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That's So Second Millennium

That's So Second Millennium

Written by: Paul Giesting William Schmitt
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 Taking science AND faith seriously.Copyright 2020 Paul Giesting and William Schmitt Christianity Earth Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Spirituality
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  • Popes 2C - John

    Popes 2C - John
    Nov 1 2026
    Portrait fresco of John XXII, 14th century (Collection of the Palais du Roure, Avignon) Here is the big one...the notes this time are nearly entirely from Magisterium AI. John I 523–526 John II 533–535 John III 561–574 John IV 640–642 John V 685–686 John VI 701–705 John VII 705–707 John VIII 872–882 John IX 898–900 John X 914–928 John XI 931–935 John XII 955–964 John XIII 965–972 John XIV 983–984 John XV 985–996 Antipope John XVI997–998 John XVII 1003 John XVIII 1004–1009 John XIX 1024–1032 John XXI 1276–1277 John XXII 1316–1334 Antipope John XXIII 1410–1415 John XXIII 1958–1963 Here is the chronological sequence of the legitimate popes named John, with the notable antipopes inserted where they belong. “Given name” means the name recorded at birth; medieval records are sometimes incomplete, and the reasons for a papal name are often unknown. The numbering is not perfectly continuous because John XVI and John XXIII were also used by antipopes. John I (523–526) — Born John. Sent by Theodoric to Constantinople to negotiate for the Ostrogoths; imprisoned on his return and died in captivity. Venerated as a martyr. 1 John II (533–535) — Born Mercurius; the first pope known to have changed his name. He likely avoided a name associated with the Roman god Mercury. John III (561–574) — Born Catelinus. His long pontificate coincided with the Lombard invasion of Italy; political turmoil left few records of his work. 2 John IV (640–642) — Born John. Condemned Monothelitism at a Roman synod and used Church funds to ransom captives taken in Dalmatia and Istria. John V (685–686) — Born John in Syria; his brief pontificate was largely uneventful. John VI (701–705) — Born John, probably in Greece. Protected the English bishop Wilfrid when he appealed to Rome against his deposition. John VII (705–707) — Born John in Calabria. His dealings with the Byzantine emperor over the Trullan Council’s canons were notably cautious. John VIII (872–882) — Born John. A forceful pope in the politics of the Carolingian empire and the Photian controversy; he was assassinated, the first papal murder reliably documented. John IX (898–900) — Born John. Rejected the Cadaver Synod and reaffirmed the validity of ordinations performed by Pope Formosus. John X (914–928) — Born John. Helped organize the coalition that defeated Muslim forces at the Garigliano; later imprisoned and suffocated amid Roman political struggles. John XI (931–935) — Born John. His mother, Marozia, and later his half-brother Alberic II dominated Roman affairs; John himself was largely confined to the Lateran. John XII (955–964) — Born Octavian. He adopted the papal name John, but the reason is not securely known; he crowned Otto I emperor and was later deposed amid a conflict with him. 3 John XIII (965–972) — Born John. Worked with Otto I to establish church structures in newly Christianized parts of central and eastern Europe. John XIV (983–984) — Born Pietro Canepanova. He changed his name on becoming pope; the reason is uncertain. After Otto II’s death, he was imprisoned by the returning antipope Boniface VII and died in captivity. 4 John XV (985–996) — Born John. In 993 he formally canonized Ulrich of Augsburg, an important early precedent for papal canonization. Antipope John XVI (997–998) — John Philagathos, a Greek cleric backed by the Roman noble Crescentius and the Byzantine court, opposed Pope Gregory V. He was captured and cruelly mutilated; the number XVI remained in the papal sequence despite his being an antipope. 5 John XVII (1003) — Born Giovanni Sicco. His pontificate lasted only about five months, and little is known of his actions. Some older lists call him John XVI because they omit the antipope. John XVIII (1004–1009) — Born Giovanni Fasano. He supported churches in Germany and missionary work in eastern Europe; he reportedly retired to a monastery near the end of his pontificate. John XIX (1024–1032) — Born Romano of Tusculum. Brother of Benedict VIII, he was reportedly a layman when elected and received the clerical orders in rapid succession; he crowned Conrad II emperor. John XXI (1276–1277) — Born Pedro Hispano, a Portuguese scholar and physician. His pontificate was brief; he died after a building at his residence collapsed. The sequence skips John XX, probably because an earlier list mistakenly counted John XXI as John XX. 5 John XXII (1316–1334) — Born Jacques Duèse. Elected during the Avignon papacy, he governed amid disputes with the Franciscan Spirituals and the Empire. His views on the timing of the beatific vision provoked controversy; shortly before his death, he clarified his position. Antipope John XXIII (1410–1415) — Baldassare Cossa, elected during the Western Schism, was recognized by some European powers but is classified as an antipope. The ...
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    47 mins
  • Popes 2B - Dominic

