St Felix III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
495
May 03Pope Gelasius asserts that his authority is superior to Emperor Enanstasius.Ref: 2
496
Nov 21Pope St. Gelasius I dies.Ref: 69
Nov 24Anastasius II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
498
Nov 19Pope Anastasius II dies.Ref: 69
Nov 22St Symmachus begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
499
Mar 01Pope Symmachus decress forbids agreements during a Pope's lifetime about his succession.Ref: 69
514
Jul 19St Symmachus ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jul 20St Hormisdas begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
523
Aug 06St Hormisdas ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Aug 13St John I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
526
May 18John I Pope (523-26), dies in prison.Ref: 5
Jul 12Felix of Samnium, son of Castorius, is consecrated as Pope St. Felix III. (He was erroneously named Felix IV in some texts.)Ref: 69
530
Sep 22Dioscorus begins his reign as anti-pope.Ref: 69
Sep 22Boniface II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Sep 22Pope St. Felix III dies. (He was erroneously named Felix IV in some texts.)Ref: 69
Oct 14Pope Dioscorus dies, leaving Boniface II as the undisputed Pope.Ref: 69
532
Oct 17Pope Boniface II dies.Ref: 69
533
Jan 02John II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
535
May 08John [Mercurius] Italian Pope (533-35), diesRef: 2
May 13St Agapitus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
536
Apr 22Agapitus I Italian Pope (535-36), dies.Ref: 5
Jun 08St Silverius begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
537
Nov 11St Silverius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Dec 02Sylvester Italian Pope (536-37), dies.Ref: 5
553
May 052nd Council of Constantinople (5th ecumenical council) opens.Ref: 5
555
Jun 07Vigilius ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
556
Apr 16Pelagius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 2
561
Mar 03Pelagius I Italian Pope (547-51, 556-61), dies.Ref: 5
Jul 17John III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
574
Jul 13John III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
575
Jun 02Benedict I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
579
Jul 30Benedict I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Nov 26Pelagius II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
590
Feb 07Pelagius II Gothic Pope (579-90), dies from plague.Ref: 5
Sep 03St. Gregory the Great was consecrated the 64th Catholic pope, ruling 14 years. Gregory's administration took responsibility for converting the Anglo-Saxon tribes in England, chiefly through the work of St. Augustine of Canterbury.Ref: 69
600
Feb 16Pope Gregory the Great decrees saying "God bless You" is the correct response to a sneeze.Ref: 5
604
Mar 12Gregory I the Great Pope (590-604), dies at 64.Ref: 69
Sep 03Sabinian is elected pope.Ref: 69
606
Feb 22Sabinian Italian Pope (604-06), dies.Ref: 69
607
Feb 19Boniface III is consecrated as Pope.Ref: 69
Nov 12Boniface III dies and is buried in St. Peter's.Ref: 69
608
Sep 15Boniface IV is consecrated as Pope.Ref: 69
609
May 13Pope Boniface I turns Pantheon into Catholic church.Ref: 5
615
May 08St Boniface IV ends his reign as Catholic PopeRef: 2
May 25Boniface IV Pope (608-15), dies.Ref: 5
Oct 19Pope St. Deusdedit is consecrated as Pope.Ref: 5
618
Nov 08Pope St. Deusdedit dies.Ref: 5
619
Dec 23Boniface V is consecrated as Pope.Ref: 69
625
Oct 25Boniface V ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Oct 27Honorius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
638
Oct 12Honorius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
640
May 28Severinus begins his reign as Catholic Pope (elected in 638).Ref: 5
Aug 02Severinus ends his reign as Catholic PopeRef: 5
Dec 14John IV begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Dec 24John IV begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
642
Oct 12John IV ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Nov 24Theodore I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
649
May 14Theodore I, Greek Pope (642-49) (excommunicated by Paul II), dies.Ref: 5
Jul 05St Martin I begins his reign as Pope.Ref: 69
653
Jun 17St Martin I ends his reign as Pope is arrested and abdicates.Ref: 69
654
Aug 10St Eugene I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
655
Sep 16St Martin dies, the pope who abdicated in 653, dies.Ref: 69
657
Jun 02St Eugene I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jul 30St Vitalian begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
672
Jan 27Vitalianus pope (657-72)/saint, dies.Ref: 5
Apr 11Deusdedit III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
676
Jun 17Deusdedit III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Nov 02Donus begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
678
Apr 11Donus Italian Pope (676-78), dies.Ref: 5
Jun 27St Agatho begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
680
Nov 073rd Council of Constantinople (6th ecumenical council) opens.Ref: 5
681
Jan 10St Agatho ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jan 10Agatho Sicilian pope (678-81), dies.Ref: 5
682
Aug 17St Leo II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
683
Jul 03St Leo II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
684
Jun 26St Benedict II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
685
May 03St. Benedict II Italian Pope (683-85), diesRef: 69
May 08Benedict II Italian Pope (683-85), dies.Ref: 5
Jul 23John V begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
686
Aug 02John V ends his reign as Catholic PopeRef: 5
Oct 21Conon begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
687
Sep 21Conon ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Dec 15St Sergius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Conon.Ref: 5
701
Sep 09St Sergius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Oct 30John VI begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
705
Jan 11John VI Catholic Pope (701-05), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 01John VII begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Apr 01Greek pope John VII chosen as successor to John VI.Ref: 5
707
Oct 18John VII ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
708
Jan 15Sisinnius begins his reign as Catholic Pope (dies 20 days later).Ref: 5
Feb 04Sisinnius Greek-Syrian pope (708, 20 days), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 25Constantine begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
715
Apr 09Constantine I Greek/Syrian Pope (708-15), dies.Ref: 5
May 19Gregory (later Pope St. Gregory II) is consecrated Pope.Ref: 69
731
Feb 11Pope St. Gregory II is buried in St. Peter's; Gregory (later Pope St. Gregory III) is elected (not consecrated) Pope.Ref: 52
Mar 18St Gregory III begins his reign as Pope.Ref: 69
Nov 01Pope St Gregory III consecrated the chapel in Saint Peter's to the memory of all saints.Ref: 69
741
Nov 28St Gregory III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Dec 03St Zachary begins his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Gregory III.Ref: 69
Dec 10Zacharias becomes Pope.Ref: 5
752
Mar 15Zachary Greek/Italian Pope (741-52), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 22(or 23rd) Stephen begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Mar 25(or 26th) Pope Stephen II dies only 4 days after his electionRef: 69
754
Jan 07Pope Stefanus II arrives in Ponthion.Ref: 5
757
Apr 26Paolo Orsini replaces his brother Pope Stephen II, as Paul I.Ref: 5
Apr 26Stephen II Pope (752-57), dies.Ref: 5
May 29St Paul I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
767
Jun 28St Paul I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jul 05[Constantine] begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
768
Jul 30[Philip] begins & ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jul 31[Philip] begins & ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Aug 06[Constantine] ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Aug 07Stephen III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
772
Jan 24Stephen III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Feb 01Hadrian I is elected to the Papacy.Ref: 69
Dec 01Pope Adrian I elected.Ref: 5
787
Sep 24The Second Nicene Council opened under Pope Hadrian I. Numbered by some as the 7th of the church's 21 ecumenical councils, Nicea II condemned iconoclasm (belief that the veneration of Christian images and relics is idolatry).Ref: 5
795
Dec 22Leo III succeeds pope Adrianus I.Ref: 5
Dec 25Adrian I Italian Pope (772-95), dies.Ref: 69
Dec 26St Leo III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
816
Jun 12St Leo III ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Jun 22Stephen IV begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
817
Jan 24St Paschal I begins his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Stephen IV.Ref: 5
Jan 24Stefanus IV [V/Colonna], pope (816-17), dies.Ref: 5
824
Feb 11Paschal I Italian Pope (817-24), dies.Ref: 5
844
Jan 25Gregory IV begins & ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
847
Jan 27Sergius II pope (844-47), dies.Ref: 5
Apr 10St Leo IV begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
855
Jul 17St Leo IV ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Sep 29Pope Benedict III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
858
Apr 17Benedict III Italian Pope (855-58), dies.Ref: 69
Apr 24Nicolas I succeeds Benedict III as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
867
Nov 13St Nicholas I (the Great) pope (858-67), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 14Adrian II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
