Pope Saint Cornelius
Pope Saint Cornelius faced challenges from apostates and the Rigorists, but upheld that repentant lapsi could rejoin the Church with proper penance, before dying a martyr.
Pope Saint Gregory The Great
Pope St. Gregory, a Roman noble, became a monk, then Pope, known for church reforms, aiding the poor, and Gregorian Chant.
Pope Saint Zephyrinus
The pontificate of this first third-century pope was to see a storm of heresy rage around the pontiff, who had to keep a firm hand on the tiller of Peter's barque.
Pope Saint Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X exemplified saintly virtues like piety, humility, charity, and pastoral zeal, deeply shaping the Catholic Church.
Pope Saint Hormisdas
Pope St. Hormisdas, once married with a son who also became Pope, ended the Laurentian schism and strongly backed St. Symmachus against antipope Lawrence.
Pope Saint Anicetus
Pope Saint Anicetus, the 11th pope, succeeded St. Pius towards the year c. 153, and reigned till about 168. He condemned Montanism, conferred with St. Polycarp on the Paschal date controversy, and forbade priests from growing their hair. He was martyred and is venerated on April 17.
Pope Saint John XXIII
Pope Saint John XXIII's journey from humble beginnings to the papacy showed a life of service, faith and evangelical simplicity.
Pope Saint Pius V
Dominican pontiff who convened Council of Trent, excommunicated Elizabeth I, patronized Palestrina, and led Holy League at Lepanto.
Pope Saint Gregory III
Pope Gregory III, who led from 731 to 741, staunchly defended the veneration of holy images against Emperor Leo II's iconoclastic policies.
Pope Saint Pontian
Pope Saint Pontian, who reigned from 230-235, holds the distinction of being the first pontiff to abdicate.