    Popes 2B - Dominic
    Oct 18 2026
    Image: St. Dominic at prayer by El Greco. https://www.artchive.com/artwork/st-dominic-praying-el-greco-c-1588-spain/ St. Dominic 1170 - 1221 Here I take up the opportunity offered by Francis and John Paul I and suggest a name that I believe is quite ripe for the picking to be added to the list of papal names. Remarkable points from the Catholic Encyclopedia: • Dominic was from a saintly family and a younger brother, Manes, joined the Dominican order. • He studied for ten years at the University of Palencia. • At a very young age he was recruited to help the Bishop of Osma reform his cathedral chapter. • He stumbled into the Albigensians in southern France when he was sent as part of an embassy to court a Danish (?) princess on behalf of Prince Ferdinand of Castile. • She died while en route back to Castile and this left Dominic at loose ends. He thus began working to confront the Albigensians with preaching and personal sanctity. • The Cistercians had been entrusted with this mission, but were too worldly in that epoch. • Preaching to women was a key part of this effort and led Dominic to establish a female order early on. • A Simon de Montfort (remember that this was the early 13th century and the Norman kings of England still ruled much of southwest France) went on crusade after one of the Cistercian leaders was assassinated in 1208. For all that Dominic himself did not engage in violence he cooperated with Simon and was thought of very highly by that captain. • The connection with the rosary seems to be indirect. Dominic was praying for a successful outcome to the battle of Muret, which in fact went miraculously well and Simon dedicated a chapel in the church where Dominic had been praying dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, showing that the rosary was already known. • Dominic did not found the Inquisition and may never have been part of it. It was active in the Albigensian area (associated with the Cistercians?) already in 1198, while Dominic was still a canon living in virtual seclusion in Osma. • Dominic refused many elections as bishop and said he would run away in the night rather than accept. • He attended the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), which had the same "pastoral" focus that Dominic had, but was opposed to establishing any new religious orders and particularly any new Rules. Dominic had the backing of a local bishop and so for a time the Dominicans were limited to the diocese of Toulouse under Bishop Foulques, and they used the Rule of St Augustine (an intriguing point at present). He was then able to get papal approval in 1216, the year after the Council closed, essentially as a branch of the Augustinians. • He was the Lenten preacher to the Curia in 1217. • Dominic, whose university education had been invaluable for over a decade in preaching and debating Albigensians, wanted the same benefit for his friars and sent "Matthew of France" and two brothers to the University of Paris--so this connection goes back, indirectly, to Dominic himself. He also sent Dominicans to the University of Bologna. • Dominic spent the next few years on constant visitation, traveling from Rome to Spain and back, founding friaries and convents along the way. • The Dominicans took up Pope Honorius' invitation to preach against heresy in Lombardy. This was Dominic's final great project, and shortly afterward he died. The case for a Pope Dominic: The name Dominic represents the highest standard of intellectual achievement alongside fervent faith, asceticism, and persuasive preaching. A pope taking this name could look to emphasize any of these facets of his life and legacy. More discussion from Magisterium AI: "St Dominic (Dominic of Caleruega, or Guzmán) was born in Castile around 1170 and died in Bologna on 6 August 1221. The broad outline of his life is well established, though many colorful details—especially stories of visions and miracles—come from devotional accounts and should be distinguished from the firmer historical record. Pope Benedict XVI summarizes his defining vocation as a life devoted to prayer, preaching, and the salvation of souls. 1 2 Dominic studied at Palencia, where he became known for his learning and concern for the poor; a famous account says he sold his books during a famine to help those in need. He later served as a canon and then prior at Osma. On journeys with Bishop Diego of Osma, he encountered the religious crisis in southern France and committed himself to preaching there. He preached by word and by an austere example of life; Alban Butler’s account emphasizes that his methods against heresy were instruction, patience, prayer, and penance—not violence. 1 2 3 4 Around this mission, Dominic gathered a community of preachers. The Order of Preachers—later known as the Dominicans—received papal confirmation in 1216. Dominic sent friars to ...
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    51 mins
  • Popes 2A - John Paul