869
Oct 05The Fourth Constantinople (8th Ecumenical) Council opened under Pope Adrian II in the West and Emperor Basil I in the East. During its six sessions, the council condemned iconoclasm. It was the last ecumenical council held in the East.Ref: 5
872
Dec 14John VIII begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Dec 14Adrian II Italian Pope (867-72)/last married pope, dies at about 80.Ref: 5
882
Dec 16Marinus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Dec 16John VIII Italian Pope (872-82), dies.Ref: 5
884
May 15Marinus I [Martinus II] Pope (882-84), dies.Ref: 5
May 17St Adrian III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
886
Apr 11(date approximate) Boniface VI is consecrated as Pope. He will reign for 15 days.Ref: 69
Apr 26(date approximate) Pope Boniface VI dies, ending his 15-day reign.Ref: 69
891
Sep 14Stephen V ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 5
Oct 06Formosus begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
896
Apr 04Formosus Pope (891-96), dies.Ref: 69
911
Apr 14Sergius III Italian Pope (904-11), dies.Ref: 5
936
Jan 03Duke Alberik II of Spoleto appoints his son Pope Leo VII.Ref: 5
946
May 10Agapetus II is elected to the Papacy.Ref: 69
955
May 16Alberich II, illegitimate son of Octavianus elected pope.Ref: 5
Dec 15(day speculative) Agapetus II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Dec 16Octavian, illegitimate son of Alberic II, is elected Pope John XII.Ref: 69
962
Feb 02Otto I invades Italy and is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John XII.Ref: 2
963
Dec 06Leo VIII elected Pope.Ref: 5
964
May 14John XII [Octavianus] Pope (955-64), dies.Ref: 69
May 22Pope Benedict V begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
Jun 23Pope Benedict V is deposed.Ref: 69
965
Mar 01Leo VIII Italian (anti-)Pope (963-65), dies.Ref: 69
966
Jul 04Pope Benedict V (deposed in 964) dies.Ref: 69
973
Jan 19Pope Benedict VI is elected.Ref: 5
983
Jul 10Pope Benedict VII dies.Ref: 69
996
May 03Pope St. Gregory V is elected to the Papacy.Ref: 69
May 21Pope Gregory V crowns his cousin Otto III German emperor.Ref: 5
999
Feb 18St. Gregory V [Bruno] 1st German Pope, dies.Ref: 69
Apr 02Gerbert of Aurillac elected as first French Pope.Ref: 5
1000
Mar 12Odo of Lagery elected as Pope Urban II, replacing Victor III.Ref: 5
1002
Jun 21Saint/Pope Leo IX is born Bruno, son of Count Hug of Egisheim, Alsace.Ref: 69
1003
May 12Sylvester II [Gerbert van Aurillac], first French Pope (999-1003), dies.Ref: 5
1012
May 12Sergius IV [Pietro Crescentii], Italian Pope (1009-12), dies.Ref: 5
May 17Pope Benedict VIII is elected to the Papacy.Ref: 69
1024
Apr 09Benedict VIII [Theophylactus van Tusculum] Pope (1012-24), dies.Ref: 69
1032
Oct 21Benedict IX begins his first reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1044
Sep 15(day unknown) Benedict IX ends his first reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1045
Jan 20Giovanni di Sabina is elected Pope Sylvester III.Ref: 5
Mar 10Benedict IX begins his second reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
May 01Benedict IX ends his second reign as Catholic Pope by effectively selling it to his godfather, John Gratian and becomes Pope Gregory VI.Ref: 69
1046
Dec 20Synod of Sutri: German king Henry III removes Popes Gregory VI, Benedictus IX & Silvester III & names Bishop Siutger, Pope Clement II.Ref: 69
Dec 24Pope Clement II [Suitger] begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1047
Oct 09Pope Clement II dies.Ref: 69
Nov 08Benedict IX begins his third reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1048
Jul 16Benedict IX ends his third reign as Catholic PopeRef: 69
Jul 17Poppo is enthroned as Pope Damasus II.Ref: 69
Aug 09Pope Damasus II dies.Ref: 69
Dec 25Parliament of Worms: Emperor Henry III names his cousin count Bruno van Egisheim/Dagsburg as Pope Leo IX.Ref: 5
1049
Feb 12Bruno count of Egesheim & Dagsburg crowned Pope Leo IX.Ref: 69
1054
Mar 12Pope Leo IX escapes captivity & returns to Rome.Ref: 5
Apr 19Leo IX [Bruno von Egesheim und Dagsburg] Pope (1049-54), dies at 51.Ref: 69
1055
Apr 13Bishop Gebhard van Eichstätt named Pope Victor II.Ref: 5
1056
Jan 09The man who was Benedict IX three times dies. (The exact date is unknown but it was no earlier than 18 Sep 1055 and not later than 9 Jan 1056.)Ref: 69
1058
Mar 29Stephen IX [Frederik van Lotharingen], 1st Belgian Pope (1057-58), dies.Ref: 5
Apr 05Bishop John "Minchio", [domkop] elected as Pope Benedictus X.Ref: 5
1059
Apr 13Pope Nicholas II decreed that future popes could be elected by cardinals only.Ref: 5
1061
Sep 30Pope Alexander II is elected to the Papacy.Ref: 69
1073
Apr 21Alexander II [Anselmo da Baggio] Pope (1061-73), dies.Ref: 69
Apr 22Pope Alexander II buried; Archdeacon Hildebrand is elected as Pope (St.) Gregory VII.Ref: 69
1076
Jan 24Synod of Worms German King Henry IV fires Pope Gregory VII.Ref: 5
Feb 14Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV.Ref: 5
1077
Jan 30Pope Gregory VII pardons German emperor Henry IV.Ref: 5
1084
Mar 31Anti-pope Clemens crowns German emperor Hendrik IVRef: 5
1085
May 25Gregory VII [Ildebrando] Pope (1073-85), dies.Ref: 5
1086
May 24Abbott Dauferio/Desiderius becomes Pope Victor III.Ref: 5
1095
Nov 27In Clermont, France, Pope Urban II solemnly proclaimed the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont. Urban's twin_purpose was to relieve the pressure by the Seljuk Turks on the Eastern Roman Empire, and to secure free access to Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims.Ref: 5
1099
Aug 13Pope Paschal begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1100
Sep 08Clement III, first antipope (1084-1100), dies.Ref: 69
1105
Nov 18Maginulf elected anti-Pope Silvester IV.Ref: 69
1111
Apr 12Anti-Pope Silvester IV ends his reign as anti-Pope.Ref: 69
1118
Jan 21Paschalis II [Raniero], pope (1099-1118), dies.Ref: 69
Jan 24Giovanni Caetani elected Pope Gelasius II.Ref: 69
Apr 07Pope Gelasius II excommunicates Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.Ref: 5
1119
Jan 28Gelasius II [Giovannis Caetani], pope (1118-19), dies.Ref: 69
Feb 02Guido di Borgogna elected Pope Callistus II.Ref: 69
1122
Sep 23The Concordat of Worms was reached between Pope Callistus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. It settled the Investiture Controversy over who had the right -- bishop or emperor -- to choose replacement clergy for vacant positions.Ref: 5
1124
Dec 13Callistus II [Guido di Borgogna] Italian Pope (1119-24), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 14Theobald Buccapecus elected Pope Coelestinus II (he refuses).Ref: 5
Dec 15Chancellor Haimeric selects pope (Lamberto becomes Honorius II).Ref: 5
1130
Feb 12Pope Innocent II elected.Ref: 5
Feb 13Gregorio de' Papareschi elected as Pope Innocent II.Ref: 5
Feb 13Honorius II [Lamberto], Pope (1124-30), dies.Ref: 5
Feb 14Jewish Cardinal Pietro Pierleone elected as anti-pope Anacletus II.Ref: 69
Feb 14Gregorio de' Papareschi elected as Pope Innocent II.Ref: 69
1138
Jan 25Anacletus II [Pietro Pierleone], Jewish anti-pope (1130-38), dies.Ref: 69
May 29Anti-Pope Victor IV (Gregorio) overthrows self for Innocentius II.Ref: 5
1139
Apr 20The Second Lateran Council (10th ecumenical council) opens in Rome.Ref: 2
1143
Sep 24Pope Innocent II dies.Ref: 69
Sep 26Pope Celestine II begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1144
Mar 08Celestine II [Guido], Italian Pope (1143-44), dies in battle.Ref: 69
Mar 12Gherardo Caccianemici elected Pope Lucius II, succeeding Callistus II.Ref: 5
1145
Feb 15Bernardo elected Pope Eugene III.Ref: 69
Feb 15Lucius II [Gherardo Caccianemici], Italian Pope (1144-45), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 01Pope Eugene III sent a papal bull to the French King, Louis VII, proclaiming the Second Crusade. Led by Louis and Emperor Conrad III from 1147-49, the crusade failed to accomplish its goal.Ref: 5
1153
Jul 08Anastasius IV is elected Pope.Ref: 69
Jul 08Pope Blessed Eugene III dies.Ref: 69
1154
Dec 03Anastasius IV, Pope (1153-54), dies.Ref: 69
Dec 04Hadrian IV, 54, was elected to the papacy. Born Nicholas Breakspear, near St. Albans, England, he was the only Englishman ever elevated to the office of pope.Ref: 69
1159
Sep 01Adrian IV, the only English pope (1154-59), dies.Ref: 69
Sep 07Orlando Bandinelli is elected Pope Alexander III.Ref: 69
1164
Apr 20Victor IV [Ottaviano Montecello] Italian antipope (1159-64), dies.Ref: 5
Apr 22Raynald of Dassel names Guido di Crema as anti-pope Paschalis III.Ref: 5
1173
Feb 21Pope Alexander III canonizes Thomas Becket (1118-70). As Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket had been martyred three years earlier on orders of English King Henry II a former friend until Becket was elevated to Archbishop in 1162.Ref: 5
1179
Mar 05The Third Lateran Council opened under Alexander III. It was attended by 300 bishops who enacted measures against the Waldenses and Albigensians. Lateran III also mandated that popes were to be elected by two-thirds vote from the assembled cardinals.Ref: 5
1181
Aug 30Pope Alexander III dies.Ref: 69
1185
Nov 25Pope Urban III begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1187
Oct 19(or 20th) Pope Urban III dies.Ref: 69
Oct 21Alberto di Morra is elected Pope Gregory VIII.Ref: 69
Dec 17Gregory VIII [Alberto de Morra] Italian Pope (1187), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 19Paul Scolari begins his reign as Catholic Pope Clement III.Ref: 69
1191
Mar 20Clement III [Paolo Scolari], Pope (1187-91, 3rd crusades), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 25(day speculative) Clement III [Paolo Scolari], Pope (1187-91, 3rd crusades), dies.Ref: 69
Apr 14(date speculative) Hyacinth Bobo, age 85, is elected Pope Celestine III.Ref: 69
