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Unusual moments in papal history

POSTED: 09:56 AM PST Feb 11, 2013 UPDATED: 08:12 AM PST Feb 12, 2013

From resignations to drownings and beheadings, the papacy is full of unusual and surprising moments.

Pope Moments - Boniface — 15 / 23

Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) -- In September 1303, an army led by a prominent Italian family kidnapped Pope Boniface VIII and demanded that he abdicate. Held in captivity for multiple days, he refused. Boniface survived the attack and returned to Rome only to die a month later.

Pope Benedict XVI clutches chair Feb

Pope Moments - Peter

Pope Moments - Clement I

Pope Moments - Stephen I

Pope Moments - Stephen I

Pope Moments - Sixtus

Pope Moments - Marcellinus

Pope Moments - John VII

Pope Moments - Stephen

Pope Moments - Sergius

Pope Moments - John XII

Pope Moments - Benedict IX

Pope Moments - John XXI

Pope Moments - Celestine V

Pope Moments - Boniface

Pope Moments - Urban

Pope Moments - Gregory XII

Pope Moments - Leo

Pope Moments - Urban VII

Pope Moments - Clement XIII

Pope John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI walks up Vatican stairs

Pope Benedict XVI waving

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