Catholic Popes 5-10-25

In 33AD, Jesus appointed His Apostle Peter to lead His Church. 

In 64AD Christian martyrdom by the Romans began, with the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. While sporadic persecutions occurred earlier and later, the organized, empire-wide persecutions, particularly under emperors like Diocletian, are considered significant periods of Christian martyrdom. 

In 67AD, Saint Peter is traditionally believed to have been crucified by the Romans in Rome.

In 312AD Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian after he won the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312 AD. This battle was a key victory in the Roman civil war, and it helped him gain control of the Western Roman Empire. Constantine's victory over his rival, Maxentius, also marked a turning point for Christianity, as Constantine later legalized and even favored the religion. 

In 325AD, Constantine presided over the Council of Nicaea. The council was convened by Emperor Constantine I to address the Arian controversy and establish a unified Christian doctrine, resulting in the Nicene Creed. While Constantine called and presided over the council, it's believed that Hosius of Córdoba primarily presided over the debates as Constantine's representative. 

In 325AD, Constantine began funding the Catholic Church and it began to become part of the Roman Empire’s Government. This change allowed the Catholic Church to “spread the gospel”, but it also contaminated the Catholic Church by giving it “secular power”.

In 380AD Christianity officially became the religion of the Roman Empire with the Edict of Thessalonica. Emperor Theodosius I, along with co-emperors Gratian and Valentinian II, issued the edict, designating Nicene Christianity as the state religion. This marked a significant shift from the previous policy of religious tolerance and marked the beginning of the empire's Christianization.

Prince-bishops ruled in Europe, particularly in the Holy Roman Empire, from the 4th century onward. They often held secular power, governing territories called prince-bishoprics, in addition to their religious authority. This practice was most common in the Middle Ages and continued until the decline and eventual abolition of the Holy Roman Empire. 

In 476AD, the western empire suffered several Gothic invasions and, in AD 455, was sacked by Vandals. Rome continued to decline after that until AD 476 when the western Roman Empire came to an end. The eastern Roman Empire remained in Constantinople.

In 638AD, the Muslims conquered Jerusalem.

In 800AD, the Holy Roman Empire was created with the merger of European Kingdoms under The Emperor Charlemagne. The Holy Roman Empire existed for over a millennium, officially beginning in 800 AD with the coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire that included most of Europe. It effectively ended with the death of Charlemagne in 814AD.  His sons ruled until 888AD and the Kings of Nations began to take back their sovereignty.  They viewed the Pope as a fellow Monarch.

In 1000AD, prince-bishops were bishops who rule a principality. The vast majority of prince-bishops were under the Holy Roman Empire from about the 10th century until its end. The individuals basically held two positions: bishop of a Catholic diocese and prince of a temporal principality.

In 1096AD, Pope Urban II launched the first Crusade to free Jerusalem from Muslim control.

By 1200AD the Catholic Church reached its peak in attaining political power. European Kings had been bribing the Pope to appoint their sons to become Bishops and Cardinals. They trained first to be Princes and Military Generals.

Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere) 1443-1513, was indeed a ruler of Rome and the Papal States, which included Rome, from 1503 to 1513  He was known as "The Warrior Pope" and was a powerful figurehead in his time, actively involved in both political and military affairs. His reign saw the rise of the Renaissance, and he is famous for his patronage of artists like Michelangelo and Raphael, commissioning works like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and Vatican frescoes 

In 1453AD, the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire fell. The Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Mehmet II, conquered Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) on May 29, 1453, marking the end of the Empire. 

In 1492, Colombus discovered America and changed the focus of Europe.  Pope Alexander VI was elected Pope in 1492.

Pope Alexander VI, was born in 1431 and died 1503. He was viewed by the monarchies of Europe to be a “Peer” and a “bribable arbitrator”. He decided that Portugal should be allowed to claim Brazil. Spain withdrew and allowed it. Pope Alexander VI, who reigned from 1492 to 1503, was a powerful figure who wielded both religious and political authority, effectively acting as a monarch within the Papal States. As the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States, he held supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power. He also used his position to advance the interests of his family, the Borgias, and to engage in ambitious political maneuvering. 

In 1517, the Pope was Leo X. He reigned from 1513 to 1521. Leo X was known for his lavish spending and his patronage of the arts, which helped make Rome the cultural center of Europe again. He was also involved in the Protestant Reformation, particularly in response to Martin Luther's 95 Theses. 

