No living pope had handed off the keys of St. Peter since Gregory XII in 1415. If Pope Benedict had only waited some 14 months to announce his retirement — or abdication, or vacation — we ...

When a pope dies, or more rarely resigns (Francis's direct predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first to step down since Gregory XII in 1415), the college of cardinals gathers in the Vatican to ...

The last pope to renunciate his title was Gregory XII in 1415. Much of Benedict’s time as Pope was marred by the child sex abuse scandals that were first revealed under previous Pope John Paul ...

When a pope dies, or more rarely resigns (Francis's direct predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first to step down since Gregory XII in 1415), the college of cardinals gathers in the Vatican to prepare ...

The pope emeritus died at the age of 95 in the ... the first time in six centuries, since the time of Gregory XII. After learning of his situation, numerous faithful had gathered in different ...

Pope Liberius selected a venerated picture that hung ... 303-4) Signs of papal interest are the following coronations: Clement VIII (1592-1605) Gregory XVI (August 15, 1838) Pius XII (November 1, 1954 ...

Visit the homepage for more information. It is generally held by scholars that Pope Pius XII made very significant and notable contributions to Marian theology, public piety and devotion to Our Lady.

This shift marked the beginning of a more structured electoral procedure. To expedite elections, in 1274 Pope Gregory X introduced the conclave system, sequestering the cardinals and rationing ...

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar, dropping 10 days and making the equinox fall on March 21 again. Most Eastern Christians did not adopt the new calendar, leading to a situation ...

Pope Francis highlighted Mary Magdalene’s transformative encounter with the risen Christ as a model for personal conversion during a jubilee year audience at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on ...