By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
The Catholic Church has a 2,000-year history and is one of the world’s most famous institutions. However, few people understand how it works on the inside. The Vatican is a mysterious place in many ways.
Below are some of the facts you might not know about the Popes and the Vatican
1. The Avignon Popes
Popes lived outside the Vatican in the 14th century. The Pope’s Palace in Avignon, France, became well-known. The supreme heads of the Catholic Church were French for nearly 70 years.
2. The shortest reigning Pope
In 1590, the newly elected Pope, Urban VII, contracted malaria and died twelve days later. The pontificate was the shortest in two millennia. In one month, the conclave had to meet twice.
3. The oldest pope
If Benedict XVI had not resigned, he would have been the oldest pope in history. The feat would have occurred in September 2020, when he turned 93.
4. The Swiss Guard
Since 1505, the Vatican has been guarded by the Pontifical Swiss Guard, known for its brightly coloured uniforms. Swiss mercenaries were thought to be the strongest in Europe at the time. They now form the world’s second-smallest army after Monaco’s.
5. Love for Football
The Vatican has its soccer team, which was founded in 1972. In 1994, the Vatican Football Team played its first international match against San Marino, another Italian peninsula microstate, which ended in a draw!
6. The seclusion of the Cardinals
The Cardinals meet in a conclave, isolated from the rest of the world, to elect a new Pope. This tradition, established to avoid political pressure from the outside, dates back to the 13th century.
7. Humour
Popes, despite their solemn duties, occasionally crack jokes. Pope John XXIII stated on one occasion: “Sometimes late at night, I think about very serious issues. Then I tell myself I should talk to the Pope about it. But when I wake up, I discover that the Pope is me!”
Pope John XXIII also allegedly joked: “Anyone can become the Pope; I am the proof of that!”
8. They are explorer
John Paul II visited 129 countries and preached to millions of people, more than any of his predecessors combined. He also set a new record for the number of beatifications and sanctifications.
9. Ability to cast evil away
The New York Post revealed in 2002 that John Paul II had performed three exorcisms: the first in 1981, with a woman convulsing on the floor; the second in 2000, with an enraged woman in St. Peter’s Square; and the third in 2001.
10. Pope resign
In 2005, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI became the first German pope since the 11th century, succeeding John Paul II. He is best known for resigning from his position abruptly. Benedict was the first to resign; nine others followed, but the last pope to do so was 600 years ago. In February 2013, the German Pope announced his decision.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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