In 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis detailing the errors and corruption of the Catholic Church.

http://reverendluther.org/pdfs/The_Ninety-Five_Theses.pdf

In 1534, Henry VIII formally established the Church of England, now known as the Anglican Church, through the Act of Supremacy. This action broke England's ties with the Catholic Church in Rome. The Act of Supremacy made Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England, replacing the Pope's authority. 

John Calvin 1509-1564. Calvin's theology and writings heavily influenced various Reformed churches, including Presbyterian, Congregational, and other similar denominations. 

Puritanism and Calvinism are distinct, though related, concepts. Calvinism is a broader theological system rooted in the teachings of John Calvin, emphasizing God's sovereignty and predestination. Puritanism, on the other hand, is a specific religious movement that grew within Calvinism, aiming to purify the Church of England and establish a godly society. 

Puritans and Quakers were both religious groups that emerged in 17th-century England and later played significant roles in early American history, but they had distinct beliefs and practices. Puritans sought to reform the Church of England, while Quakers emphasized individual revelation and direct communion with God. This led to conflicts, particularly in New England, where Puritans often persecuted Quakers for their beliefs. 

The Amish and Quakers are both Christian groups with distinct histories and practices, but they differ significantly in their approach to community, technology, and the role of women. The Amish are Anabaptists who emphasize separation from the world, while Quakers are known for their emphasis on the "Inward Light" and equality. 

While both Baptists and Anabaptists share a belief in "believer's baptism" (baptism only of those who have confessed faith), they differ in their origins, theological emphasis, and practical applications of that faith. Anabaptists, originating in the 16th-century Radical Reformation, emphasize pacifism, separation from the world, and a "living faith" demonstrated through good works. Baptists, originating from English Puritanism, generally do not adhere to pacifism, participate in modern society, and emphasize justification by faith alone. 

Mormonism, also known as Latter-day Saintism, is a Christian religion that shares many similarities with other Christian denominations while also having unique beliefs and practices. Key Mormon beliefs include faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, a belief in the Book of Mormon as scripture alongside the Bible, and the idea that all people are spirit children of God. Mormons also believe in the restoration of the true church by Joseph Smith, the importance of temples, and the possibility of eternal progression and exaltation. 

Non-denominational churches generally emphasize the Bible as their primary authority and focus on developing personal relationships with God. They often prioritize biblical principles over denominational rituals and traditions, and may have a more flexible and contemporary approach to worship. 

Comments

The history of the Catholic Church was riddled with contamination from the Roman Empire from 325AD and contamination from the European Monarchy from 476AD to 1517AD. 

The Catholic Church reached its peak in Europe before World War I in 1913 and in the US in the 1950s.

Recent Catholic Church history includes the massive failure of Vatican II in 1962 and its recovery from Pope John xxiii 1958-1963.

The recovery included Popes elected from1963 to 2013 including Pope Paul 1963-1978, Pope John Paul I 1978-1978, pope John Paul II 1978-2005 and Pope Benedict xvi 2005-2013.

Pope John Paul I reigned for a very brief period, from August 26, 1978, to September 28, 1978, making his pontificate last only 33 days. He was born Albino Luciani on October 17, 1912, and died on September 28, 1978, in the Vatican City. 

Our recent Pope Francis 2013-2025 revisited the corruption of the ruling European Countries’ Liberalism. Pope Francis grew up in Socialist Argentina in the 1950s during the Parone Presidency.

The history of socialism in Argentina began in the 1890s, when a group of people, notably Juan B. Justo, expressed the need for a greater social focus.

Socialism in Argentina changed with the election of Carlos Menem in 1989. The role of the state would drastically change, with extensive structural reform. Menem was a Peronist, and employed methods of privatization as a means to reduce hyperinflation.

https://www.google.com/search?q=when+did+argentina+end+socialism

Comments

In 2001, we visited the Vatican to hear Pope John Paul II give his Christmas address and tour Northern Italy. I bought a book titled “The Popes” at the Vatican bookstore. It included the names of all the Popes with a brief account of their Papacies. Many Popes were martyred from 67AD to 300AD. Many Popes were poisoned by rivals from 312AD. The Papacy was a prize for the Monarchies. Most of the mistakes made by the Popes were due to how much they identified with the Monarchies, especially the Italian Monarchies. The Popes who identified strongly with the Monarchies made the most mistakes.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader