John XVII who should have been XVI
by Anura Guruge, Leopold Fitzclarence and Mark Trauernicht
1/ 1003: Start of John XVII’s (#141) brief 5 month, 25 day papacy.
2/ 1605: Start of Paul V’s (#234) 15.6 year papacy (during which he met with Galileo (who would only run foul of the Vatican two popes hence) and canonized Charles Borromeo).
3/ 1672: Clement X (#240) publishes the names of two cardinals, created in pectore, on August 24, 1671.
4/ 1803: Pius VII’s (#252) sixth cardinal creating consistory at which he created two cardinals, one in pectore.
Paul V
5/ 1823: Pius VII’s (#252) nineteenth (and last) cardinal creating consistory at which he creates but just one cardinal, his ninety-ninth.
6/1901: Leo XIII’s (#257) Gravissimas encyclical on religious orders in Portugal.
7/ 1920: Benedict XV (#259) canonizes Joan of Arc, 489 years after a death, by execution, at the age of 19.
8/ 1957: Pius XII’s (#261) Invicti Athletae encyclical to the Polish on the 300th anniversary of the martyrdom of Polish Jesuit missionary, St. Andrew Bobola.
Joan of Arc being grilled by Cardinal Winchester
Benedict XV when a cardinal
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