by Anura Guruge, Leopold Fitzclarence and Mark Trauernicht
1/ 352: Start of Liberius’ (#36) 14.3 year reign — he being the earliest pope as yet to be canonized, most likely given his flip-flopping (some of it under imperial pressure) on the divisive Arian issue of the time.
2/ 884: Start of Hadrian III’s (#110) 1.3 year reign.
Hadrian III
3/ 1012: Start of the Counts of Tusculum family, Benedict VIII’s (#144) 11.9 year reign, he (born Theophylactus) having gone straight from a layman to pope. He said to be the uncle, though he might actually have been the father, of the rebellious, 3-term Benedict IX (#146).
4/ 1570: Pius V’s (#226) third and last, cardinal creating consistory at which he created 16 cardinals (for a total of 21 during his papacy) — one of whom would go onto become Sixtus V (#228).
5/ 1706: Clement XI’s (#244) second cardinal creating consistory, 5.5 years into his papacy (having only created one cardinal during that time), at which he created 20 cardinals (one in pectore) — one of whom would go onto become Clement XII (#247). Another, Gabriele Filippucci, who objected, in writing, to being created in the first place, resigned within the month!
Benedict VIII
6/ 1852: Pius IX’s (#256) Probe Noscitis Venerabiles encyclical to the Spanish prelates on the discipline for the clergy.
7/ 1925: Pius XI’s (#260) Vehementer exultamus hodie (vehemently do We exult this day) bull canonizing Dutch, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.
8/ 1959: John XXIII’s (#262) Cum inde moto proprio granting ‘University’ status to the Pontifical Lateran Athenaeum.
9/ 1996: First day of John Paul II’s (#265) 3-day visit to Slovenia, the first of two he would make to this country.
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