Popes
The Latest
7 popes are buried at St. Mary Major; Pope Francis will soon be the eighth
Pope Francis will be buried today at Santa Maria Maggiore — who are the other popes buried there? Read more
St. Pius V, safeguard of the faith
Preferring the peace of the cloister to public life, St. Pius V is remembered for ridding the Church of the... Read more
The remarkable life and papacy of Blessed Pope Pius IX
He convened Vatican Council I, proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and declared St. Joseph “Patron of the Church.” Read more
St. Leo the Great: the pope who clarified the humanity and divinity of Christ
The worldwide Church celebrates St. Leo the Great, the 45th bishop of Rome and one of only 37 doctors of... Read more
The shortest papacies of all time? Pope John Paul I barely makes the list
Blessed John Paul I did not serve as Roman Pontiff for long, but 10 other popes had shorter pontificates than... Read more
Cardinal Müller: Media image of ‘two popes’ threatens papacy as a ‘principle of unity’
The former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office has said that today’s media environment is undermining theological truths that are... Read more
Gammarelli legacy passes to sixth generation of papal tailors
For five generations the Gammarellis have dressed and shod the Vicar of Christ through their family business, Rome’s historic Ditta... Read more
Dante's biggest fans? The 'poet of popes' and his legacy at the Vatican
With this year marking the 750th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s birth, the Vatican is taking a closer look the author... Read more
Pope Francis prays at John Paul II's tomb on anniversary
Pope Francis spent a “long time” kneeling in silent prayer before the tomb of Blessed John Paul II on April... Read more