1198
Jan 08Lotario di Segni elected Pope Innocentius III.Ref: 69
Jan 08Coelestinus III [Giacinto Bobo], pope (1191-98), dies.Ref: 69
1209
Oct 04Pope Innocent III crowns Roman Catholic Emperor Otto IV.Ref: 69
1210
Nov 18Pope Innocent III excommunicates Roman Catholic Emperor Otto IV.Ref: 69
1215
Nov 11The Fourth Lateran Council was convened by Pope Innocent III. It was the council which first defined "transubstantiation," the Catholic belief that the bread and wine of the Eucharist change invisibly into the body and blood of Christ. (Encyclopedia of Religion, Vol 4, p. 125, ISBN 0-02-909730-4) 
Nov 30The Fourth Lateran Council closed, under Innocent III. It was this council that made first official use of the term "transubstantiation," with reference to the Eucharist (Lord's Supper). (Encyclopedia of Religion, Vol 4, p. 125, ISBN 0-02-909730-4) 
1216
Jun 16Innocent III pope, dies at 54.Ref: 5
Jul 16Pope Innocent III ends his reign.Ref: 69
Jul 24Cencio Savelli was consecrated Pope Honorius III. During his 11-year pontificate, he confirmed two well-known religious orders: the Dominicans in 1216 and the Franciscansin 1223.Ref: 5
Dec 22Pope Honorius III delegates degree "Religiosam vitam eligentibus".Ref: 5
Dec 22Pope Honorius III officially approved the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), founded in 1216 by St. Dominic. During the Middle Ages, many leaders of European thought were Dominicans; and a good number followed Portuguese and Spanish explorers to the Americas as missionaries.Ref: 5
1223
Nov 29Through publication of "Regula Bullata," Pope Honorius III formally authorized the "Regula Prima," a settled rule of organization and administration for the Franciscan order.Ref: 5
Dec 29Pope Honorius III formally approved the Franciscan religious order. Properly called the Order of the Friars Minor, this Catholic order was founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi.Ref: 5
1227
Mar 18Honorius III [Cencio Savelli], Pope (1216-27), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 19Count Ugolino de' Conti is elected Pope Gregory IX.Ref: 5
1232
May 26Pope Gregory IX sent the first Inquisition team to Aragon in Spain, after turning its details over to the Dominicans the previous year.Ref: 5
1241
Aug 22Pope Gregory IX dies.Ref: 69
Oct 25Gofredo Castiglioni is elected Pope Celestine IV. He reigns for 15 days.Ref: 69
Nov 10Pope Celestine IV dies.Ref: 69
1243
Jun 25Innocent IV, [Sinibaldo dei Fieschi], Pope (1243-54), begins his reign as Pope.Ref: 69
1250
Apr 15Pope Innoncent III refuses Jews of Cordova Spain to build a synagogue.Ref: 5
1254
Dec 07Innocent IV, [Sinibaldo dei Fieschi], Pope (1243-54), dies.Ref: 69
Dec 12Rinaldo Conti is elected Pope Alexander IV.Ref: 69
1256
May 04Pope Alexander IV founded the Roman Catholic religious order of the Augustine Hermits.Ref: 5
1260
Oct 24Under Pope Alexander IV, Chartres Cathedral in France was consecrated. Completed in less than 30 years, the structure represents high Gothic architecture at its purest.Ref: 5
1261
May 25Alexander IV [Rinaldo dei conti di Segni] Pope (1254-61), dies.Ref: 69
1264
Oct 02Pope Urban IV (1261-64), dies (birth date unknown).Ref: 5
1265
Feb 05Pope Clement IV begins his reign as Pope.Ref: 69
1268
Nov 29Pope Clement IV dies.Ref: 69
1271
Sep 01Tedaldo Visconti is elected Pope (Blessed) Gregory X.Ref: 69
1274
May 07The Second Council of Lyons convened under Gregory X. attended by approximately 500 bishops, this council accomplished a temporary reunion of the separated Eastern Orthodox churches with the Roman Catholic Church.Ref: 5
1276
Jan 10Gregorius X [Tedaldo Visconti], pope, dies.Ref: 5
Jan 21Pierre de Tarantaise elected Pope Innocent V.Ref: 69
Jun 22(date uncertain) Pope Innocent V dies.Ref: 69
Jul 11Hadrian V is elected to the Papacy.Ref: 69
Aug 18Pope Hadrian V is poisoned.Ref: 69
1277
May 20John XXI [Petrus Juliani/Hispanus] Port Pope (1276-77), dies.Ref: 5
1281
Feb 22Simon de Brion elected Pope Martinus IV.Ref: 5
1285
Mar 28Martinus IV [Simon de Brion], Pope (1281-85), dies.Ref: 5
1287
Apr 03Honorius IV [Giacomo Savelli], Italian Pope (1285-87), dies.Ref: 5
1288
Feb 22Girolamo Masci elected Pope Nicolas IV.Ref: 69
1292
Apr 04Nicholas IV [Girolamo Masci] Pope (1288-92), dies.Ref: 69
1294
Jul 05Pietro di Murrone is elected Pope Celestine V.Ref: 69
Dec 10Pope Coelestinus V becomes Pope (until Dec 13th).Ref: 5
Dec 13Pope St. Celestine V abdicates the papacy.Ref: 69
Dec 24Cardinal Benedetto Gaetani chosen as Pope Boniface VIII.Ref: 69
1296
Feb 24Pope Boniface VIII degree Clericis Iaicos.Ref: 5
May 19The former Pope (St.) Celestine V [Pietro del Murrone] dies of an infected abscess, imprisoned by Boniface VIII.Ref: 69
1299
Jun 27In his encyclical 'Scimus fili,' Pope Boniface VIII claimed that Scotland owed allegiance to the Catholic Church.Ref: 5
1300
Feb 22Pope Boniface VIII delegates degree.Ref: 5
1301
Dec 05Pope Boniface VIII's degree Ausculta fili (only nominee).Ref: 5
1302
Nov 18(or 19th) Pope Boniface VIII published the bull "Unam Sanctam." It was the first papal writing to decree that spiritual power took precedent over temporal power, and that subjection to the pope was necessary to salvation.Ref: 5
1303
Oct 13Pope Boniface VIII dies.Ref: 69
1304
Jul 07Pope Blessed Benedict XI dies of dysentary.Ref: 69
1311
Oct 16The Council of Vienne was convened, called by Clement V. During its three sessions, the council suppressed the Knights Templars (the principal military-religious order of the Middle Ages).Ref: 5
1312
May 06Pope Clement V closes the Council of Vienna.Ref: 5
1314
Apr 20Clement V [Bertrand Got] pope (1305-14) who moved papacy to Avignon, dies.Ref: 5
1317
Dec 30Pontifical degree "Sancta Romania" against spiritualists.Ref: 5
1328
May 12Louis IV de Beier selects P Rainalducci as anti-Pope Nicolaas V.Ref: 5
1334
Dec 04John XXII [Jacques Duèze] Pope (316-34), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 20Benedict XII begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1342
Apr 25Benedict XII [Jacques Fournier] Pope (1334-42), dies.Ref: 69
1347
Dec 03Pope Clemens VI declares Roman tribunal Coke di Rienzo as heretics.Ref: 5
1352
Dec 06Clement VI [Pierre Roger] Pope (1342-52), dies.Ref: 5
Dec 18Etienne Aubert elected as Pope Innocent VI.Ref: 69
1362
Sep 12Pope Innocent VI dies.Ref: 69
1370
Dec 19Urban V [Guillaume de Grimoard] first Avignon Pope (1362-70), dies.Ref: 5
1371
Jan 05Pierre Roger de Beaufort is crowned Pope Gregory XI.Ref: 17
1377
Jan 17The Papal See was moved back to Rome by Gregory XI. Located in France for 72 years, it had been moved to Avignon by French pope Clement V in 1305, originally to escape the political turmoil rampant within Italy at the time.Ref: 5
Feb 03Cardinal Robert of Geneva (anti-pope Clemens VII) starts term.Ref: 5
1378
Mar 27(or 28th) Gregory XI [Pierre R the Beaufort], last French Pope (1370-78), dies.Ref: 5
Apr 08Election of Bartolomeo Prignano, Archbishop of Bari, as Pope Urban VI.Ref: 69
Aug 09Cardinals declare the election of Pope Urban VI as null and void, beginning the schism which was to last forty years.Ref: 69
Sep 20The election of Robert of Geneva, the "Butcher of Cesena", as Pope Clement VII, as anti-pope by discontented cardinals creates a great schism in the Catholic church.Ref: 2
Dec 31Callistus III [Alfonso the Borja] Pope (1455-58), is born.Ref: 5
1385
Oct 23In Germany, the University of Heidelberg was founded under Pope Urban VI as a college of the Cistercian order. (Among its faculties today are theology, law, medicine and philosophy.)Ref: 5
1389
Oct 15Pope Urban VI dies.Ref: 69
1397
Nov 15Tommaso Parentucelli (later Pope Nicholas V (1447-55)) is born near La Spezia, Italy. He will end the schism and found the Vatican Library.Ref: 69
1404
Oct 17Pope Innocent VII is elected to the papacy.Ref: 69
1405
Oct 18Pope Pius II (Enea Silvio Piccolomini), Italian Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1458-64), is born.Ref: 69
1406
Nov 06Pope Innocent VII dies.Ref: 69
Nov 30Gregory XII begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1410
May 03Alexander V [Petros Philargi], Kreta's Pope (1409-10), dies.Ref: 5
1414
Nov 05Council of Constance (16th ecumenical council) opens.Ref: 5
1415
Jul 04Pope Gregory XII abdicates the papacy under pressure from the Cardinals.Ref: 69
1417
Feb 23Paul II [Pietro Barbo], Italy, Pope (1464-71) is born.Ref: 5
Oct 18Abdicated Pope Gregory XII dies.Ref: 69
1419
Dec 22John XXIII [Baldassare Cossa] Italian Pope (1410-15), dies.Ref: 5
1420
Mar 01Pope Martinus I calls for crusade against the hussieten.Ref: 5
1423
May 23Benedict XIII [Pedro the Luna] Spanish Pope (1394-1423), dies.Ref: 5
Jun 10Clemens VIII, is elected the Spanish anti-pope.Ref: 69
1425
Dec 09Pope Martinus V forms University of Leuven.Ref: 5
1428
Jan 09Pope Martinus V declares Jacoba van Beierens marriage invalid.Ref: 5
Feb 09Pope Martinus V declares Jacoba van Beierens marriage invalid.Ref: 5
1429
Jul 20Clemens VIII, the Spanish anti-pope, ends his reign. He will live until 1446.Ref: 69
1431
Jan 01Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexander IV (the worst pope, elected by a corrupt conclave and father of Cesare and Lucretia Borgia) is born at Xativa, near Valencia, in Spain.Ref: 69
Feb 20Martinus V [Oddo Colonna], Italian Pope, dies.Ref: 5
Mar 03Bishop Gabriele Condulmer elected as Pope Eugene IV.Ref: 5
1438
Jan 05Pope Eugenius IV deallocated council of Basel to Ferrara.Ref: 5
1441
Feb 04Pope Eugene IV published the encyclical "Cantante domino." It asserted that the biblical canon of the Roman Catholic Church contains both the 66 protocanonical books (i.e., the complete Protestant Bible) and 12 deuterocanonical (aka "apocryphal") books 78 writings in all.Ref: 5
