Home
/ News

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 - Leo — 18 / 23

Pope Leo X (1513-1521) -- After draining the papal treasury, he began selling off pieces of Vatican furniture and introduced the idea of selling "indulgences" as a way to make up lost funds -- essentially allowing sinners to buy their way out of damnation.

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

Advertisement

Most Popular

Articles
Slideshows
Videos

Advertisement