POPES
by Deb McCoy | Apr 24, 2022 | Popes
Pope Gelasius II Probably no pope suffered as many indignities in as short a period of time as Pope Gelasius II. Born Giovanni (John) Caetani (of Gaeta), of noble parents, about 1060/64, the child showed much intelligence. He was sent to Monte Cassino, the famous...
by Deb McCoy | Apr 15, 2022 | Popes
Pope Paschal II was born Ranierius in Bleda, Romagna, a small town in north central Italy. His date of birth is assumed to be between 1050 and 1055. At a young age, Ranierius was sent to the abbey of Cluny, in France, to become a religious monk. As a young man, still,...
by Deb McCoy | Apr 7, 2022 | Popes
Pope Urban II encouraged Christian warriors to fight in the Crusades Eudes de Lagery, or Odo, as is more common, went on to become Pope Urban II, the man who started the Crusades. Born around 1035, he was member of a noble family from a village near Reims, France. He...
by Deb McCoy | Mar 29, 2022 | Popes
Guibert of Ravenna, Clement III, has been referred to as of irreproachable character. So, why did Pope Pascal toss his body in the Tiber? Born around 1029, he early entered the Church and was a cleric by his 20s. Empress Agnes appointed him chancellor of Italy in...
by Deb McCoy | Mar 24, 2022 | Popes
Dauferio of Benevento, Pope Victor III, was born around 1026, possibly the son of Prince Landulf V, a Lombard prince. As an only son, the family expected Dauferio to marry and carry on the family name. However, twice he managed to escape arranged marriages and go to a...
by Deb McCoy | Mar 16, 2022 | Popes, Saints
Photo by Miguel Alcântara on Unsplash One of the most famous popes of the Middle Ages, Pope Gregory VII came from humble beginnings. Born between 1020 and 1025, Hildebrand Bonizi was born in Tuscany. He went to Rome at an early age and studied at the palace...