Apr 20During the Council of Florence (1438-45), Eugenius IV issued the bull "Etsi non dubitemus," which asserted the superiority of the pope over the Councils.Ref: 5
1443
Dec 05Pope Julius II (1503-13), patron of Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael, is born.Ref: 69
1446
Dec 28Clemens VIII [Aegyd Muñoz], the Spanish anti-pope from 1423 to 1429, dies.Ref: 69
1447
Feb 23Eugene IV [Gabriele Condulmer], Italian Pope (1431-47), dies.Ref: 5
Mar 06Tommaso Parentucelli succeeds Pope Eugene IV as Nicolas V.Ref: 69
1448
Dec 20Pope Nicolaas V named Utrechts bishop Rudolf of Diepholt, cardinal.Ref: 5
1449
Apr 25Anti-pope Felix V resigns.Ref: 5
1451
Jan 07Amadeus VIII last anti-pope Felix V (1439-49), dies at 67.Ref: 5
1455
Mar 24Nicholas V [Tommaso Parentucelli] Italian Pope (1447-55), dies at 57.Ref: 69
Apr 08Alfonso de Borja (Ital. Borgia) is elected Pope Callistus III.Ref: 69
1458
Aug 06Pope Callistus III dies.Ref: 69
Aug 19Enea Silvio Piccolomini is elected Pope Pius II.Ref: 69
1459
Mar 02Adrian VI [Adriaan F Boeyens], Netherlands, Pope (1522-23), is born.Ref: 69
1464
Aug 14Pope Pius II, Italian Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1458-64), dies at age 58.Ref: 70
Aug 15Pope Pius II dies.Ref: 69
Aug 30Pietro Barbo ascends to the Papacy as Pope Paul II.Ref: 69
1468
Feb 29Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) 221st pope of the Roman Catholic Church [1534-1549]: last of Renaissance popes and first pope of Counter Reformation; is born.Ref: 4
1471
Jul 26Pope Paul II dies.Ref: 69
Aug 09Pope Sixtus IV assumes the papacy.Ref: 69
1475
Mar 06Vatican Library founded in Rome by Pope Nicholas V.Ref: 10
Dec 11Leo X [Giovanni de' Medici] Italy, Pope (1513-21), is born.Ref: 5
1476
Jun 28Pope Paul IV (pope 1555-59) is born.Ref: 17
1478
May 26Clement VII [Giulio de' Medici], Italy, Pope (1523-34), is born.Ref: 5
1480
Apr 18Lucretia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI, murderess and a patron of the arts, is born.Ref: 2
1483
Aug 09Pope Sixtus IV celebrates the first mass in the Sistine Chapel, which is named in his honor.Ref: 2
Oct 17Pope Sixtus IV launched the Spanish Inquisition, placing it under joint direction of the Church and state. Tomas de Torquemada, 63, was appointed Grand Inquisitor in charge of removing Jews and Muslims from Spain.Ref: 5
1484
Aug 12Pope Sixtus IV dies.Ref: 69
Aug 29Pope Innocent VIII is elected to the papacy.Ref: 69
Dec 05Pope Innocent VIII issues his famous "Witch Bull," ordering an inquisition to systematically discover, torture and execute witches throughout Europe. It led to the ease with which witchcraft was charged and punished, even in the American colonies two centuries later.Ref: 5
1487
Sep 10Julius III, Counter-Reformation pope (1550-55), Italian poet who promoted the Jesuits, is born.Ref: 5
1492
Jul 25Pope Innocent VIII dies.Ref: 69
Aug 11Rodrigo Borgia is elected to the papacy as Pope Alexander VI.Ref: 69
1497
May 13Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.Ref: 5
1499
Mar 31Pius IV [Gianangelo de' Medici], Italian lawyer/pope (1559-65) is born.Ref: 5
1501
May 01In his encyclical "Ad ea quae circa decorem," Pope Alexander VI sanctioned the Minim Friars, a religious order founded by Francis of Paola (1416-1507) in 1435.Ref: 5
May 06Marcellus II [Marcello Cervini] Italy, humanist/Pope (1555, 22 days), is born.Ref: 5
1502
Jan 01Ugo Buoncompagni (later Pope Gregory XIII) is born.Ref: 69
Jan 07The man who would later become Pope Gregory XIII and introduce the Gregorian calendar is born.Ref: 17
Jun 07Pope Gregory XIII, introduced Gregorian calendar in 1582, is born.Ref: 5
1503
Aug 18Pope Alexander IV (the worst pope, elected by a corrupt conclave and father of Cesare and Lucretia Borgia) is accidently poisoned.Ref: 69
Sep 22Pius III is elected Pope.Ref: 69
Oct 18Pope Pius III dies.Ref: 69
Nov 01Pope Julius II (1503-13), patron of Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael, assumes the papacy.Ref: 69
1504
Jan 17Pius V [Antonio Ghislieri] saint, pope (1566-72), is born.Ref: 5
1510
Feb 24Pope Julius II excommunicates the republic of Venice.Ref: 5
1512
Apr 10Pope Julius II opens 5th Council of Lateranen.Ref: 5
May 03The Fifth Lateran Council opened under Pope Julius II. Its twelve sessions lasting through 1517, the council continued under Leo X, following Julius' death in 1513.Ref: 5
1513
Feb 20Pope Julius II dies. He will lay in rest in a huge tomb sculptured by Michelangelo.Ref: 2
Feb 21Julius II [Giuliano dellea Rovere], Roman Catholic Pope (1503-13), dies at 69.Ref: 69
Mar 11Giovanni de' Medici chosen Pope Leo X.Ref: 69
1517
Mar 16Pope Leo X signs 5th Council of Lateranen.Ref: 5
1518
Feb 03Pope Leo X imposes silence on the Augustinian monks.Ref: 5
1519
Jun 24Lucrezia Borgia, Italian Renaissance noblewoman of the Borgia family, dies at age 39.Ref: 70
Jul 20Innocent IX 230th Roman Catholic pope (1591), is born.Ref: 5
1520
Jun 15(Protestant Reformation) Leo X issued the papal encyclical 'Exsurge Domine,' which condemned German Reformer Martin Luther as a heretic on 41 counts and branded him an enemy of the Roman Catholic Church.Ref: 5
Dec 10(Protestant Reformation) German reformer Martin Luther publicly burned Pope Leo X's bull, "Exsurge Domine," which had demanded that Luther recant his "protestant" heresies, including that of justification by faith alone rather than through purchased indulgences or other papal favors.Ref: 5
1521
Jan 03(Protestant Reformation) German Reformer Martin Luther, 38, is excommunicated by Pope Leo X for challenging Catholic Church doctrine. Luther soon after began translating of the Bible into the German language.Ref: 69
May 28Pope Leo X signs treaty with German emperor Charles V.Ref: 5
Aug 04The man who would later become Pope Urban VII is born.Ref: 69
Dec 01Leo X [Giovanni de' Medici] Italian Pope (1513-21), dies at 45.Ref: 69
Dec 13Sixtus V [Felice Peretti/"Montalto"] bishop of Fermo/Pope (1585-90), is born.Ref: 5
1522
Jan 09Adriaan F Boeyens of Utrecht elected only Dutch/last non-Italian pope (Hadrian VI).Ref: 69
Jan 21Head inquisitor Adrian Florisz Boeyens elected pope.Ref: 5
Feb 09Adriaan F Boeyens of Utrecht elected only Dutch/last non-Italian pope (Adrian VI).Ref: 5
1523
Sep 14Adrian VI, Dutch Elected Pope in 1522, dies at age 64.Ref: 69
Nov 19Clement VII begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1524
Apr 19Pope Clemens VII fires Netherlands inquisitor-General French Van de Holly.Ref: 5
1526
Dec 17Pope Clemens VII publishes degree Cum ad zero forms Inquisition.Ref: 5
1527
May 06Forty thousand German mercenaries, hired by Cardinal Pompeo Colonna, sack the city of Rome, destroying two-thirds of the houses. They butchered clergy and laity alike, and forced Clement VII to flee, disguised as a gardener. It was the end of the golden age of the Renaissance.Ref: 5
Dec 06Pope Clemens VII fleas to Orvieto.Ref: 5
1529
Oct 21The Pope names Henry VIII of England Defender of the Faith after defending the seven sacraments against Luther.Ref: 2
1530
Feb 24First imperial coronation by a Pope, Charles V crowned by Clement V.Ref: 5
1533
Jul 11Pope Clement VII excommunicated Henry VIII for divorcing Catherine of Aragon, andafterward marrying Anne Boleyn. Two years later, Henry broke with Rome and established theAnglican communion as the national religion of England.Ref: 5
1534
Feb 26Pope Paul II affirms George van Egmond as bishop of Utrecht.Ref: 5
Sep 26Pope Clement VII dies.Ref: 69
1535
Feb 11Gregory XIV [Niccolò Sfondrati], Roman Catholic pope (1590-91), is born.Ref: 5
Aug 31Pope Paul II deposed & excommunicated King Henry VIII.Ref: 5
1536
Jan 17François Rabelais absolved of apostasy by Pope Paul III.Ref: 5
Feb 24Clement VIII [Ippolito Aldofireini], Fano Italy, last Counter-Reformation pope (1592-1605), is born.Ref: 5
May 23Pope Paul III installs Portugese inquisition.Ref: 5
Jul 18The authority of the Pope is declared void in England by an act of Parliament.Ref: 5
1537
Feb 09Pope Paul III routes Cardinal Pole to England.Ref: 5
Jun 02Pope Paul III bans the enslavement of Indians in the New World.Ref: 2
1540
Sep 27Through the encyclical "Regimini militantis ecclesiae," Pope Paul III officially approved the Society of Jesus, a body of priests organized by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 for missionary work. Today, the Jesuits constitute the largest Catholic teaching order in the United States.Ref: 5
1545
Dec 13Pope Paul III opens council of Trente. Ref 
1547
Jan 01Michelangelo is appointed chief architect of St Peter's by Pope Paul III.Ref: 17
1549
Nov 10Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese), 221st pope of the Roman Catholic Church [1534-1549]: last of Renaissance popes and first pope of Counter Reformation; dies at age 81.Ref: 4
1550
Feb 07Giovanni Maria del Monte elected Pope Julius III.Ref: 5
1551
May 01Council of Trente resumes.Ref: 5
Oct 11The 13th Session of the Council of Trent opened, during which major decisions were reached regarding the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist.Ref: 5
1552
Sep 17Camillo Borghese, later Pope Paul V, is born.Ref: 69
1553
Aug 12Pope Julius III orders confiscation & burning of the Talmud.Ref: 5
1554
Jan 09Gregory XV [Alessandro Ludovisi], Roman Catholic pope (1621-23), is born.Ref: 69
1555
Mar 23Julius III [Giovanni M del Monte], Pope (1550-55), dies at 67.Ref: 5
Apr 09Marcello Cervini elected Pope Marcellus II.Ref: 5
May 01Marcellus II [Marcello Cervini] Italian Pope (1555), dies at 53.Ref: 5
May 23Giampietro Caraffa elected Pope Paul IV.Ref: 5
1559
Feb 16Pope Paul IV calls for deposition of sovereigns supporting heresy.Ref: 5
Aug 18Pope Paul IV (pope 1555-59), dies.Ref: 17
Dec 25Pius IV [Gianangelo de' Medici] begins his reign as Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1562
