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Home , Pope Adrian I, Pope Adrian II, Pope Benedict IX, Pope John XII, Pope John XV, Pope John XXI

6 SATURDAY VISION, 2, 2013 FEATURE No front-runner for Pope voting itself. George said cardinals consulted other electors With Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI now of- before the conclave to learn more about pos- ficially in retirement, cardinals have sible choices. Cardinals over 80 cannot vote, but began the complex, cryptic and uncertain they are allowed to attend the general congre- process of picking the next leader of the world’s gations to discuss the challenges to the Church largest church. with the electors. O’Malley, at his first conclave Some details are still unclear, owing to Ben- and already mentioned in Italian media as a edict’s break with the tradition that papacies potential candidate, said he had been ‘using the end with a pope’s death, so these ‘princes of Internet a lot’ to read up on other cardinals. the Church’ will first hold an informal session Conclaves traditionally begin 15 days after the before traditional rounds of talks begin on seat of St. , as the papal office is called, Monday. becomes vacant. But that includes time for No front-runner stands out among the 115 mourning and funeral ceremonies for a dead cardinal electors - those aged under 80 - due pope, so Benedict issued a decree, allowing an to enter the Sistine Chapel for the conclave that earlier start. picks the new pope, so discreetly sizing up po- tential candidates will be high on the cardinals’ The corruption report agenda. They will also use the general congre- The cardinals will not see a top secret report gations, the closed-door consultations preced- prepared for Benedict on mismanagement and ing a conclave, to discuss future challenges such infighting in the Curia, the Church’s bureauc- as better Vatican management, the need for racy. But its three cardinal authors will be in the improved communication and the continuing general congregations to advise electors on its sexual abuse crisis. findings. Benedict ended his eight-year reign on In an emotional farewell to cardinals on Thursday, pledging unconditional obedience to Thursday morning in the Vatican’s frescoed Sala whoever succeeds him to lead the world’s 1.2 Clementina, Benedict appeared to send a strong billion Catholics. message to the cardinals and the faithful to “The discussion we have in the congrega- unite behind his successor. tions will be most important for the intellectual The appeal was significant because for the preparation” for choosing a pope, said Boston’s first time in history, there will be a reigning Cardinal Sean O’Malley, adding the electors pope in the Vatican’s and his were already preparing spiritually for the vote retired predecessor living in a small monastery by intense prayer. in the Vatican Gardens not far away. Benedict left the Vatican by helicopter for the Cardinal electors consulting papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, Conclaves are among the world’s most secretive south of , to be far from the conclave and elections, with no declared candidates, no open not influence it.H e will move into the monas- campaigning and electors who often do not tery when refurbishing is finished in about two know more than a few dozen men in the room. months. Pope Benedict XVI has said he would commit the rest of his life to praying for the church Electors are sworn to secrecy about the actual Reuters papal firsts and lasts Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to resign in more than five centuries, but not the first. He enters the history books as the first PopeE meritus. Many have achieved their firsts 1. Pope Peter (32- 67) 9. (757 - 767) pope more than once. The first and the longest serv- First pope to succeed his own ing pope (AD 32–67), with 35 , Stephen III. 20. Pope Gregory VII (1073 - 1085) years in the papacy. Gregory decreed that the title 10. Pope Stephen IV (III) (767 - 772) ‘pope’ should only be used for 2. Pope Sixtus I (Xystus) (115-125) Declared that the laity could the of Rome. Before First pope to have been the son not have any voice in the elec- this, every bishop in the West of a . Celibacy was not a tion of popes anymore. had the title ‘pope’ and in the priestly requirement then. East, it was applied to many 11. (772 - 795) as well. 3. (140-155) Oldest person elected pope First bishop of Rome to at 80. 21. Pope Alexander III (1159-1181) become pope. to this, First pope who is a lawyer. the Christian community was 12. Pope Adrian II (867 - 872) governed by a council of elders Last married pope - his wife 22. Pope John XXI (1276 - 1277) or . Setphania and his daughter First and only medical doctor lived with him in the Vatican. to be pope. 4. (189-199) First African pope and the first 13. Pope John VIII (872 - 882) 23. (1294) to attempt to exert authority First pope to be assassinated. Although he was not the first outside Rome. He threatened First, he was poisoned and to resign, his resignation led to excommunicate anyone who then beaten to death. to the official status for how a refused to celebrate on pope can resign. Sunday and was rebuked for it. 14. Pope Boniface VI (896) First pope to be elected after 24. Pope Sixtus IV (1471 - 1484) 5. Pope Pontain (230-235) being defrocked twice (and First pope to appoint six neph- First pope to resign his office. forgiven) because of immoral ews as cardinals. Also created behaviour. the Sistine Chapel. 6. (401 - 417) First pope whose father was a 15. Pope Stephen VII (VI) (896-897) 25. (1566 - 1572) pope. Pope Anastasius I was First pope to be imprisoned Excommunicated Queen Eliza- legally married. and strangled to death. beth of England for persecu- tions of English Catholics. 7. Pope John II (533 - 535) 16. Pope John XII (955 - 963) First pope to adopt a new First teenager elected pope. 26. Pope Urban VII (1590) name after election - his given Died of malaria 13 days after name was similar to that of the 17. Pope Leo VIII (963 - 964) he became pope in September pagan god Mercurius. First pope who was a layman - shortest pontificate in history. at the time of his election. 8. Pope Stephen III (II) (752 - 757) 27. Pope Gregory XV (1621 - 1623) Organised the and 18. Pope John XV (985 - 996) Decreed that papal elections made the papacy independent First pope to canonise a proceed by secret ballot. of the , by (, 993). placing it under the protection History of the Roman of the . 19. Pope Benedict IX (1032 - 1045) Catholic Papacy First and only person to be