...TWO MILLENIA OF POPES...

** St. Peter ~ (D 64)Regarded as Jesus' chief apostle, and played an important role in the growth of the church and its HQ being located in Rome.

** Sixtus II ~ (257-258) Began the healing process between the Churches in N.Africa and Asia Minor. A revered martyr, he was beheaded for his services.

** Marcellinus ~ (296-304) During the Diocletian persecutions [the systematic destruction of Church buildings and public burning], it is widely believed he handed over copies of sacred scripture.

** Leo the Great ~ (440-461) Claimed to be St. Peter's heir, thereby establishing the tradition of the pope standing in the place of St. Peter. Also remembered for personally meeting with Atilla the Hun.

** Gregory the Great ~ (590-604) Helped shape the evolution of the Ministery, including the mass which paved the way for the Gregorian chants.

** Boniface V ~ (619-625) Compassionate and generous. Gave his entire fortune to the poor.

** St. Gregory II ~ (715-731) Led the Italian resistance to heavy taxes imposed by Emperor Leo III, and defended the use of acred images after the Emperor signed an edict to ban them.

** Stephen II (III) ~ (752-757) Established the independence of the Byzantine Empire, and established the Papal States. [Papal States:-Ital. Lo Stato della Chiesa, from 754 to 1870 an independent territory under the temporal rule of the popes, also called the States of the Church and the Pontifical States. The territory varied in size at different times; in 1859 it included c.16,000 sq mi (41,440 sq km) extending north-south on the Italian peninsula, from the Adriatic Sea and lower course of the Po River to the Tyrrhenian Sea, thus including the present regions of Latium, Umbria, Marche, and eastern Emilia-Romagna].

** Sergius III ~ (904-911) His illegitimate son by the 15 yr. old daughter of a rich militia leader would become Pope John XI.

** Gregory VII ~ (1073-1085)Transformed the papacy into a monarchical office.

** Innocent III ~ (1198-1216) Powerful and pretentious, he declared authority over all Christians and oversaw the Fourth Crusade, and decreed Jews and Muslims should wear distinctive dress.

** Boniface VII ~ (1294-1303) Was the first to declare that every creature was subject to the Pope, and later declared himself as much Emperor as Pope.

** Nicholas V ~ (1447-1445) Rid the Papal States of mercenary troops and sent cardinals to Germany and France to promote reform.

** Alexander VI ~ (1492-1503)His election is said to have been bought, openly promiscuous and worked to transform the Papal States into a family enterprise.

** St. Pius V ~ (1566-1572) Published the Roman Catechism and reformed other traditions, but fought heresy through inquisition and excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England.

** Innocent XI ~ (1676-1689)Though he failed to curb nepotism among cardinals, he succeeded in reducing the papal budget and enforcing strict observance of monastic vows.

** Leo XIII ~ (1874-1903) Made important modern pronouncements on social justice, human rights and peace.

** John XXIII ~ (1958-1963)Called the Second Vatican Council and set a new course for the Catholic Church by changing the roles of its clergy and laity.

**John Paul II ~ (1978-2005)Made visits around the world, denounced political oppression and stirred controversy with teachings on sexual morality.

**Benedict XVI ~ (2005-


[NY Times]