Jan 18The Council of Trent Ä called by the popes to deal with the monumental problems caused by the Reformation Ä reconvened, following a suspension of ten years.Ref: 5
1563
Dec 04Council of Trent holds last session, after 18 years. Ref 
1564
Jan 26Following the closing of the Council of Trent, Pius IV ratified its enactments by the bull "Benedictus Deus." Included among the Tridentine decisions were decrees concerning the creation of an Index of Prohibited Books (a list of condemned authors and their works).Ref: 5
Nov 13Pius IV ordered his bishops and scholars to subscribe to "Professio Fidei," the Profession of the Tridentine Faith recently formulated at the Council of Trent (1545_63) as the new and final definition of the Roman Catholic faith.Ref: 5
1565
Dec 09Pius IV, [Gianangelo de' Medici], Italian Pope (1559-65), dies at 66.Ref: 69
1566
Jan 07Antonio Michaele Ghislieri is elected Pope Pius V.Ref: 5
1570
Feb 25Pope Pius V issues the bull Regnans in Excelsis which excommunicates Queen Elizabeth of England for her severe persecution of Roman Catholics in England. (It was the last such judgment made against a reigning monarch by any pope.)Ref: 2
1572
May 01Pius V [Antonio Ghislieri] great-inquisiteur/Pope (1566-72), dies.Ref: 5
May 14Ugo Buoncompagni is elected Pope Gregory XIIIRef: 69
1574
May 07Innocent X [Giambattista Pamfili] 236th Roman Catholic pope (1644-55), is born.Ref: 69
1581
Feb 24Pope Gregory approves the results of his calendar reform commission.Ref: 5
1582
Feb 24Pope Gregory XIII issues a Papal Bull in which he outlines the calendar reforms that will be known as the Gregorian Calendar.Ref: 5
1585
Apr 10[Ugo Buoncampagni] Pope Gregory XIII (1572-85), introduced the Gregorian Calendar, dies at age 83.Ref: 69
Apr 19Gregorius XIII [Ugo Buoncampagni], Italy, pope (1572-85), dies.Ref: 69
Apr 24Sixtus V ascends to the papacy.Ref: 69
1588
Jan 22Pope Sixtus V decrees "Immense aeterni" (Reformed curia).Ref: 5
1590
Jul 12Emilio Altieri (later Pope Clement X) is born.Ref: 69
Aug 27Pope Sixtus V dies.Ref: 69
Sep 15Urban VII ascends to the papacy.Ref: 69
Sep 27Pope Urban VII dies.Ref: 69
Dec 05Niccolo Spondrati is elected Pope Gregory XIV.Ref: 69
1591
Mar 01Pope Gregory XIV threatens to excommunicate French king Henri IV.Ref: 5
Oct 16Pope Gregory XIV dies.Ref: 69
Dec 30Innocent IX [Giovanni Facchinetti] Pope, (1591 62 days), dies at 72.Ref: 5
1592
Jan 30Ippolito Aldobrandini is elected Pope Clement VIII.Ref: 69
1598
Jan 12Pope Clement VIII seizes duchy of Ferrara on death of Alfonso.Ref: 5
1599
Feb 13Fabio Chigi (later Pope Alexander VII) is born in Sienna, Italy.Ref: 69
1600
Jan 27Clement IX [Giulio Rospigliosi], Pistoia, Italy, 238th pope (1667-69), is born.Ref: 69
1605
Mar 05Clement VIII [Ippolito Aldofireini], Pope (1592-1605), dies at age 69.Ref: 69
Apr 27Leo XI [Alessandro O de' Medici] Italian Pope (1605), dies at 69.Ref: 5
May 16Camillo Borghese, elected to succeed Pope Leo XI, becomes Paul V.Ref: 69
1610
Apr 22Pietro Ottoboni (later Pope Alexander VIII, Italian Pope from 1689-91), is born.Ref: 69
1611
May 19Innocent XI [Benedetto Odescalchi] Italy, 240th Roman Catholic Pope (1676-89), is born in Como Italy.Ref: 69
1615
Mar 13Innocent XII [Antonio Pignatelli] Pope (1691-1700), is born.Ref: 69
1621
Jan 28Paulus V [Camillo Borghese - Pope Paul V], 233rd pope (1605-21), dies at 68.Ref: 69
Feb 09Alessandro Ludovisi is elected Pope Gregory XV.Ref: 5
Nov 16The Papal Chancery first adopted January 1st as the beginning of the calendar year. Previously, March was the first month, which explains why our modern names for the 9th through the 12th months begin instead with prefixes meaning "7" (sept), "8" (oct) "9" (nov) and "10" (dec).Ref: 5
1622
Jan 06Pope Gregory XV forms Congregatio the Propagande Fide.Ref: 5
Mar 12Gregory XV canonized Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits; Philip Neri, Italian co_founder of a medical religious order; Teresa of Avila, a Spanish Carmelite nun; and Francis Xavier, the Jesuit "Apostle of Eastern Asia."Ref: 5
Jun 06Gregory XV published the bull 'Inscrutabili Divinae,' which reminded the Church of its mission to the newly discovered native populations in the recently discovered Americas.Ref: 5
1623
Jul 08Pope Gregory XV dies.Ref: 69
1626
Nov 18In Rome, the newly completed St Peter's Basilica was consecrated by Urban VIII. St. Peter's is presently the largest church in Christendom, with a length of 619 feet.Ref: 5
1642
Dec 22Pope Urbanus VIII publishes degree In eminente.Ref: 5
1644
Sep 15Giambattista Pamfili becomes Pope Innocent X.Ref: 69
1649
Feb 02Benedict XIII [Pierfrancesco Orsini], Italy, 245th pope (1724-30), is born.Ref: 5
Jul 23Gian Francesco Albani (later Pope Clement XI) is born.Ref: 69
1652
Apr 07Clement XII [Lorenzo Corsini], Italy, Pope (1730-40), is born.Ref: 69
1655
Jan 01Innocent X [Giambattista Pamfili] 236th Roman Catholic pope (1644-55), dies at age 80.Ref: 69
Apr 07Fabio Chigi replaces Pope Innocent X as Alexander VII.Ref: 69
May 13Innocent XIII [Michelangiolo dei Conti] Italy, 244th Roman Catholic Pope (1721-24), is born.Ref: 5
1665
May 15Pope Alexander VII convicts Jansenisme.Ref: 5
1667
May 22Alexander VII [Fabio Chigi] Italian Pope (1655-67), dies at 68.Ref: 5
1669
Dec 09Clement IX [Giulio Rospigliosi] Italian Pope (1667-69), dies.Ref: 69
1670
Apr 29Emilio Altieri is elected Pope Clement X.Ref: 69
1675
Mar 31Benedict XIV [Prospero L Lambertini], Italy, Pope (1740-58), is born.Ref: 5
1676
Jul 22Pope Clement X dies.Ref: 69
Sep 21Benedetto Odescalchi becomes Pope Innocent XI, the 240th Roman Catholic Pope.Ref: 69
1689
Aug 12Pope Innocent XI dies.Ref: 69
Oct 06Pietro Ottoboni is elected Pope Alexander VIII.Ref: 69
1691
Feb 01Alexander VIII [Pietro Ottoboni], Italian Pope (1689-91), dies at 80.Ref: 5
Jul 12Antonio Pignatelli is elected Pope Innocent XII.Ref: 69
1693
Mar 07Carlo Rezzonico (later Pope Clement XIII (1758-69)) is born.Ref: 69
1700
Sep 27Innocent XII [Antonio Pignatelli] Pope (1691-1700), dies.Ref: 69
Nov 23Cardinal Francesco Albani is elected Pope Clement XI.Ref: 69
1705
Oct 31Giovanni Vincenzo Ganganelli (later Pope Clement XIV) is born.Ref: 69
1717
Dec 25Pius VI [Giovanni A Braschi] Italy, Pope (1775-99), is born.Ref: 69
1721
Mar 19Clement XI [Giovanni F Albani], Italian Pope (1700-21), dies at 71.Ref: 5
May 08Michelangiolo dei Conti replaces Pope Clement XI, as Innocent XIIIRef: 2
1724
Mar 07Innocent XIII [Michelangiolo dei Conti], Pope (1721-24), dies at 68.Ref: 5
1730
Feb 21Benedict XIII [Pietro F Orsini], Pope (1724-30), dies at 81.Ref: 5
Jul 12Lorenzo Corsini is elected Pope Clement XII.Ref: 69
1740
Feb 06Clement XII [Lorenzo Corsini], blind Pope (1730-40), dies at 87.Ref: 69
1741
Jun 30Pope Benedict XIV encyclical forbidding traffic in alms.Ref: 5
1742
Apr 14Pope Pius VII is born.Ref: 69
1749
May 05Pope Benedict XIV proclaims 1750 a Year" [?].Ref: 5
1752
Mar 22Pope Stephen II elected to succeed Zacharias, died 2 days later.Ref: 5
1758
May 03Benedict XIV [Prospero L Lambertini] Pope (1740-58), dies at 83.Ref: 5
Jul 06Carlo Rezzonico is elected Pope Clement XIII.Ref: 69
1759
Feb 28Pope Clement XIII grants permission for the Bible to be translated into the languages of the Roman Catholic states.Ref: 5
1760
Aug 22Pope Leo XII is born.Ref: 69
1761
Nov 20Pius VIII 253rd Roman Catholic pope (1829-30), is born.Ref: 5
1765
Sep 18The man who would later become Pope Gregory XVI is born.Ref: 69
1766
Nov 25Pope Clement XIII warns On the dangers of anti-Christian writings.Ref: 5
1769
Feb 02Clement XIII [Carlo Rezzonico], Pope (1758-69), dies at 75.Ref: 69
May 19Pope Clement XIV is elected to the papacy.Ref: 69
1773
Jul 21Clement XIV issued the brief, 'Dominus ac redemptor noster,' officially dissolving the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). This politically-based suppression afterward left conspicuous gaps in Catholic education and foreign missions.Ref: 5
1774
Sep 22Clement XIV, Italian Roman Catholic pope (1769-74), dies at age 68.Ref: 69
1775
Feb 15Angelo Braschi chosen as Pope Pius VI.Ref: 69
Dec 25Pope Pius VI encyclical on the problems of the pontificate.Ref: 5
1789
Nov 06Pope Pius VI appointed the Rt. Rev. John Carroll the first Roman Catholic bishop in the United States (in the diocese of Baltimore). Carroll’s consecration took place at Lulworth Castle, England, Aug 15, 1790.Ref: 4
1791
Mar 10Pope condemns France's Civil Constitution's treatment of the clergy.Ref: 5
1792
May 13Pius IX "Pio Nono" [Giovanni-Maria Mastai-Ferretti], Pope (1846-78), is born.Ref: 5
1797
Feb 191/3 of papal domain ceded to France.Ref: 5
1799
Aug 29Pope Pius VI dies.Ref: 69
1800
Mar 14Luigi Chiaramonti crowned Pope Pius VII.Ref: 69
1808
Jun 10Napoleon excommunicated by Pope Pius VIIRef: 10
1823
Aug 20Pope Pius VII dies.Ref: 69
Sep 28Leo XII [Annibale Sermattei], Italian Pope (1823-29), begins his reign.Ref: 69
1829
Feb 10Leo XII [Annibale Sermattei], Italian Pope (1823-29), dies at 68.Ref: 69
May 24Pope Pius VIII issues his program for the pontificate.Ref: 5
1830
Nov 30Pius VIII, [Francesco S Castiglioni], Ital Pope (1829-30), dies at 69.Ref: 27
1831
Feb 02Gregory XVI is elected Pope.Ref: 69
1832
Aug 15Gregory XVI encyclical On liberalism & religious indifferentism.Ref: 5
1835
Jun 02Saint Pius X (Giuseppe Melchiorre Sato) 257th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church; is born.Ref: 4
1846
Jun 01Pope Gregory XVI dies.Ref: 69
1847
Mar 25Pope Pius IX encyclical "On aid for Ireland".Ref: 5
1853
Mar 04Pope Pius IX recovers Catholic hierarchy in Netherlands.Ref: 5
1854
Feb 02Pope Pius IX encyclical "On the persecution of Armenians".Ref: 5
Nov 21Giacomo dela Chiesa, Pope Benedict XV: 258th pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1914-22), is born in Genoa.Ref: 69
