Innocent III - Pope, ruling the Roman Catholic Church from January 8, 1198 to June 16, 1216. Innocent III was one of the youngest and at the same time the most educated and influential pontiffs of the Medieval era. It was he who managed to establish the authority of the church in Europe, expand the borders of the papal state and make 11 kings his personal vassals. The favorite saying of Innocent III was the phrase attributed by historians to Pope Gregory the Seventh: “The Pope occupies the middle between God and man. He is less than God, but he is higher than a man. ”Some historians consider Innocent III to be a wise and far-sighted ruler and reformer of the church, while others - a dictator in the papal tiara, who began a crusade against Christians and contributed to the flourishing of the Inquisition. The truth, as always, is somewhere in between.
Innocent III: birth, education and the first steps to the Holy See
The one who ascended the Holy See on January 8, 1198 and took the name Innocent III for himself, was born into a noble family in Italy, in the commune of Gavignano (near the city of Ananya) and at birth received the name Lothario Conti, Count of Seny, Count of Lavagny. The exact year of birth of the future Pope is unknown - according to some sources, it is 1160, and according to others - 1161. Count Trasimondo from the Conti clan - the clan from which 9 Popes came from, was Lothario's father. Innocent III's mother, Clarissia Scotti, was born into a noble and influential Roman patrician family. But the greatest role in the formation of the future pontiff was played by his uncle Paolo Scolari, better known as Pope Clement III.
According to the recollections of contemporaries, from childhood, Lothario was distinguished by perseverance, purposefulness and outstanding intellectual abilities. Like all children from noble families, he received his primary education at home. Then the future Pope studied theology at the University of Paris and jurisprudence at the University of Bologna. Moreover, in Bologna, Lothario's teacher was Ugucius of Pisa himself - one of the most famous philologists and jurists of that time.
After completing his studies, Lothario Conti made a pilgrimage to Canterbury, to the cathedral, where in 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was martyred. After returning to Rome, the future pontiff held various fairly high positions in the clergy and was known both among the ministers of the church and among the laity as one of the best lawyers in Italy.
In September 1190, Pope Clement III elevated his nephew to the cardinal dignity. Since at that time Lothario was only 30 years old, he became one of the youngest cardinals in the circle of the Pope, and many members of the high clergy reacted to him with prejudice. Therefore, it is natural that after the death of Clement III in 1191, the newly elected Pope Celestine III sent the young cardinal to carry out spiritual service in Ananya.
However, historians consider another reason for the disgrace of Cardinal Lothario Conti during the papacy of Celestine III. Celestine III belonged to the Orsini clan, which was at enmity with the clan of Lothario's mother. Therefore, it is possible that it was the family feud that prompted the pontiff to expel Cardinal Lothario from the Papal Palace.
The years of disgrace in Anagna
During his life in Ananya, the future Pope spent most of his time in the library. He studied the writings of previous rulers of the Roman Catholic Church, and also expanded his knowledge of jurisprudence. It was probably during these years that Lothario Conti read the treatise of Gregory the Seventh, which described 27 points of papal authority. On the basis of the principles described in this treatise, Innocent III, during his papacy, built the relationship between the church and the secular authorities. Also, according to historians of the XIX century, it was from the works of Gregory the Seventh that he got the idea that the Pope takes the place of Christ on Earth.
In the period from 1191 to 1198, the future pontiff wrote hundreds of letters, in which he described both theological ideas and theories, and issues related to medieval law, and his reflections on the strengthening of the role of the church in Europe. Some of these letters have survived, and historians made the unequivocal conclusion from them that Innocent III was one of the most educated people of that time.
Also during his stay in Ananya, the future Pope wrote his most famous works - the treatise "De Miseria Humanae conditionis" (Latin - "On the insignificance of the lot of man").
Election to the throne and the first reforms
On January 8, 1198, Pope Celestine III died, and on the same day the cardinals unanimously elected Lothario Conti as the new Pope. Moreover, the reason for this decision of the supreme clergy of the church remains a mystery to this day. Some historians believe that Celestine III himself, before his death, appointed the disgraced cardinal as his successor, while others argue that the cardinals chose Lothario for personal reasons, and Celestine III wanted to see Giovanni Colonna on the throne after him. The ceremony of accepting Lothario Conti of the papal tiara was very magnificent and was attended by both the nobility of Italy and the rulers of a number of European states.