    Popes 2A - John Paul
    Oct 12 2026
    John Paul I: This is an image from the Nationaal Archief, the Dutch National Archives, and Spaarnestad Photo, donated to Wikimedia in the context of a partnership program. John Paul II: https://audrey-shark.blogspot.com John Paul I [Albino Luciani] 1978 John Paul II [Karol Wojtyla] 1978-2005 From Claude: Here are the conclaves since 1900, with length counted inclusively from the first day of voting to the day the pope was elected: Year Pope elected Dates Days Ballots 1903 Pius X Jul 31 – Aug 4 5 7 1914 Benedict XV Aug 31 – Sep 3 4 10 1922 Pius XI Feb 2 – 6 5 14 1939 Pius XII Mar 1 – 2 2 3 1958 John XXIII Oct 25 – 28 4 11 1963 Paul VI Jun 19 – 21 3 6 Aug 1978 John Paul I Aug 25 – 26 2 4 Oct 1978 John Paul II Oct 14 – 16 3 8 2005 Benedict XVI Apr 18 – 19 2 4 2013 Francis Mar 12 – 13 2 5 2025 Leo XIV May 7 – 8 2 4 This is from memory, and I haven't checked it against a source. The dates and ballot counts for the modern conclaves are well documented. The counts for the early ones, especially 1903 and 1914, can differ by a ballot or so between sources, because records of older conclaves are less precise. Day counts also depend on whether you count inclusively, as I did, or count the nights elapsed. The 1922 conclave was the longest of the period at 14 ballots, and 1939 the shortest at 3. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ From vatican.va: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LIFE OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL I 1912, 17 October Born at "Forno di Canale" (Belluno), (actually at Canale d'Argordo), son of Giovanni Luciani and Bortola Tancon; was baptized the same day at home, by the midwife, as he was in danger of death. 19 October Baptism was formalized in the Church by the curate, Don Achille Ronzon. 1918 October Began elementary school. 1919 26 September Was confirmed by Bishop Giosuè Cattarossi. 1923 October Entered the minor seminary in Feltre. 1928 October Entered the Gregorian Seminary at Belluno. 1934 Ordained as sub-deacon. 1935 2 February Ordained as deacon. 7 July Ordained to the priesthood at St. Peter's Church of Belluno. 9 July Named curate of the parish at Canale d'Agordo. 18 December Transferred as curate of Agordo and named instructor of religion at the Technical Institute for Miners in Agordo. 1937 July Named vice-rector of the Gregorian Seminary in Belluno (1937-1947). October Began his service as instructor. 1947 27 February Graduated from the Gregorian University in Rome with a doctorate in Sacred Theology, his thesis being, "The origin of the human soul according to Antonio Rosmini". November Nominated chancellor of the diocese of Belluno by Bishop Girolamo Bortignon. 16 December Nominated Monsignor. Nominated Secretary of the Diocescan Synod. 1948 2 February Nominated Pro Vicar-General of the diocese of Belluno. Nominated Director of the Catechetics Office of the Diocese. 1949 December Published Catechetica in briciole. 1950 March Published his doctoral thesis. 1954 6 February Nominated Vicar-General of the Diocese of Belluno. 1956 30 June Nominated Canon of the Cathedral. 1958 15 December Named Bishop of Vittorio Veneto by Pope John XXIII. 27 December Consecrated Bishop by John XXIII at St. Peter's Basilica together with the newly consecrated bishops, Gioacchino Muccin and Girolamo Bortignon. 1959 11 January Took possession of the diocese of Vittorio Veneto 17 June Began his pastoral visit. 1962 8 October - 8 December Was present for the opening of the Vatican Council II in Rome; returning to his diocese only for a few days. 1963 28 September - 4 December Returns to Rome for the 2nd Session of the Vatican Council II; returning to his diocese only for a few days. 1964 13 September - 21 November Returns to Rome for the 3rd Session of the Vatican Council II. 1965 13 September - 9 December Returns to Rome for the 4th Session of the Vatican Council II. 1966 16 August - 2 September Traveled to Burundi on mission for the diocese of Vittorio Veneto. 1969 15 December Named Patriarch of Venice by Pope Paul VI . 1970 1 February Received honorary citizenship of Vittorio Veneto. 8 February Officially entered the City of Venice as Patriarch. 25 October Began his pastoral visit. 1971 12-14 June Made a pastoral visit to Switzerland, returning by way of Savoy. 28 September - 5 November Participated in the II Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome regarding "The Ministerial Priesthood and Justice in the World", returning to his diocese from 23 to 31 of October. 1972 12-17 June Was elected Vice President of the Italian Bishops Conference, holding this position until 2 June 1975. 16 September Received Pope Paul VI in visit to Venice. 1973 5 March Created Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. 1974 27 September - 26 October Participated in the III Ordinary General Assembly in Rome of the Synod of Bishops regarding "Evangelization in the Modern World". 1975 18 May Traveled on Pastoral Visit to Germany. 6-21 November Completed a Pastoral Visit to Brasil ...
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    45 mins
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