Dec 08Pope Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in his apostolic letter, "Ineffabilis Deus." It asserted that by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, Mary was freed from original sin "in the first instant of conception."Ref: 5
1857
May 31Pius XI [Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti] Italy, 259th Roman Catholic Pope (1922-39), is born.Ref: 68
1863
Sep 17Pope Pius IX encyclical On persecution in New Grenada.Ref: 5
1864
Dec 08Pope Pius IX publishes encyclical Quanta cura ("Syllabus errorum").Ref: 5
1869
Dec 0820th Roman Catholic ecumenical council, Vatican I, opens in Rome.Ref: 5
1870
Apr 24At the Vatican I Ecumenical Council, the dogmatic constitution "Dei filius" was published. Explaining the relationship between faith and reason, it declared that God could be known by human thought processes.Ref: 5
Jul 18The Vatican I Ecumenical Council issued the proclamation 'Pastor Aeternus' declaring the pope's primacy and infallibility in deciding faith and moral matters. (Few Protestants agree with this doctrine.).Ref: 5
Oct 02The papal states vote in favor of union with Italy. Pope Pius IX imprisons himself in Vatican.Ref: 2
1871
May 13Pope gets possession of Vatican under Italy's ‘Law of Guarantees.'Ref: 10
1873
Jan 06Pope Pius IX encyclical "On the Church in Armenia".Ref: 5
Feb 28The Society of Mary, founded in 1816, was officially recognized by Pope Pius IX. This religious order seeks to combine the work of education with foreign missions.Ref: 5
1874
May 13Pope Pius IX encyclical "On the Greek-Ruthenian rite".Ref: 5
Dec 24Pope Pius IX proclaims a jubilee for 1875.Ref: 5
1876
Mar 02Pius XII [Euhenio MGG Pacelli], 260th Pope (1939-58), is born.Ref: 69
1878
Feb 07Pius IX "Pio Nono", [Giovanni Ferretti], Pope (1846-78), dies at age 85.Ref: 5
Feb 20Following the death of Pius IX, Italian cardinal Gioacchino Vincenzo Pecci, 67, was elected Pope Leo XIII. His papacy, possibly the century's most productive, was best known for his teaching encyclicals and for establishing in 1902 the Pontifical Biblical Commission.Ref: 69
Apr 21Leo XIII published the encyclical, "Inscrutabili dei consilio." It outlined a program of reconciling the Catholic Church with modern civilization, many of its details reversing policies of his predecessor, Pius IX.Ref: 5
Dec 28Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Quod apostolici muneris (socialism).Ref: 5
1879
Aug 04Pope Leo XIII issued the encyclical "Aeterni patris," which urged the study of "true" philosophy, especially that of Thomas Aquinas. The injunction led to a great revival of both Thomist studies and scholastic philosophy.Ref: 5
1880
Feb 10Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Arcanum about Christian marriage.Ref: 5
1881
Nov 25Angelo Roncalli, Pope John XXIII: 261st pope of the Roman Catholic Church, is born in a village near Bergamo, Italy.Ref: 5
1884
Apr 20Pope Leo XIII encyclical "On Freemasonry".Ref: 5
1885
Dec 22Pope Leo XIII proclaims extraordinary jubilee.Ref: 5
1890
Jan 10Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Sapientiae Christianae.Ref: 5
Nov 20Pope Leo XIII encyclical On slavery in the missions.Ref: 5
1891
May 15Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Rerum novarum.Ref: 5
1893
Jan 14Pope Leo XIII appointed Archbishop Francesco Satolli as the Vatican's first Apostolic Delegate to the United States.Ref: 5
Nov 18Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Providentissimus Deus (guidelines for biblical research)Ref: 69
1897
Sep 26Birth of Giovanni Battista Montini. He was ordained in 1920, named a cardinal in 1958, and in June 1963 chosen successor to John XXIII as Pope Paul VI. He is the 262nd Roman Catholic pope (1963-78). His 15 years as pontiff saw a widening application of the decisions first made at the Vatican II Ecumenical Council (1962-65).Ref: 5
1900
Jul 21Pope Leo XIII encyclical to the Greek-Melkite rite.Ref: 5
1901
Jan 18Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Graves De Communi Re.Ref: 5
1902
Apr 15Pope Leo XIII encyclical "On the Church in the US".Ref: 5
Oct 30Pope Leo XIII published the apostolic letter "Vigilantiae," which officially established the Pontifical Commission of Biblical Studies. Created to safeguard the authority of Scripture from outside secular criticism, in 1904 the Commission was empowered to confer academic degrees.Ref: 69
1903
Jul 20Giuseppe Sarto elected Pope Pius X.Ref: 5
Jul 20Pope Leo XIII (Giocchino Vincenzo Pecci) (256th pope of the Roman Catholic Church [1878-1903]; dies.Ref: 69
Aug 09Pope Pius X (Giuseppe Sarto) crowned before 70,000 at Vatican, Rome.Ref: 10
1904
Jan 08Pope Pius X banned low cut dresses in the presence of churchmen.Ref: 5
Jan 08Pope Pius X sanctions the "cantus tradionalis" in preference to the reformed "Gregorian Chant".Ref: 17
1905
Feb 11Pope Pius X publishes encyclical Vehementer nos.Ref: 5
1906
Feb 02St Pius X encyclical against separation of church & state.Ref: 5
Apr 05St Pius X encyclical "On the Mariavites or Mystic Priests of Poland".Ref: 5
1907
Jul 03Pope St. Pius X, in his encyclical 'Lamentabili,' formally condemned the 'modernist' intellectual movement, as it exhibited itself in the Catholic Church.Ref: 5
Aug 02The Vatican issued the decree "Ne temere," declaring that marriages of Catholics were valid only if celebrated before a duly qualified priest and at least two witnesses.Ref: 5
Sep 06Pius X issued the encyclical "Pascendi dominici gregis," in which he condemned the "modernist" movement within the various branches of Christendom. The document also established councils to combat these "modern errors."Ref: 5
1909
Mar 08Pope Pius X lifts the church ban on interfaith marriages in Hungary.Ref: 2
Apr 18Joan of Arc beatified by the Pope.Ref: 5
Jun 30In Rome, the Catholic Pontifical Biblical Commission issued a decree interpreting the first 11 chapters of Genesis as history, not myth.Ref: 5
1910
May 29Pope's encyclical on Editae Saepe, against church reformers.Ref: 5
Aug 08The Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments in the Vatican issued the decree "Quam singulari," which recommended that children be permitted to receive Holy Communion as soon as they reached the "age of discretion" (i.e., about age 7).Ref: 5
1912
Jun 07St Pius X encyclical "On the Indians of South America".Ref: 5
Oct 17Albino Luciani, later Pope John Paul I (263rd Roman Catholic pope), is born in Belluno, northern Italy.Ref: 4
1914
Aug 20Saint Pius X (Giuseppe Melchiorre Sato) 257th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1903-14); dies.Ref: 4
Sep 03Cardinal Giacome della Chiesa becomes Pope Benedict XV.Ref: 69
1917
May 27Benedict XV promulgated the "Codex iuris canonici." Divided into five books and 2,414 regulations, the CIC was the first revision of canon law in the Catholic church in modern times, and went into effect at Pentecost the following year.Ref: 5
1919
May 14Pope Benedictus XV publishes encyclical In hac tanta.Ref: 5
1920
May 18Pope John Paul II [Karol Wojtyla] 264th Roman Catholic pope (1978- ), is born.Ref: 69
May 23Pope Benedictus XV publishes encyclical Pacem Dei.Ref: 5
Sep 15Pope Benedict XV published the encyclical "Spiritus paraclitus," which restated the Catholic position on Scripture: '...the Bible, composed by men inspired of the Holy Ghost, has God himself as its principal author, the individual authors constituted as his live instruments. Their activity, however, ought not be described as automatic writing.'.Ref: 5
1921
Apr 30Pope Benedict XV encyclical "On Dante".Ref: 5
1922
Jan 22Giacomo della Chiesa, Pope Benedict XV: 258th pope of the Roman Catholic Church [1914-1922]; dies at age 67.Ref: 69
Feb 06Cardinal Achille Ratti elected Pope Pius XI.Ref: 5
Dec 23Pope Pius XI pleas for peace: encyclical Ubi arcano.Ref: 5
1925
Mar 19Angelo G Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) becomes a bishop.Ref: 5
Dec 11Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Quas Primas.Ref: 5
1926
Feb 22Pope Pius XI rejects Mussolini's offer of aid to the Vatican.Ref: 2
Mar 12Pope Pius XI names J E van Roey archbishop of Malines Belgium.Ref: 5
Nov 18Pope Pius XI encyclical On the persecution of the Church in Mexico.Ref: 5
1928
Jan 06Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Mortalium animos (against oecumene).Ref: 5
Sep 08Pius XI issued the encyclical "Rerum Orientalium," promoting study of the history, doctrine and liturgy of Eastern Orthodoxy. He recommended that priests apply themselves to special studies at the Oriental Institute in Rome, founded in 1917 by Benedict XV.Ref: 5
1929
Dec 31Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Divini illius magistri.Ref: 5
1930
Dec 31Pontifical encyclical Casti connubii against mixed marriages.Ref: 5
1931
May 15Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Quadragesimo anno.Ref: 5
Oct 02Pope Pius XI encyclical on the economic crisis.Ref: 5
1933
Jun 03Pope Pius XI encyclical "On oppression of the Church in Spain".Ref: 5
Dec 23Pope Pius XI condemns the Nazi sterilization program.Ref: 2
1935
Dec 20Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Ad Catholici Sacerdotii.Ref: 5
1936
Jun 29Pope Pius XI encyclical to US bishops "On motion pictures".Ref: 5
1937
Mar 14Pope Pius XI publishes anti-Nazi-encyclical Mit brennender Sorge.Ref: 5
Mar 19Pius XI declared in the encyclical "Divini redemptoris": 'There would be neither Socialism nor Communism today if the rulers of the nations had not scorned the teachings and material warnings of the Church.'.Ref: 5
1939
Feb 10Pius XI [Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti] Italy, 259th Roman Catholic Pope (1922-39), dies at age 81.Ref: 4
Mar 02Roman Catholic Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected Pope; he took the name Pius XII.Ref: 5
Mar 12Pope Pius XII was formally crowned in ceremonies at the Vatican.Ref: 69
1943