Immediately after becoming a pontiff, Innocent III began to carry out internal reforms in the church. In particular, he strengthened and improved the bureaucratic apparatus, thanks to which he gained greater control, compared to his predecessor, both over the treasury and over the high-ranking clergy who were not part of the pontiff's inner circle.
His next step was the spread of the power of the church in Italy and the expansion of the borders of the papal state by the annexation of the Ancona mark and Spoleto. Innocent III managed to get the perfect Rome to take the vassal oath. And after the head of the eternal city became a vassal of the Pope, many aristocrats of Italy followed his example.
Establishment of the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe
Innocent III, at the request of the Queen of Sicily, Constance of Norman, in 1198 became the guardian of the young heir to the throne, Frederick II Staufen, thus gaining temporary control over the kingdom. He also managed to competently take advantage of the turmoil in Germany, and in 1208, having supported the candidate for king Otto IV, put him on the throne. Moreover, Otto did not justify the hopes of Innocent III, and a year later he was overthrown, and the throne was taken by the henchman and vassal of Pope Frederick II. In addition to the king of Germany, the rulers of France, Portugal, Leon, Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Aragon and England became vassals of the pontiff.
The Pope also blessed the creation of the Order of the Franciscans and the Teutonic Order - one of the most influential knightly Catholic orders in the Middle Ages.
Fourth crusade
The Fourth Crusade was launched by Pope Innocent III with the aim of recapturing Jerusalem from the Muslims. However, the knights never made it to the Holy City - the troops simply did not have enough money to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the crusaders first captured Zara, and then - Constantinople. And although Innocent III first tried to stop the army, later he not only forgave most of the participants in the campaign, but also led the process of forming the Latin Empire on the ruins of Constantinople, putting his vassal at its head.
Death
The idea of freeing Jerusalem from Muslim rule never left Innocent III, and in 1216 he headed to northern Italy to reconcile the cities of Pisa and Genoa. He also planned to receive money from the rulers of these cities to organize the fifth crusade. However, on the way, the pontiff contracted malaria and died suddenly at the age of 55 (according to other versions - 56) years. The burial of Innocent III took place in Perugia. But in 1891, his remains were reburied in the Lateran Palace in Rome.
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For many centuries, the Catholic Church has chosen the best and most worthy leader to lead a multimillion flock. However, among the 266 popes of Rome, not all were models of faith and obedience. Some of them were remembered for cruel punishments, shocking scandals and dark financial deals.
Stephen VI
This pontiff ordered the exhumation of the body of his predecessor Formosus and a cruel trial. The body of the previous pope and adversary Stephen VI was dressed in papal clothes and seated in the defendant's chair. The corpse was asked questions to which the acting pontiff himself answered. At the end of the trial, Formosa's body was sentenced to severe punishment. They cut off three fingers of his hand, with which he blessed the believers, and then cut his body into pieces and threw it into the Tiber. This act was not to the liking of the Romans and many representatives of the church, and Pope Stephen VI was imprisoned, where he was strangled. Formosus' body was hacked to pieces and reburied in a papal grave.
John XII
This pontiff is rightfully considered the most immoral pope not only of his period, but also in the entire history of the Catholic Church. Ascending the papal throne at the age of 18, John turned his palace into a brothel and played with donations from the faithful. Even Pope's ally Otto I, in a personal conversation, accused John XII of murder, perjury, blasphemy and incest with his sisters. According to some reports, John XII died at the hands of her husband, whom his wife cheated on with the pontiff. After catching them in bed, the angry husband beat Daddy. As a result of the beatings, the pontiff died three days later.
Benedict IX
This pontiff ascended the throne three times. For the first time, according to conflicting reports, he was between 12 and 20 years old. In any case, he was one of the youngest and most infamous popes in church history. The German historian spoke of Benedict as a demon from hell who ascended the Catholic throne in the guise of a priest. He was accused of murder, theft and adultery. According to the Roman historian, in the papal palace, Benedict IX lived as an oriental sultan, surrounded by wealth and concubines.
Boniface VIII
Although this pope does not claim to be the most sinful, he is not an example of obedience and faith. After ascending the throne, he erected monuments to himself throughout Rome and declared that sexual relations with underage boys are no more sinful than rubbing their palms.
