Pope St. 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...
Blessed Pope John XXIII
Although few people had as great an impact on the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, he avoided the limelight as much as possible....
Pope Saint Clement
Little is known of this apostolic father beyond a few facts. He was a disciple of S. Peter, and perhaps of S. Paul. It is thought that the Clement whom S. Paul praises as a faithful fellow- worker, whose name is written in the Book of Life [Philippians 4:3], was Clement, afterwards bishop of Rome. But there is great difficulty in admitting this supposition. It is certain that Clement, the idol of the Petrine party in the Primitive Church, about whom their myths and traditions circled lovingly, was quite removed in feeling from the Pauline party.
Pope St. Telesphorus
Pope St. Telesphorus (ca. 125 - 138 AD) was a Greek who had been an anchorite. He ruled the Church in the time of Emperor...
Pope St. Julius I
The reign of Pope St. Julius (337-352) found at its doorstep the vexing problem of the Eastern Arians. It is true that the Council...
Pope Saint Cletus
Pope Saint Cletus, the third Pope, governed the Roman Church from about 76 to about 88 during the reigns of the Emperor Vespasian and of Domitian.
Pope St. Pontian
Pope from 230-235 who holds the distinction of being the first pontiff to abdicate. Perhaps a Roman by birth, he was elected to succeed...
Pope St. Fabian
Eusebius, born just a few years after Fabian's death, tells us how Fabian came to Rome after Pope Anteros died in 236. A layperson,...
Pope Bl. Urban V
Blessed Pope Urban V was born Guillaume de Grimoard at Grisac in Languedoc, 1310. He studied canon law and theology in Avignon and became...
Pope St. Pius V
Antonio Ghislieri was born of poor parents near Alessandria on January 17, 1504. His education began with the Dominicans, and he entered the Dominican...