Sep 30Pius XII issued the encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu," which encouraged Catholic scholars to devote more attention to biblical exegesis in their teachings and writings. One of the long-term effects of this encyclical was the publication in 1970 of the New American Bible.Ref: 5
1944
Apr 09Pius XII issued the encyclical "Orientalis ecclesiae decus," which sought to foster closer relations between Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Uniat churches.Ref: 5
1945
Apr 15Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Communium interpretes dolorum.Ref: 5
Dec 23Pope Pius XII encyclical Orientals omnes, about Rutheense church.Ref: 5
1946
Jan 06Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Quemadmodum.Ref: 5
Nov 01Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, was ordained as a priest.Ref: 70
1947
Mar 21Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Fulgens radiatur.Ref: 5
Dec 18Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Optissima Pax.Ref: 5
1948
May 01Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Auspicia quaedam.Ref: 5
1949
Apr 15Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Redemptoris nostri.Ref: 5
1950
Mar 12Pope Pius XII encyclical "On combating atheistic propaganda".Ref: 5
Nov 01Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His Apostolic Constitution "Munificentissimus Deus" taught that, at the end of her earthly life, Jesus' mother was taken, body and soul, into heaven to be united with the risen Christ.Ref: 5
Dec 06Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Mirabile illud.Ref: 5
Dec 23Pope Pius XII declared that the tomb of St. Peter had been discovered beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.Ref: 5
1952
Dec 15Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Orientales Ecclesias.Ref: 5
1953
May 24Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Doctor Mellifluus.Ref: 5
1954
Mar 25Pope Pius XII encyclical "Sacra virginitas" (On consecrated virginity).Ref: 5
1955
Jun 16Pope Pius XII excommunicated Argentine President Juan Peron, a ban that was lifted eight years later.Ref: 70
Dec 25Pope Pius XII encyclical on sacred music & popular music.Ref: 5
1956
May 25Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Haurietis aquas.Ref: 5
1957
Apr 21Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Fidei Donum.Ref: 5
May 16Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Invicti Athletae.Ref: 5
Sep 08Pope Pius XII encyclical On motion pictures, radio, TV.Ref: 5
1958
Oct 09Pope Pius XII [Euhenio MGG Pacelli], 260th Pope (1939-58), dies at age 82, 19 years after he was elevated to the papacy. He was succeeded by Pope John XXIII.Ref: 68
Oct 28The Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected Pope, taking the name John XXIII.Ref: 70
Nov 04Angelo Roncalli became Pope John XXIII. He was expected by many to be a caretaker and transitional pope, but he astonished the church and the world with his energy and reforming spirit. Pope John XXIII’s convening of the Second Vatican Council and his changing of the church’s attitudes toward those who were not Catholic were milestones.Ref: 4
1959
Jan 25Pope John XXIII, 90 days after his election, announced his intention to hold an ecumenical church council. (The Vatican II Council officially opened October 11, 1962 and closed December 8, 1965.)Ref: 5
Jun 29Pope John XXIII encyclical "On truth, unity, & peace, in charity".Ref: 5
Jul 03Pope John XXIII, in his encyclical 'Ad Petri Cathedram,' expressed the hope that non-Catholic Christians would see in the upcoming Vatical II Ecumenical Council 'a warm invitation to seek and find unity.'.Ref: 5
1960
Mar 28Pope John raises the 1st Japanese, 1st African & 1st Filipino cardinal.Ref: 5
1961
May 15Pope John XXIII publishes encyclical Mater et Magistra.Ref: 5
1962
Jan 03Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro.Ref: 5
Jul 20Pope John XXIII sent invitations to all 'separated Christian churches and communities,' asking each to send delegate-observers to the upcoming Vatican II Ecumenical Council in Rome.Ref: 5
Oct 11Pope John XXIII officially opens the 21st Ecumenical Council (Vatican II) with a call for Christian unity. This is the largest gathering of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in history; among delegate-observers are representatives of major Protestant denominations, in itself a sign of sweeping change.Ref: 5
1963
Apr 11John XXIII encyclical On peace in truth, justice, charity & liberty.Ref: 5
Jun 03Angelo Roncalli, Pope John XXIII died at age 81, ending a papacy marked by innovative reforms in the Roman Catholic Church. He was succeeded by Pope Paul VI.Ref: 70
Jun 21Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini was chosen to succeed the late Pope John XXIII; the new pope took the name Paul VI.Ref: 69
Jun 30Cardinal Montini elected Pope Paul VI, 262nd head of the Roman Catholic Church.Ref: 5
Sep 29The second session of Ecumenical council, `Vatican II,' opens in Rome.Ref: 5
Dec 04Pope Paul VI closes 2nd session of 2nd Vatican Council.Ref: 5
1964
Jan 05Following an unprecedented pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Pope Paul VI met with Greek Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I in Jerusalem. It was the first such meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches in over 500 years (since 1439).Ref: 5
Jan 13Karol Wojtyla becomes archbishop of Krakow.Ref: 5
Nov 23The Vatican abolishes Latin as official language of Roman Catholic liturgy.Ref: 26
1965
Oct 04Paul VI arrived in New York City, making him the first pope in history to visit the United States. While speaking at the UN, Paul published a document exonerating the Jews of all blame in the death of Christ.Ref: 5
Oct 28Pope Paul VI issues a decree absolving Jews of collective guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.Ref: 5
Dec 08Pope Paul VI signs 2nd Vatican council.Ref: 5
1966
Mar 23Archbishop of Canterbury Arthur Michael Ramsey meets and exchanges public greetings with Pope Paul VI in Rome. It was the first official meeting between heads of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in over 400 years, in the Sistine Chapel.Ref: 5
Jun 14The Vatican announced that its 'Index of Prohibited Books' (created by Pope Paul IV in 1557) had been abolished.Ref: 5
1967
Jan 11Romeinse Curie installs Council for Pontifical Study commission.Ref: 5
Jan 29Pope Paul VI and Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny conferred at the Vatican in the first meeting in history between a Roman Catholic pontiff and the head of a Communist state.Ref: 5
Mar 26Pope Paul VI publishes encyclical Populorum progressio.Ref: 5
May 29Pope Paul VI names 27 new cardinals, including Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Krakow, who later became Pope John Paul II.Ref: 5
Jun 23Paul VI issued the encyclical 'Sacerdotalis Caelibatus,' reaffirming the Catholic Church's requirement of celibacy with the priesthood.Ref: 5
1968
Jul 25Pope Paul VI published the encyclical 'Humanae Vitae.' It restated the Catholic position on the family, and condemned all artificial methods of birth control.Ref: 5
Aug 22Pope Paul VI arrives in Bogota, Colombia, for the start of the first papal visit to Latin America.Ref: 70
1969
Mar 28Pope Paul VI names JGM Willebrands cardinal.Ref: 5
Apr 05Pope Paul VI abolished the galero (red hat) and red shoes and buckles customarily worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.Ref: 5
Jun 10Pope Paul VI arrives in Geneva. He is the first pope to visit the city since the Protestant Reformation.Ref: 17
1970
Nov 23Pope Paul VI issued a decree barring cardinals over the age of 80 from voting for a new pope.Ref: 5
Nov 26During a 10-day visit to the Philippines, Pope Paul VI was attacked by a knife-wielding man in Manilla. The pontiff was unhurt and continued his journey.Ref: 5
Nov 27Pope Paul VI, visiting the Philippines, was slightly wounded at the Manila airport by a dagger-wielding Bolivian painter disguised as a priest.Ref: 70
1973
Jan 15Pope Paul VI has an audience with Golda Meir at Vatican.Ref: 5
Feb 27Pope Paul VI publishes constitution motu proprio Quo aptius.Ref: 5
May 04Patriarch Shenuda II of Kopitisch church visits the pope.Ref: 5
Jul 04In audience with Italian cyclists, Pope Paul VI praises athletes who "offer the magnificent show of a healthy, strong, generous youth".Ref: 5
1974
Feb 02Pope Paul VI encyclical "To Honor Mary".Ref: 5
Dec 12Pope Paul VI announced his intention of canonizing Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774_1821), who had founded the first free Catholic school in the U.S. as well as the religious order known as the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph.Ref: 5
1975
Sep 14Pope Paul VI declared Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton the first U.S.-born saint.Ref: 70
Dec 20Pope Paul VI named J Willebrands archbishop of Utrecht.Ref: 5
1977
Jun 19Paul VI canonized John Nepomucene Neumann, the first American-born male saint. As fourth Bishop of the Philadelphia Diocese, Neumann is remembered for developing the parochial school system.Ref: 5
Nov 10It was announced that Pope Paul VI had ended the automatic excommunication imposed on divorced American Catholics who remarried. (The excommunication was first imposed by the Plenary Council of American Bishops in 1884.)Ref: 5
1978
Aug 06Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini) 262nd pope of the Roman Catholic Church [1963-1978]; dies.Ref: 4
Aug 07Thousands of mourners file past the body of Pope Paul VI.Ref: 5
Aug 11Funeral of Pope Paul VI.Ref: 5
Aug 12In Rome, the first papal funeral ever held outdoors was conducted for Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Square.Ref: 5