During his reign, he demolished an entire city due to political differences and earned himself a mortal enemy in the person of the great Dante Alighieri. Curiously, Boniface is in the eighth circle of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy.
Sixtus IV
This pontiff was accused of pedophilia and sodomy, as well as the fact that one of his nephews was the product of incest between Sixtus and his younger sister. However, it is difficult to trace the veracity of these accusations due to the fact that the pontiff had many influential enemies. What Sixtus IV can undoubtedly be accused of is nepotism. Almost all of his nephews were cardinals, and one of them even became a pope. In addition to his negative imprint on the history of the church, Sixtus was a faithful patron of art, science and architecture. He commissioned the construction of the famous Sistine Chapel, and also rebuilt many destroyed churches in Rome.
Innocent VIII
Innocent ascended the papal throne under the patronage of the Rovere family, to which his predecessor belonged. This is the only pontiff who openly recognized his illegitimate children, of whom there were eight. In addition, Innocent followed the lead of Heinrich Kramer, the infamous author of Hammer of the Witches, and issued a bull calling for punishment of witches for their relationship with the devil, which led to the famous inquisitorial trials against women across Europe.
Alexander VI
At the conclave, only 7 people voted for Alexander, and he went to bribe, practically buying out the throne from other candidates. In the world of Rodrigo Borgia, he became pope in 1492. His reign was characterized by incestuous relationships, orgies and a huge amount of money. After the murder of his beloved son, the pontiff revised his views on licentious morals and calmed down, but did not become less cruel. By his order, the famous and popular Girolamo Savonarola was hanged, accusing Alexander and other popes of depravity. After Alexander failed to bribe the monk, he ordered the capture and imprisonment of Savonarola, and then sentenced to public execution. This act brought the Reformation much closer.
Julius II
Julia II is often called the most ruthless pope. He was domineering, hot-tempered and incredibly active, even he himself participated in military campaigns in Italy, and in the forefront. His reign led to the expansion of the papal possessions and the fall of Venice. Julius II is best known for his patronage activities, which surpassed even the efforts of his uncle Sixtus. However, Julius died from complications after syphilis, which he contracted as a result of contacts with representatives of the ancient profession. By the end of the pontiff's life, his stupas were almost completely covered with ulcers, so much so that the believers could not bow before them and kiss them.
Leo X
Leo X belonged to the Medici family and was a renowned patron of art and a noble spender. Besides the fact that he squandered the entire treasury left by Julius II, his spending significantly exceeded the income of the papacy. In order to secure his luxurious lifestyle, the pontiff began selling indulgences and cardinal posts. This attitude towards sin and forgiveness has led to outrage from the clergy and even the laity. A scandal erupted, on the coals of which the plans of the reform movement matured.
Paul IV
Paul ascended the throne at an advanced age, but in the four years of his reign he created absolute autocracy and increased the influence of the Inquisition. His worst order was to send all Jews to the ghetto and the humiliation they suffered while living there. By order of the pontiff, the synagogues practicing in Rome were also destroyed. Paul IV was so hated by the people that after his death the inhabitants of Rome destroyed all of his statues and images.
Urban VIII
The reign of this pontiff was marked by the notorious trial of Galileo. The oppressive Pope Urban did not appreciate the scientist's attempt to spread his work on the heliocentric system of the world, and personally presided over the court. He invited Galileo to publicly abandon his words or go to the stake like Giordano Bruno. Galileo chose to save his life, and the church apologized for such an attitude only a few centuries later.
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Only an unmarried man over 35 years old who has the rank of cardinal and a doctorate can become pope. This is the highest step in the career of a Catholic priest, which is incredibly difficult to achieve. But why are so many so eager to achieve this?
Us in site it became interesting, what are the advantages of such a high title.
10. The Pope has a cool car
Not that this is a big plus for being pope, but rather just an interesting fact. Exorcism is a ritual recognized by the Catholic Church, and the Vatican even hosts educational courses for exorcists. Of course, not everyone can come to them, but only priests. The courses have both a textbook and a professor, but there is nothing Hollywood about all this: exorcists are taught to free the possessed with the help of prayer, qualified doctors and psychiatrists.
8. The Pope has a really interesting job
What decisions do you make at work? The Pope decides questions of ecumenical significance. For example, it was only in 1992 that John Paul II put an end to the trial of Galileo and admitted that the Earth is not a motionless body, but revolving around the Sun.
