20th Century Popes Trivia Quiz

Answer: 9

Nine men held the office of Supreme Pontiff during the 20th Century. They were: Leo XIII (1878-1903), St. Pius X (1903-1914), Benedict XV (1914-1922), Pius XI (1922-1939), Pius XII (1939-1958), Blessed John XXIII (1958-1963), Paul VI (1963-1978), John Paul I (1978) and John Paul II (1978-2005). Leo XIII is included on this list because his papacy overlapped into the early 20th Century.

Answer: St. Pius X

In 1907, Pius X declared that "Modernism" was incompatible with Church teachings, and was therefore heresy. "Modernism" stems from the notion that due to advances in scientific technology and the development of new schools of thought, the concept of truth is ever-changing.

At the time, the Church held to the belief that truth is constant and cannot be changed. Priests were required to take a vow against Modernism until 1967.

Answer: John XXIII

John XXIII (Angelo Giusseppe Roncalli) was elected to the Chair of Peter in 1958 upon the death of Pope Pius XII. He was seen at first as a "Transitional Pope", due to his old age (77) and quiet demeanor. It was thought that he would do little during his pontificate, serving only as a figurehead while the Church awaited its next long-term leader.

He surprised the world when he convened the Second Vatican Council in 1962. The Council revolutionized the Catholic Church, opening it to the world and allowing a new sense of openness and growth to occur.

The most obvious change was the shift from Mass being celebrated in Latin to the use of local languages.

Answer: Pius XII

In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared under the Dogma of Papal Infallibility that the "Assumption of Mary into Heaven" was an article of faith. (Mary was taken body and spirit into heaven after her death.) Papal Infallibilty, which was declared Church Dogma in 1870, states that when speaking on matters of faith relating to the whole of the Church ("ex cathedra"), the Pope is incapable of the possibility of error.

It should be remembered that the Pope's infallibity extends ONLY to matters of faith in which the ENTIRE church is bound to.

It applies to his position as the head of the Church, not simply as a theologian.

Answer: 1954

St. Pius X (Giusseppe Melchior Sarto) was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1954. He is the first pope to achieve sainthood since Pius V was canonized in 1712 by Pope Clement XI . Upon his canonization, his body was removed from its crypt and is on display in the nave of St. Peter's Basilica. His face is covered with a death mask and his hands are covered with gloves.

Answer: 33 days

Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani) has one of the shortest papacies in history, with just over one month as Pope. He was elected on August 26, 1978 and died on September 28 of the same year. A very humble man, he was the first Pope to assume a dual name, in honor of his two predecessors.

He also refused to be crowned with the three-tiered Papal Crown ("triregnum"), and instead wore a bishop's miter upon his accession to the Chair of Peter. He died of a heart attack after only 33 days as Pope.

Answer: Pius XI

Pius XI reigned from 1922-1938. He was Pope as Europe recovered from the first World War and sadly, prepared for the second. He witnessed the rise of Fascism in Italy and Nazism in post-war Germany.
Benedict XV's birth name was Giacomo della Chiesa, Paul VI was born Giovanni Battista Montini, and John Paul I was christened Albino Luciani.

Answer: Pius XII

Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli) is quite often berated by various organizations and people for what many deem to have been turning a blind eye to the horrors of the Holocaust. While he did attempt to protect Italian Jews from persecution, he is primarily blamed for simply not speaking out openly to condemn Hitler and Nazism.

Answer: Poland

He was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. He was elected Pope on October 16, 1978. John Paul II carried the Church into the Third Millenium with grace and undying love for his flock. All of the other men who reigned during the 20th Century were born in Italy. Since he is mentioned, I should add that Adrian VI was Dutch.

Answer: 13 to 7

He felt that introducing children to the Sacraments at an earlier age would allow for positive growth in the Church. He also advocated frequent Communion for all Catholics.