Aug 26Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice was elected the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church following the death of Paul the Sixth. The new pontiff took the name Pope John Paul the First.Ref: 70
Sep 03Pope John Paul I was officially installed as the 264th supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic ChurchRef: 70
Sep 28Albino Luciani Pope John Paul I: 263rd pope of the Roman Catholic Church [Aug 26, 1978 to Sep 28, 1978]; dies of a massive heart attack in his sleep.Ref: 4
Sep 29Pope John Paul I was found dead in his Vatican apartment just over a month after becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.Ref: 69
Oct 04Funeral services held for Pope John Paul I.Ref: 5
Oct 16Archbishop Karol Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope since Hadrian VI (1522-3).Ref: 70
Oct 22Pope John Paul II was inaugurated as Universal Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first non-Italian Pope since Adrian VI (1522-1523), the first Polish Pope, and the youngest Pope since Pius IX (1846-1878).Ref: 4
1979
Jan 25Pope John Paul II's 1st overseas trip as supreme pontiff.Ref: 5
May 27Pope John Paul ordains John J O'Conner as a bishop.Ref: 5
Jun 02Pope John Paul II arrived in his native Poland on the first visit by a pope to a Communist country.Ref: 70
Jun 10Pope John Paul II visits Poland.Ref: 5
Sep 29Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit Ireland as he arrived for a three-day tour. (TWA, 1980)Ref: 95
Oct 06Pope John Paul II, on a week-long US tour, became the first pontiff to visit the White House, where he was received by President Carter.Ref: 5
Nov 30Pope John Paul II becomes the first pope in 1,000 years to attend an Orthodox mass.Ref: 2
1980
May 02Pope John Paul II begins African tour.Ref: 5
May 30First papal visit to France since 1814.Ref: 5
Jul 09Seven die in a stampede to see the pope in Brazil.Ref: 5
1981
Mar 13Attempt on Pope John Paul II by Mehemet Ali Agca.Ref: 5
May 13In St. Peter's Square, Rome, Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca, 23, shot and seriously wounded Pope John Paul II in an assassination attempt. Following a long convalescence, however, John Paul resumed his world travels.Ref: 5
Jun 03Pope John Paul II left a Rome hospital and returned to the Vatican three weeks after the attempt on his life.Ref: 70
Jul 22Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca is sentenced in Rome to life imprisonment for the shooting of Pope John Paul II. (However, Agea was pardoned in June 2000 and sent to Turkey where he will serve time for a killing that took place prior to the attack on the pope.) (XDG, p 4A, 7/22/2000)Ref: 83
1982
May 12In Fatima, Portugal, security guards overpowered a Spanish priest armed with a bayonet who was trying to reach Pope John Paul the Second. (TWA, 1997)Ref: 95
May 23Pope John Paul II declares "Peerke" Donders divine.Ref: 5
May 28Pope John Paul II is first pope to visit Great Britain.Ref: 5
May 29First papal visit to Britain since 1531.Ref: 5
Oct 10Pope John Paul II canonizes Rev M Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of another inmate at Auschwitz concentration camp, a saint.Ref: 5
1983
Dec 11First visit to Lutheran church by a pope (John Paul II in Rome).Ref: 5
Dec 27Pope John Paul II pardons man who shot him (Mehmet Ali Agca).Ref: 5
1985
Jan 27Pope John Paul says mass to one million in Venezuela.Ref: 2
May 11Pope John Paul II arrives in Netherlands.Ref: 5
May 16Pope John Paul II arrives in Belgium.Ref: 5
1986
Feb 02Dalai Lama meets Pope John Paul II in India.Ref: 5
Mar 29A court in Rome acquits six men in a plot to kill the Pope.Ref: 2
Apr 13Pope John Paul II visits Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff in a Rome synagogue in the first recorded papal visit of its kind.Ref: 70
1987
May 01Pope John Paul II beatified Edith Stein, a Jewish-born Carmelite nun who was gassed in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.Ref: 70
Jun 25Pope John Paul II received Austrian President Kurt Waldheim at the Vatican, a meeting fraught with controversy because of allegations that Waldheim had hidden a Nazi past.Ref: 70
Sep 16Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass at Dodger Stadium.Ref: 86
1989
Jan 25Yank owner George Steinbrenner meets with Pope John Paul II.Ref: 5
Apr 30Pope John Paul II beatifies Victoire Rasoamanarivo of Madagascar.Ref: 5
1991
May 02In his ninth encyclical, Pope John Paul the Second acknowledged the success of capitalism, but denounced the system for sometimes achieving results at the expense of the poor and of morality.Ref: 5
1993
Mar 21Pope John Paul II declares Duns Scotus, a saint.Ref: 5
Dec 30After some 2,000 years of rocky Jewish-Christian relations, the Holy See and the State of Israel signed an agreement to recognize each other. The agreement was seen as a significant step forward in relations between the Vatican and Israel.Ref: 70
1994
Feb 20Pope John Paul II demands juristic discrimination of homosexuals.Ref: 5
Apr 03In his Easter address, Pope John Paul II expressed hope that the joy of Christian unity would overwhelm the din of violence and hate. (XDG, p 4A, 4/03/2004)Ref: 83
1995
Jan 12Pope John Paul II begins visit to Southeast Asia.Ref: 5
Jan 18Pope John Paul II begins visit to Australia.Ref: 5
Mar 30Pope John Paul II issued the 11th encyclical of his papacy in which he condemned abortion and euthanasia as crimes that no human laws could legitimize.Ref: 70
Oct 07A crowd of over 100,000 people were sitting or standing in Central Park to see Pope John Paul II. The pontiff’s message at the outdoor mass was geared to the role of young people in the church and the world. “You young people will live most of your lives in the next century,” he said. “You must help the holy spirit to shape the social, moral and spiritual character.”Ref: 5
Oct 08On the last day of his fourth US pilgrimage, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Oriole Park in Baltimore. (XDG, p. 4A, 10/8/2000)Ref: 83
Dec 12Pope John Paul II begins visit to Southeast Asia.Ref: 5
1996
Oct 04Pope John Paul II arrived in the United States for a five-day visit.Ref: 6
Oct 08Pope John Paul II underwent an appendectomy.Ref: 70
1997
Dec 14Cuban President Fidel Castro declares Christmas 1997 an official holiday to ensure the success of Pope John Paul II's upcoming visit to the communist country.Ref: 70
Dec 20Pope John Paul II sends Christmas greetings to the Cuban people in advance of his visit to the island. (XDG, p 4A, 12/20/2002)Ref: 83
1998
Jan 21Pope John Paul II began his first visit to Cuba.Ref: 70
Jan 23Pope John Paul II condemns US embargo against CubaRef: 5
Mar 16The Vatican expressed remorse for the cowardice of some Christians during the Holocaust, but defended the actions of Pope Pius XII.Ref: 70
Jun 19Pope John Paul II began his third visit to Austria. (XDG, p 4A, 6/19/2003)Ref: 83
Oct 03Pope John Paul II beatified Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, the World War II archbishop of Zagreb and a controversial figure because many Serbs and Jews accused him of sympathizing with the Nazis.Ref: 70
Oct 11Pope John Paul II canonized the first Jewish-born saint of the modern era: Edith Stein, a Catholic nun killed at Auschwitz.Ref: 70
1999
Jan 26President Clinton welcomes a frail Pope John Paul II as the pontiff begins his seventh pilgrimage to the United States in St Louis. (XDG, p 4A, 1/26/2004)Ref: 83
2000
Feb 26Pope John Paul II visited Mount Sinai in Egypt, revered as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments.Ref: 70
Mar 12Pope John Paul II asked God's forgiveness for the sins of Roman Catholics through the ages, including wrongs inflicted on Jews, women and minorities.Ref: 70
Mar 21Pope John Paul begins the first official visit by a Roman Catholic pontiff to Israel. (XDG, p 4A, 3/21/2001)Ref: 83
Jun 13Italy pardons Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman who'd tried to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981. (TWA, 2001)Ref: 95
Aug 29Pope John Paul II lays down the moral guidelines for medical research in the 21st century, endorsing organ donation and adult stem cell research, but condemning human cloning and embryo experiments. (XDG, p 4A, 8/29/2001)Ref: 83
2001
May 06John Paul II, during his visit to Syria, became the first pope to enter a mosque as he called for brotherhood between Christians and Muslims.Ref: 70
May 08Pope John Paul II began the final leg of a historic pilgrimage as he arrives in the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. (XDG, p 4A, 5/08/2002)Ref: 83
2002
Apr 15The Vatican announced that Pope John Paul II was summoning American cardinals to Rome for talks about sex abuse scandals in the U.S. church.Ref: 70
Jul 28Speaking publicly on the church abuse scandal for the first time, Pope John Paul II told young Catholics in Toronto that sexual abuse of children by priests "fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame."Ref: 70
Jul 29A visibly exhausted Pope John-Paul II greets thousands of Roman Catholic faithful as he arrives in Guatamala City. (XDG, p 4A, 7/29/2003)Ref: 83
Aug 02Pope John Paul II returned to Rome after ending an 11-day pilgrimage to Canada, Guatemala and Mexico. (XDG, p 4A, 8/02/2003)Ref: 83
Aug 19An ailing and tearful Pope John Paul II concludes a four-day visit to his homeland near Krakow Poland. (XDG, p 4A, 8/19/2003)Ref: 70
2003
May 17A top Vatican official confirmed that Pope John Paul II was suffering from Parkinson's disease.Ref: 70
Oct 08Pope John Paul II, 83, traveled to a shrine near Pompeii Italy defying skeptics who thought the pontiff's traveling days were over due to ill health, according to an article on page 12A of USA Today.Ref: 13
Last Update: October 27th, 2005
© 2000-2005   Kenneth Fussichen