7. Incredible clothes and shoes
Infoula, zucchetto, mozzetta are not the menu of an Italian restaurant, but different parts of the pope's wardrobe. And he has a rather big one, moreover, fabrics such as velvet and silk are mainly used for sewing clothes, and gold, silver and ermine fur are used for decoration. Some dads order their own personal perfume.
In addition to special clothes, the Pope has the opportunity to wear red leather shoes, as well as the legendary “fisherman's ring”. But not everyone enjoys this luxury: the current Pope Francis wears simple shoes, and he asked himself to cast the ring only from gilded silver.
The only drawback of all this beauty is that it is poorly compatible with windy weather.
6. Absolute power in the Vatican belongs to the Pope
Unlike the monarchs of many states, the Pope is not a "decorative" office at all. If you omit all sorts of boring details, then the Pope has complete power over the entire Vatican and the Catholic Church, and the title is assigned to him for life. He can personally excommunicate from the church, dispose of its property, proclaim saints and much more.
5. Vatican is a rich country
And about the property. The Vatican is a fairly rich country, all the financial flows of the Catholic world flock here: donations, income from tourism, etc. The Vatican owns a lot of large real estate in Europe and Latin America. The Vatican has enough money to invest in industries in developed countries and buy stocks (General Motors and IBM, for example).
4. The portrait of the ruling pope decorates the coins
The national currency of the Vatican is the euro, but for this state, coins are minted with their own design: a portrait of the current pope. While you are vainly going to get at least a dozen likes for your selfies, the face of His Holiness runs all over Europe in euro cents.
3. Vatican ATMs
Pope is a term used to refer to the rulers of the Catholic Church since its inception. The history of the papacy has many really great representatives of the Catholic Church - for example, Pope Gregory I the Great gave the world a calendar that we all use to this day. Meanwhile, there is a lot of bloodshed in the history of the papacy - many representatives of the Catholic Church were brutally killed.
10. Pope Saint Peter
One of the disciples of Jesus Christ and the first followers of Christianity, the Apostle Peter angered the Roman emperor Nero, who despised Christians and even blamed them for the Great Fire of Rome in July 64. The emperor ordered the capture of Peter, but the apostle managed to escape from Rome. During his wanderings, Peter had a vision of Jesus, who convinced the apostle to return to Rome and be martyred. According to legend, Peter asked to be crucified on the cross in order to repeat the martyrdom of Jesus, but upside down, because he considered himself unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus did. The crucifixion on the cross upside down prolonged the suffering of Peter, after the death of the revered as the first Pope of Rome.
9. Pope Saint Clement I
99 year
According to legend, Saint Clement I was exiled from Rome to a quarry. Seeing the thirsty prisoners working in the quarries, Clementius knelt down in prayer and saw a lamb on the hillside. After hitting the ground where the lamb was standing, a spring with clean water began to hit with a hoe from under the ground. Seeing the miracle, local residents and prisoners turned to Christianity. Clementius was executed by the guards, who tied an anchor to his neck and threw the preacher into the sea.
8. Pope Saint Stephen I
Hieromartyr Stephen I was Pope for only three years, becoming a victim of contradictions within the Catholic Church and beyond. Followers of the Catholic Church were divided over the problem of re-baptism of retired Catholics. At the same time, the Roman emperor Valerian, once an ally of Christians, but then turned away from them, began to persecute the church. The emperor's soldiers broke into the church while Stephen I was preaching, grabbing the Pope and beheading him. The throne, drenched in the blood of the Pope, was kept by the Catholic Church until the 18th century.
7. Pope Sixtus II
Shortly after the assassination of Pope Stephen I, Sixtus II was chosen as the new head of the church. At the same time, Emperor Valerian indicated that all Christians are obliged to participate in ceremonies in honor of the Roman gods in order to avoid conflict with the authorities. As Pope, Sixtus II could avoid participating in such ceremonies. Unfortunately, soon after this decree, the Roman emperor issued another one, sentencing all Christian priests, deacons and bishops to death. Pope Sixtus II was captured by the emperor's soldiers while preaching and beheaded.
6. Pope John VII
The senator's grandson and the son of a statesman, John VII became the first Pope from a noble family. John VII led the Catholic Church during the "Byzantine papacy", when all popes had to receive the approval of the emperor of Byzantium. The murderer of John VII was by no means the emperor and his henchmen, but the husband who found the unfaithful wife in bed with the Pope and beat John VII to death.
