Urban VIII was the last pope to extend the papal territory. He fortified Castelfranco Emilia on the Mantuan frontier and commissioned Vincenzo Maculani to fortify the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome. Urban VIII also established an arsenal in the Vatican, an arms factory at Tivoli and fortified the harbour of Civitavecchia.
Urban died in Rome in 1099. Despite many problems that were still unsolved, the victory of medieval reform papacy was secured. Urban was beatified in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII.
Where did Pope Urban VIII live?
By its own reading of history, Roman Catholicism originated with the very beginnings of Christianity. An essential component of the definition of any one of the other branches of Christendom, moreover, is its relation to Roman Catholicism: How did Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism come into schism?
The Catholic Church is the oldest institution in the western world. It can trace its history back almost 2000 years. Catholics believe that the Pope, based in Rome, is the successor to Saint Peter whom Christ appointed as the first head of His church.
When used in a broader sense, the term "Catholic" is distinguished from "Roman Catholic", which has connotations of allegiance to the Bishop of Rome, i.e. the Pope. They describe themselves as "Catholic", but not "Roman Catholic" and not under the authority of the Pope.
In the Catholic Church, the veneration of Mary, mother of Jesus, encompasses various Marian devotions which include prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Popes have encouraged it, while also taking steps to reform some manifestations of it.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia the Cenacle (the site of the Last Supper) in Jerusalem was the "first Christian church." The Dura-Europos church in Syria is the oldest surviving church building in the world, while the archaeological remains of both the Aqaba Church and the Megiddo church have been considered to
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, there emerged no single powerful secular government in the West. There was however a central ecclesiastical power in Rome, the Catholic Church. In this power vacuum, the church rose to become the dominant power in the West.
The Catholic Church, often referred to as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptised Catholics worldwide as of 2019.
| Catholic Church |
|---|
| Founder | Jesus, according to sacred tradition |
| Origin | 1st century Holy Land, Roman Empire |
| Members | 1.345 billion (2019) |
The words one, holy, catholic and apostolic are often called the four marks of the Church.
Like other Christians, Catholics believe Jesus is a divine person, the Son of God. They believe that because of his love for all people, he died so that all people will live forever in heaven. The Catholic Church also recognizes the Trinity; that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are together the only God.
The papal ring is one of the most powerful symbols of the pontiff's authority. It is worn on the right hand, and kissing it is a sign of obedience and respect.
The circumstances have ranged from martyrdom (Pope Stephen I) to war (Lucius II), to a beating by a jealous husband (Pope John XII). A number of other popes have died under circumstances that some believe to be murder, but for which definitive evidence has not been found.
The Bad Popes
- Pope Stephen VI (896–897), who had his predecessor Pope Formosus exhumed, tried, de-fingered, briefly reburied, and thrown in the Tiber.
- Pope John XII (955–964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people, and was killed by a man who caught him in bed with his wife.
Popes with the longest reigns
- Adrian I (772–795): 23 years, 10 months and 25 days (8,729 days).
- Pius VII (1800–1823): 23 years, 5 months and 7 days (8,560 days).
- Alexander III (1159–1181): 21 years, 11 months and 24 days (8,029 days).
- St.
- St.
- Urban VIII (1623–1644): 20 years, 11 months and 24 days (7,664 days).
Roman Catholic tradition holds that Jesus established St. Peter as the first pope (Matthew 16:18). After Jesus' death, he served as the head of the Apostles and was the first to perform a miracle after Pentecost (Acts 3:1–11).
Pope Innocent was one of the most powerful and influential of the medieval popes.
| Pope Innocent III |
|---|
| Birth name | Lotario de' Conti di Segni |
| Born | 1160 or 1161 Gavignano, Papal States |
| Died | 16 July 1216 (aged 55–56) Perugia, Papal States |
Roughly 30% of all popes are saints. Starting with St. Peter, traditionally regarded as the first leader of the church after Christ's death, 52 of the first 55 popes became saints during Catholicism's first 500 years.
