Viterbo PapacyWith a long history as a vantage point for the forces of anti-popes threatening Rome, Viterbo became a papal city in 1243. During the later thirteenth century, the ancient Italian city of Viterbo was the site of five papal elections and the residence of seven popes and their Curias, and it remains the location of four papal tombs.Avignon PapacyThe Avignon Papacy (Occitan: Papat d'Avinhon; French: Papauté d'Avignon) was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon (at the time within the Kingdom of Arles, part of the Holy Roman Empire, now part of France) rather than in Rome. The situation arose from the conflict between the papacy and the French crown, culminating in the death of Pope Boniface VIII after his arrest and maltreatment by agents of Philip IV of France.
Perugia PapacyPerugia was a long-time papal residence during the 13th century. Five popes were elected here: Pope Honorius III (1216–1227), Pope Clement IV (1265–1268), Pope Honorius IV (1285–1287), Pope Celestine V (1294), and Pope Clement V (1305–1314). These elections took place in the Palazzo delle Canoniche adjoining the Perugia Cathedral. The Cathedral contained the tombs of Pope Innocent III (1198–1216), Pope Urban IV (1261–1264), and Pope Martin IV (1281–1285).
Pope FrancisOrdersOrdination13 December 1969by Ramón José CastellanoConsecration27 June 1992by Antonio QuarracinoCreated cardinal21 February 2001by John Paul IIRankCardinal priestPersonal detailsBornJorge Mario Bergoglio(1936-12-17)17 December 1936Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDied21 April 2025(2025-04-21) (aged 88)Domus Sanctae Marthae, Vatican CityBuriedSanta Maria Maggiore, Rome, ItalyEducationMaximum College of St. JosephPhilosophical and Theological Faculty of San MiguelMilltown Institute of Theology and PhilosophySankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and TheologyMottoMiserando atque eligendo(Latin for 'By having mercy and by choosing')SignatureCoat of armsOrdination historyPapacy2013 conclaveBenevacantismPapal inaugurationPastoral visitsLampedusaCardinals createdCanonizationsJohn XXIII and John Paul IIBeatificationsVenerable people declaredYear of MercyTeachings and writingsTheologyBibliographyEncyclicalsLumen fideiLaudato si'Fratelli tuttiDilexit nosEvangelii gaudiumAmoris laetitiaGaudete et exsultateQuerida AmazoniaLaudate DeumHopeChurch governance and reformPraedicate evangeliumCouncil of CardinalsSynod on SynodalityInstitute for the Works of ReligionVos estis lux mundiTraditionis custodesFiducia supplicansSocial and moral issuesLGBTQ topicsCapital punishmentWorld Day of the PoorCanadian Indian residential school systemEcumenism and interfaith relationsEcumenism and interreligious dialogueDocument on Human FraternityDiplomacy and world affairsHoly See–United States relationsOrdo AmorisCuba–Holy See relationsChina–Holy See relationsHoly See–Palestine relationsAgreementGaza ChurchHoly See–Russia relationsRussian invasion of UkraineChild abductions in the Russo-Ukrainian warHealth, death, and legacyDeath and funeralReactions2025 conclavePope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025.
Pope Benedict XVIHead of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013OrdersOrdination29 June 1951by Michael von FaulhaberConsecration28 May 1977by Josef StanglCreated cardinal27 June 1977by Paul VIRankCardinal priest (1977–1993)Cardinal bishop (1993–2005)Personal detailsBornJoseph Alois Ratzinger(1927-04-16)16 April 1927Marktl, GermanyDied31 December 2022(2022-12-31) (aged 95)Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican CityBuriedVatican Grottoes, St. Peter's BasilicaEducationLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenMottoCooperatores veritatis(Latin for 'Cooperators of the truth')SignatureCoat of armsPhilosophical workEraContemporary philosophyRegionWestern philosophySchoolAugustinianismNouvelle théologieMain interestsChristian theologyEcclesiologyNotable worksJesus of NazarethIntroduction to ChristianityEschatologyDeus caritas estNotable ideasRejection of dehellenizationHermeneutic of continuityOrdination historyOther popes named BenedictEarly life and church careerEarly lifeArchbishop of Munich and FreisingPrefect of the CDFDominus IesusPontifical Biblical CommissionInternational Theological CommissionDean of the College of CardinalsPapacy2005 conclavePapal inaugurationPastoral visitsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCardinals createdCanonizationsBeatificationsCeremonial of Benedict XVIChristmas AlbumTheology and writingsTheologyBibliographyIntroduction to ChristianityEschatology: Death and Eternal LifeTruth and ToleranceThe Ratzinger ReportThe Spirit of the LiturgyJesus of NazarethFrom the Baptism in the Jordan to the TransfigurationHoly WeekThe Infancy NarrativesMagisterial documentsDeus caritas estSacramentum caritatisSpe salviCaritas in veritateVerbum DominiChurch governance and liturgySummorum PontificumAnglicanorum coetibusPapal election reforms of Pope Benedict XVIPontifical Council for Promoting the New EvangelizationVatileaks scandalEcumenism and interfaith relationsEcumenismJudaismIslamRegensburg lectureResignation, death, and legacyResignation of Pope Benedict XVIPope emeritus2013 conclaveMater Ecclesiae MonasteryDeath and funeral of Pope Benedict XVIBenevacantismRelated8661 RatzingerCoat of arms of Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013.