5. Pope John VIII
Most historians regard John VIII as one of the greatest ecclesiastical figures in the history of the papacy. The name of John VIII is associated, first of all, with political intrigues, the victim of which was the Pope himself in the end. What exactly caused the murder of John VIII - a conspiracy or simple envy of the riches of the church - is unknown. John VIII died at the hands of one of his relatives, who poisoned the pope's drink and hit him on the head with a heavy hammer.
4. Pope Stephen VII
August 897
Pope Stephen VII is best known for the ritual execution of his predecessor, Pope Formosa. Died under mysterious circumstances, Formosus was put on trial at the Corpse Synod, symbolically executed and thrown into the river. All orders of the former Pope were canceled. Unfortunately for Stephen VII, the Corpse Synod caused a wave of discontent among the followers of the Catholic Church, as a result of which the Pope was first imprisoned and later executed by strangulation.
3. Pope John XII
In the eyes of most, the Pope is an inspiring leader, the personification of piety. John XII was not that kind of Pope. Shortly after his election, at the age of only 18, John XII literally went all out - he was prescribed gambling, theft, political murder and even incest. Pope Leo VII tried to overthrow John after he transferred part of the lands of the Catholic Church to the German king Otto I, but soon John XII restored the rights to the papacy. The murderer of John XII was a jealous spouse who found the Pope in his house in bed with his own wife.
2. Pope Benedict VI
June 974
Pope Benedict VI, who led the Catholic Church after the assassination of John XIII, was forced to solve many of the problems created by his predecessor. During his reign, John XIII turned against himself many powerful enemies - representatives of the noble families of Europe. Pope John was captured and sent into exile, but managed to return and take revenge on several enemies who sent him to prison. Ultimately, John XVIII died in his own bed, but his follower Benedict VI was far from so fortunate. Just a year and a half after his election, Benedict VI was strangled by the priest Crescence I, brother of Pope John XIII.
1. Pope John XXI
John XXI is known not only as the Pope, but also as a scientist and philosopher who wrote several treatises on logic, philosophy and medicine. John XXI was immortalized in Dante's classic poem The Divine Comedy. In August 1277, shortly after the construction of a new wing at the Pope's palace in Italy was completed, part of the loose roof collapsed onto the bed of the sleeping John XXI. He died eight days later from his injuries.
In the Middle Ages, there was a struggle for primacy between spiritual and secular power. The emperors actively participated in the selection. The Hundred Years War in France and Church schism weakened the influence of the Pope. Only in 1929 the Pope was given back the opportunity to rule the Vatican city-state.
In modern times, the choice of the pope takes place at a meeting of cardinals. Camerlengo, interim head of the College of Cardinals, announces the death of his predecessor. A conclave is convened and a new pope is elected. Until the pontiff is announced, the Collegium manages the affairs. The chosen dad changes his name and picks up a number. For example, Julius I.
List of recent popes, years of reign (beginning)
- Julius II - 1503 The first Pope to be embalmed.
- Leo X - 1513 At the time of his election, he was not ordained. He died at the age of 45.
- Adrian VI - 1522 Fought against the Reformation.
- Clement VII - 1523 The pontificate had many mistakes and failures.
- Paul III - 1534 Supported and developed science. I trusted astrologers and consulted with them every time I made an important decision.
- Julius III - 1550 Resumed celebrations and carnivals in Rome.
- Marcellus II - 1555 Fluent in Latin, Greek and Italian. He was very erudite. He knew mathematics, architecture, astronomy and much more.
- Paul IV - 1555 Oldest Pope at the time of his election.
- Pius IV - 1559 Benevolent and sincere. He founded the first theological seminaries.
- Pius V - 1566. A severe personality, leading an ascetic lifestyle. Allowed torture and punishment.
- Gregory XIII - 1572 The last pope with illegitimate children. Introduced the Gregorian calendar.
- Sixtus V - 1585 He fought banditry, drained swamps, put streets and squares in order, built fountains.
- Urban VII - 1590 Fought smoking, died of malaria. The shortest period (13 days).
- Gregory XIV - 1590 Was quiet and sickly.
- Innocent IX - 1591 Supported the policy of the Spanish king Philip II.
