A Pot-pourri of Popes Trivia Quiz

Answer: 455

Before John Paul II, the last non-Italian was Pope Adrian VI (1522-1523) who was Dutch. John Paul II was the 264th Pope and a whopping 217 of his predecessors were Italian.

Answer: Pope Joan

The legend of Pope Joan is first recorded in the middle ages and told of a pope in the ninth century who was only discovered to be a woman when she gave birth during a papal procession. Historians today believe that this was merely an anti-papal satire.

Answer: Patriarch of the West

The full title of Pope Benedict XVI, elected pope in 2005, is "His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God."

Answer: John

According to the official list just after Pope Benedict XVI's election, the name John has been used by 23 popes, Benedict and Gregory by 16, and Clement by 14.

Answer: infallible

The official document states: "We teach and define that it is a dogma Divinely revealed that the Roman pontiff when he speaks ex cathedra, that is when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the Divine assistance promised to him in Blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals, and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves and not from the consent of the Church irreformable."

In matters outside church doctrine, the pope is not held to be infallible, also he is still capable of sin - i.e. he is not impeccable.

Answer: 13 days

He died on September 27 1590 of malaria, setting a record for the shortest reign. Some say that Stephen, a priest who was elected pope in March 752 AD, had the shortest reign at only two days, but he is not generally counted in the list of popes as he had not even had chance to be ordained a bishop, a vital step before he could officially become pope.

He is referred to as "Pope-elect Stephen" rather than Pope Stephen II as he would have become.

Answer: 31 years

Pius IX reigned from 1846 to 1878, a grand total of 31 years, 7 months and 23 days which set the record for the longest reign for which dates could be verified. St Peter is said to have ruled for over 30 years but his dates are not known for sure.

Answer: 18

John's father was Alberich II, the Patriarch of Rome, who nominated his son for pope on his deathbed. John was hardly a good choice, however, and was accused of numerous crimes, including adultery, castration and murder. He reigned from 955 to 964, although in 963, Emperor Otto II appointed Pope Leo VIII to replace him.

Answer: All three are true

Like John XII and five other popes of the period, Benedict IX was of the House of Tusculum, the most powerful family of nobles in Rome. He was most likely around 20 when he became pope, although some sources say he was only 11! He too was accused of many crimes, although in that turbulent period it was hard to separate fact from slander.

Benedict reigned from 1032 to 1044, again in 1045 and finally from 1047 to 1048. The year 1045 saw three men taking the title of pope (by force, bribery or both) - Benedict, Sylvester III and Gregory VI - and piety did not seem to be an important qualification for the job. Fortunately, things have changed somewhat since those days.

Answer: Superior General of the Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus are also known as the Jesuits and have long been seen as very influential in the Catholic Church. The Superior General of the Jesuits is called "The Black Pope" for his black priest's vestments, in contrast to the white which the Pope wears.