Debra Booton McCoy
Catholic365 Contributor

Debra Booton McCoy

Latest Articles By Debra Booton McCoy

POPE ADRIAN VI, THE ONLY DUTCH POPE

POPE ADRIAN VI, THE ONLY DUTCH POPE

The only Dutch Pope, Adrian VI, faced a difficult task. He did not know Rome. He did not know the Curial bureaucracy. A man of singular piety and integrity, he was suddenly faced with a court that thrived on corruption. The European rulers were warlike princes. Few let him control the religious revolt started by Luther. His goal was to save Christianity from the Muslims! He did not accomplish.
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POPE LEO X, 1513-1521

POPE LEO X, 1513-1521

Pope Leo X was pious and charitable, but tolerant of others. He loved amusements, music, theater., and carried Rome to the heights of Renaissance culture. He continued the work of rebuilding St. Peters. However, he ignored the suggestions of the Fifth Lateran Council regarding reforms at the highest levels and he did not take Luther's reforms seriously. Today he is seen as one of the worst popes.
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Pope Julius II, Warrior Pope

Pope Julius II, Warrior Pope

Pope Julius II was a hands-on warrior pope, an angry man with a short temper and one who could resort to bribery. But, he was also an admirer of good architectural design and art, and a friend of Michelangelo, the artist who painted the Sistine Chapel.
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POPE PIUS III, A VERY SHORT REIGN

POPE PIUS III, A VERY SHORT REIGN

Pope Pius III had a 26-day reign. Starting at 21 his career was assisted by his uncle, Pius II. He served as a member of the curia, covering many jobs, including papal legate to protodeacon, archbishop to "Protector of England". Unfortunately, by age 64, he had exhausted himself and could not live out his last goals as pope.
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Pope Innocent VIII

Pope Innocent VIII

From a well-to-do family. Giovanni Battista Cibo was intelligent but not self-controlled. After years as a wild youth, he became a priest. He got to Rome and climbed the corporate ladder to the papacy. His need for money and attempts to control the politics of Europe caused long lasting insolvency, anarchy and suspicion.
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Pope Paul II

Pope Paul II

Pope Paul II was the nephew of Pope Eugene VI. He became a cardinal at the age of 23 and lived a life of privilege for years. With his money he bought friends, collected art and antiques and built a palace. Although he thought of himself as a humanist, he was aware of the pagan aspects, which he curtailed. He tried to get the European rulers to join in his Crusade but interfighting prevented that
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POPE PIUS II, STATESMAN, AUTHOR AND ORATOR

POPE PIUS II, STATESMAN, AUTHOR AND ORATOR

Pope Pius II was a brilliant young man, a lector, a convincing orator and a writer. His ability to negotiate with or for others was well known. His papacy was not very vibrant; his dream of the final Crusade did not come to fruition. But he did give the papacy a stronger hold on the Papal States and France.
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POPE CALLIXTUS III, A MISUNDERSTOOD MAN

POPE CALLIXTUS III, A MISUNDERSTOOD MAN

Alfonso Borja, Pope Callixtus III, was a hightly intelligent of humble manner and charitable life. He was not expected to do much when he was elected at 76 but he canonized four men, reversed the trial findings of Joan of Arc and formed a Crusade to wipe out the Ottoman invasion.
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ANTIPOPE FELIX V, THE LAST ANTIPOPE, SO FAR

ANTIPOPE FELIX V, THE LAST ANTIPOPE, SO FAR

This is the story of the last antipope, a duke who retired to mourn his wife. He became the prime choice for the Council of Basel for an alternative pope. He did well for a few years. Despite his choice to be an antipope, the next pope forgave him and made him second behind the legitimate pope.
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Pope Eugene IV Our 207th Pope

Pope Eugene IV Our 207th Pope

Pope Eugene fought conciliarity, helped defend Constantinople against the Muslims and settled the kingdom of Naples. He almost completely recovered the Papal States and he came close to reversing the great schism between East and West.
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POPE MARTIN V, THE FIRST RENAISSANCE POPE

POPE MARTIN V, THE FIRST RENAISSANCE POPE

Pope Martin V instigated the beginning of the Roman Renaissance with his building projects in Rome. He declared two crusades, which came to very little. Antagonistic to the attempts to run the Church by council, he played down the attempts to bring them up. He was uncertain about slavery and how to control it. Pope Martin did help the Jews to keep some of their privileges.
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ANTIPOPE JOHN XXIII

ANTIPOPE JOHN XXIII

An intelligent man, Baldassare Cossa was a ruthless man from the time he was young, despite his being a cleric. He was a leader of the cardinals who tried to end the Western Schism. It did not end up the way he and his associates planned. He was jailed for his indiscretions. And he ended up a cardinal.
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