- Clement VIII - 1592 Wise statesman. Blessed coffee and promoted the distribution of the drink in Europe.
- Leo XI - 1605 Nicknamed "Pope Lightning". He stayed at the head of the church for 28 days.
- Paul V - 1605 Started his career as a lawyer. Strict and determined, he defended the privileges of the church, sought to preserve the unity of the structure.
- Gregory XV - 1621 Issued a bull against magicians and witches. Papal elections were held by secret ballot.
- Urban VIII - 1623 Elegant and reasonable, had a refined taste. Patronized poets, financed the work of sculptors and artists.
- Innocent X - 1644 Condemned Jansenism.
- Alexander VII - 1655 He showed interest in architectural projects that later became masterpieces of the Baroque era.
- Clement IX - 1667 He was friendly to people and gave alms to the poor. Assisted in the construction of a musical theater.
- Clement X - 1670 He called to love each other, daily proving loyalty to the Almighty through trust, generosity and prudence.
- Innocent XI - 1676 He was engaged in charitable activities, helping the population during floods and plague. Banned gambling. He lived modestly.
- Alexander VIII - 1689 Returned Avignon.
- Innocent XII - 1691 The last pope to wear a beard. Destroyed the practice of nepotism.
- Clement XI - 1700 Received a doctorate in law (canonical and civil). A subtle diplomat and peacemaker. During the reign, the Academy of Painting and Sculpture appeared.
- Innocent XIII - 1721 The reign is calm and prosperous.
- Benedict XIII - 1724 Ascetic in life, he did not know how to manage. He opened the Spanish Steps, was the founder of the University of Camerino.
- Clement XII - 1730 The 78-year-old pope, blind and sick, carried out reconstruction programs, built a port and advocated for the reunification of the Roman and Orthodox churches.
- Benedict XIV - 1740 Patronized scientists and artists.
- Clement XIII - 1758 Opponent of the Age of Enlightenment. Indecisive and insecure.
- Clement XIV - 1769. Adopted a position of reconciliation between secular and ecclesiastical authorities. Eliminated the Jesuit Order.
- Pius VI - 1775 Opposition to the French Revolution contributed to the loss of Avignon and the County of Venesse.
- Pius VII - 1800 The treaty signed with Napoleon assumed the possibility of the state interfering in the activities of the church (finance, land).
- Leo XII - 1823 Noble and modest. I could not assess the events of my time.
- Pius VIII - 1829 Recognized mixed marriages (Catholics and Protestants). Was poisoned.
- Gregory XVI - 1831 He was the last non-bishop to be elected Pope.
- Pius IX - 1846 Proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
- Leo XIII - 1878 Doctor of Theology, who published 88 encyclicals.
- Pius X - 1903 Issued a decree stating that children are allowed to communion at the age of 7 (instead of 14).
If you analyze the list, you can see the small terms of the board. This is due to soreness, old age. Some of them, accepting the honorable duty of being at the head, sometimes did not understand the essence of their activities. But the wise, literate and far-sighted have left a noticeable mark on history and religion. Honor and praise to those who thought about the development of the state, carrying out reforms and issuing special laws of honor.
The 266th Pope is a non-standard personality. He first chose the name Francis. He has a diploma in chemical engineering. He did not come to church right away. Passionate about the humanities and earning a degree in philosophy, Jorge taught at the college. In his free time, he visited nightclubs and followed discipline.
Not embarrassed to work as a laboratory assistant and cleaner, Jose gradually approached the clergy. Leadership skills helped to achieve the set goals. Living modestly in a small apartment, the future dad wanted to achieve justice and equality. When, according to the status of the cardinal, he was entitled to a personal limousine with a chauffeur, the choice was unambiguous - to refuse.
The conclave convened in 2013, after the abdication of Benedict XVI, proclaimed the name of the next pope. It turned out to be Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The decision of the majority of Argentine bishops showed the applicant's prestige at the international level. Francis was the first pope from the New World.
The motto for the coat of arms was a line from Matthew, which prompted a seventeen-year-old boy to desire to live according to the commandments of Christ and lead people. It spoke of simple truths: to be useful to everyone, to endure grievances, to avoid petty honors, not to seek their own gain and glory.
Popes, list and years of government - many of this information will seem tiresome and irrelevant. But analyzing the activities of the heads of the Catholic Church and simply identifying the special features of leading personalities is sometimes useful and instructive.
