Past Pope Pizzazz Trivia Quiz

Answer: Donation of Constantine

This was found by the Frankish King Pepin in A.D. 756. It was supposedly written by Emperor Constantine in the middle of the fourth Century. It gave the Bishop of Rome temporal power over the city of Rome. In the early 1400s, Lorenzo Valla found this article to be fake and it is still considered to be one of the greatest forgeries every written.

Answer: Jesus Christ

The "Doctrine of Petrine Supremacy" was given to Pope Peter I by Jesus Christ. It gave Peter, and all popes to come, supreme spiritual power over Rome. It can be found in the Bible under Matthew 16:18-19. (It should, of course, be noted that many Christian churches do not recognise this authority.)

Answer: Nicholas II

In 1059, Nicholas called a Lateran Council attended by 130 Bishops. The method of succession was controversial at the time, but is still what we use today. After a pope dies, a Council of Cardinals elects the next pope from a group of able candidates.

Answer: Gregory VII

At Gregory's first Lenten Synod in 1074 he enacted laws concerning the buying and selling of church lands; Simony (buying your position); Nepotism (getting a position because of a relationship); Pluralism (holding multiple positions); Chastity (ordained people not having "relations" with others) and poverty.

Answer: Canossa

In 1075, Gregory excommunicated the second Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV, for practicing lay investiture, or appointing his own Bishops. Because he was excommunicated, he lost all his vassals, people who served under him in exchange for protection. Seeking forgiveness, Henry marched to Canossa, Italy, the pope's vacation spot, where he had to march around the castle for three days in the snow. Finally, the pope reinstated him. Now there is a saying that whenever someone knuckles under to someone else they're, "Going to Canossa."

Answer: Innocent III

In 1215, Innocent III called the Fourth Lateran Council. At this council, he banned the church from trying people by battle and ordeal, increased laws to prohibit the selling of religious relics, officially listed the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Last Rites), and said that the church believed in Transubstantiation, the belief that the host and the wine became the body and blood of Jesus at communion.

Answer: False

Innocent III called the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, to discuss the beliefs of the church. The Third Lateran Council was called in March of 1179 by Pope Alexander to change Canon law. Under this council the laws of Anti-Popes were invalid, and heretics were excommunicated.

Answer: St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote "Summa Theologica" in the late 1200s. This was a basic summary of Christian theology. Also in this book, he explained that the 'ideal' is more important than the 'real', meaning that getting into heaven is more important than worrying about life.

Answer: St. Augustine

In 420, St. Augustine published "City of God," one of the most influential books ever to shape western civilization. He discussed the idea of Christian Dualism, the idea that one must honor God (Spiritual), and yet honor one's government and ruler (Temporal) at the same time. Emperor Constantine converted the Roman Empire to Christianity in A.D. 312.

In 313, the Edict of Milan was passed that made it unlawful to persecute Christians for their faith.

Answer: Urban II

In 637, Arabs captured Jerusalem, and Christian pilgrims were still allowed to come as long as they paid taxes and did not preach. In 1000, Seljuk Turks took control of Palestine. They mistreated the Pilgrims and threatened to take Constantinople. In 1095, Pope Urban II called the Council of Clermont to discuss whether or not to send an army to recapture the Holy Land.

In 1099, the first crusade began, and the Christians captured the Holy Land. In 1187 however, the Turks recaptured Palestine, and they held it until their defeat in WWI.