Pope Paul VIHead of the Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978Other popes named PaulPapacy1963 conclaveCoronationSecond Vatican CouncilCatholic–Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965Reform of the Roman CuriaPastoral visits1965 visit to the United StatesSecond Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of BishopsPontifical Commission on Birth ControlTeachings and writingsApostolic constitutions PaeniteminiIndulgentiarum DoctrinaRomano Pontifici eligendoEncyclicals Ecclesiam SuamMense maioMysterium fideiChristi MatriPopulorum progressioSacerdotalis caelibatusHumanae vitaeApostolic exhortations Signum MagnumMarialis CultusEvangelii nuntiandiMotu proprioEcclesiae SanctaePontificalis DomusSolemni hac liturgiaMysterii PaschalisIngravescentem aetatemApostolic letters Octogesima adveniensChurch governance and reformCardinals created by Paul VIReform of the Roman CuriaMass of Paul VIPontificalis DomusEcclesiae SanctaeIngravescentem aetatemRomano Pontifici eligendoEcumenism and diplomacyPope Paul VI and ecumenismCatholic–Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965OstpolitikBeatifications and canonizationsBeatificationsVenerable people declaredCanonizationsLegacyBeatification and canonization of Pope Paul VIPaul VI Audience HallPaul VI PrizePaul VI: The Pope in the TempestPope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 1897 – 6 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978.Pope VigiliusPope Vigilius (died 7 June 555) was the bishop of Rome from 29 March 537 to his death on 7 June 555. He is considered the first pope of the Byzantine papacy. Born into Roman aristocracy, Vigilius served as a deacon and papal apocrisiarius in Constantinople. He allied with Empress Theodora, who sought his help to establish Monophysitism, and was made pope after the deposition of Silverius.
Pope John Paul IIHead of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005Early life and church careerEarly lifePriesthoodEpiscopate and cardinalatePapacyOctober 1978 conclavePastoral visitsWorld Youth DayGreat Jubilee of 2000Cardinals createdBeatifications by John Paul IICanonizations by John Paul IITeachings and writingsTheologyTheology of the BodyCulture of lifeEncyclicalsRedemptor hominisDives in misericordiaLaborem exercensSlavorum ApostoliDominum et vivificantemRedemptoris MaterSollicitudo rei socialisRedemptoris missioCentesimus annusVeritatis splendorEvangelium vitaeUt unum sintFides et ratioEcclesia de EucharistiaLove and ResponsibilityMemory and IdentityChurch governance1983 Code of Canon LawCode of Canons of the Eastern ChurchesPastor bonusAd tuendam fidemOrdinatio sacerdotalisPolitical views and activityPolitical viewsHoly See–Soviet Union relationsEcumenism and interfaith relationsEcumenismEastern OrthodoxyJudaismIslamApologiesAssassination attempts and health1981 assassination attemptMehmet Ali AğcaJuan María Fernández y KrohnBojinka plotHealthDeath, canonization, and legacyDeath and funeralBeatificationCanonizationIn popular cultureJohn Paul II Catholic University of LublinJohn Paul II FoundationtPope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.
RomeCapital and largest city of ItalyCapital city and comune in ItalyRome is the capital and largest city of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazioregion and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A specia municipality named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km (497.1 mi), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits.
PopeHead of the Catholic ChurchThe pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of state of the Papal States, and since 1929 of the much smaller Vatican City State.Pope Leo XIVHead of the Catholic Church since 2025OrdersOrdinationJune 19, 1982by Jean JadotConsecrationDecember 12, 2014by James GreenCreated cardinalSeptember 30, 2023by FrancisRankCardinal deacon (2023–2025)Cardinal bishop (2025)Personal detailsBornRobert Francis Prevost (1955-09-14) September 14, 1955 (age 71)Chicago, Illinois, United StatesCitizenshipUnited StatesPeru (since 2015)Vatican City (since 2023)ResidenceApostolic Palace(official residence)Palace of Castel Gandolfo(official summer residence)EducationVillanova University (BS)Catholic Theological Union (MDiv)Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (JCL, JCD)MottoIn illo Uno unum(Latin for 'In the One, [we are] one')SignatureCoat of armsOrdination historySource(s):Other popes named LeoPope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced ; September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.
Orvieto and the popesOrvieto, Umbria, Italy, was the refuge of five popes during the 13th century: Urban IV (1261–1264), Gregory X (1271–1276), Martin IV (1281–1285), Nicholas IV (1288–1292) and Boniface VIII (1294–1303). During this time, the popes took up residence in the Papal Palace of Orvieto (also known as Palazzo Soliano), which was adjacent to the Orvieto Cathedral and expanded onto the bishop's residence.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.