POPE NICHOLAS III

Italy today Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, later Pope Nicholas III, was a Roman born around 1225. His parents were Matteo Rosso Orsini and Perna Caetani. His was a prominent family; at least three of his brothers held influential positions later in their lives.  He got an...

POPE ADRIAN IV, THE ONLY ENGLISH POPE

Nicholas Breakspear was born around 1100 in Hertfordshire, England. He bears the distinction of being the only pope of English origin. Nicholas may not have a lot of schooling as a child. His parents were of humble origin. As a relatively young man, Nicholas went to...