PONTIFACTS: Ranking the Popes

Agatho entered the church quite late after a full career in business, and life as a monk - two entire lives before the papacy. In his episode, we discuss a return of St Wilfrid of York, the papal letter that formed the foundation of the Third Council of Constantinople, and is there bugs?   Catch Marco at Storia D'Italia: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/ziyh4-a1352/Storia-d%27Italia-Podcast...

Pontifacts will be appearing at Intelligent Speech 2020's virtual conference, with a talk on the children of the popes! Bry will also be sitting on a panel on Medieval history! Intelligent Speech will be held on Saturday June 27th 10am-6pm EST Find out more here: https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/ Get your tickets here: https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/product/online-ticket/

When Donus was elected to the papacy, he was already an old man, despite what his portrait would have you believe. In his episode, we discuss astronomical omens, the restoration of the autocephalous Ravenna, secret Nestorians, and an official fake pope who never existed. Also, we dive back down into the rabbit hole of the Celtic tonsure practices!   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patre...

Pope Adeodatus spent the majority of his life as a monk, and brought his enthusiasm for monastic discipline to the papacy - but not like that zealot, Gregory. In his episode, we discuss new construction in Rome, the independence of Marmoutier Abbey in Tours, hints on the upcoming Doges of Venice, and omens. PS - The Vatican virtual tour has been released, and we WILL be doing that together at some...

Pope Vitalian had a new approach to the current conflicts between the Roman Church and Constantinople, which worked out in his favor. In his episode, we discuss the perplexing 663 Imperial visit to Rome, the problem of autocephalous Ravenna, what happens when a newly consecrated foreign bishop dies in Rome, and naturally, the devil’s ass hair and glass genitals. Check out Lyceum at lyceum.fm   Sup...

Given that Pope Martin never abdicated upon his arrest, Pope Eugene started his tenure as an antipope. Sort of. But meek Eugene would surprise everyone - including us, when he showed up to HAUNT US. Don't try new heresies, folks.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishlist: https:/...

Real Dead Poets Society! Unrequited Love! Popes in Hell! Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321) was a nobleman, politician, and poet in Medieval Florence, Italy. Inspired by his childhood love, Beatrice, he went on to write the greatest piece of Italian poetry in the Divine Comedy—all while serving a lifelong exile from his beloved city.  (Fry and Bry join Josh from Drunk Church History to discuss Dante, b...

Martin had served as a papal legate in Dalmatia, and an apocrisiary in Constantinople, and he had come away from both with fairly sour opinions of the East. He took particular issue with Imperial interference in the papacy, and would repeatedly carry out bold decisions as pope that challenged the Emperor’s assumed hold over the church. In his episode, we discuss the aggressive escalation of the Mo...

Pope Theodore was born in Jerusalem, and found himself hastily relocating to Rome. In his episode, we discuss the Muslim conquest of the Levant, the worsening monothelite schism with Constantinople through the recanting recanter Pyrrhus and the doubling down Paul, and the Type of Constans. Also dog vomit.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pont...

We rolled a pretty euphemistic nickname for this pope. In his episode, we discuss the latest developments in the monothelite controversy, gentle defenses for Pope Honorius, and Slavic invasions in newly-Christianizing Dalmatia. Potatoes. (Bry is still struggling with coughs and respiratory stuff, apologies for weird sounds.)   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Pa...

Monothelitism is on the rise, and Pope Honorius's gag order hasn't held the discussion at bay. So when Severinus is elected to the papacy, he will be faced with a choice: cooperate, or not be pope. In his episode, we discuss the Ecthesis, a Roman-Byzantine standoff, cloacas, and how little we know about Tinder. Check out https://everypope.wordpress.com/ for some cool pope pictures we mentioned on...

Pope Honorius has one of the most unique legacies in the history of the papacy, making him the subject of debate all the way through to the first Vatican Council in 1870. In his episode, we discuss monumental restoration efforts in Rome, disruptions in Lombard rule, connections throughout the universal church, and a new heresy with posthumous consequences. Besmirch the besmirchers.   Support Ponti...

Boniface is our first Neopolitan pope, but he is certainly the vanilla. In his episode, we'll discuss the origin of church sanctuary and its first universal implementation, a rebellion in the exarchate that put Rome under direct threat, and the continued expansion of English evangelization.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast K...

Adeodatus, or Deusdedit, was the first priest elected to be the Pope since John II, and he held the first ordinations for new priests since the beginning of Pope Gregory's papacy. In his episode, we discuss the rebellion in the exarchate of Ravenna, preview the instability in the Lombard Kingdom, investigate the first papal bullae, and get up front and personal with leprosy.   Support Pontifacts:...

Boniface was a protégé of Pope Gregory, and he maintained a very Gregorian tone during his papacy. Which makes sense, since he was doing all the work anyway. In his episode, we'll discuss the conversion of the Pantheon from a pagan temple to a Catholic basilica, the first visit of an English bishop to Rome, a return to a long, long, never-ending issue, and part-time popery.   Support Pontifacts: P...

Pope Boniface shone where his predecessor failed. He was a successful apocrisiary, an influential pope, and was able to achieve something that several previous popes could not. In his episode, we'll revisit the Ecumenical Patriarch controversy, re-reform papal election protocol, and call out 'Roman extraction'.   (And thank you to Chris Cree for the Popeslap!)   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   http...

Pope Sabinian is the anti-Gregory, in every possible way. He had a bad time in Constantinople, and then a worse time in Rome. He replaced monks with clerics in ecclesiastical roles, and made a massive error in judgment that made him one of the most despised popes of the era. But at least he will have one of the strangest papal deaths of all time!   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreo...

Is it any surprise that Pope Gregory the Great ended up with a place in Dante's Paradiso? And yet, he is never named! Join us as we introduce the spheres of paradise, and explore the sixth sphere, reserved for the just rulers. We'll parse out where the pope appears, and deal with a singing eagle eyeball.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/ponti...

Pope Abstemius was dealt a pretty bad hand, as far as Amber Popes go. Following Durranet's ill-fated crusades, Abstemius was stuck with an Order of Truth that no one really cared for and a rival that undermined his every action. In his two-part episode, we'll discuss Abstemius's return to classic traditions, his relationship with the foolhardy antipope Paloma, and the magic of something called "Ch...

In this episode, we discuss the 900 epistles of the Registrum Epistolarum, the Liber Pastoralis (Rules for the Pastor), the Commentaries on Job, the Dialogues, and Gregory’s controversial legacy on the conceptualization of a biblical figure.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishl...

Pope Gregory I, the second pope to earn “the Great” epithet, and like our first Great Pope Leo, he had a prolific career before becoming pope, including holding the highest civic office in Rome and serving as an apocrisiarius in Constantinople. But neither of these were jobs he wanted because he much preferred a monastic life, removed from the world. Imagine his disappointment when he is acclaimed...

Pope Abstemius was dealt a pretty bad hand, as far as Amber Popes go. Following Durranet's ill-fated crusades, Abstemius was stuck with an Order of Truth that no one really cared for and a rival that undermined his every action. In his two-part episode, we'll discuss Abstemius's return to classic traditions, his relationship with the foolhardy antipope Paloma, and the magic of something called "Ch...

The papacy of Pope Pelagius II is fortunately blessed with more sources than poor Pope Benedict I, although the sources exist almost exclusively to pay attention to his future successor. But it is a busy time with Lombards, Franks, and the first confirmed outbreak of smallpox in Rome. In his episode, we say a sad goodbye, start the Ecumenical Patriarch feud, and come back to dicks out for celibacy...

Pope Benedict, the first of many eggs, exists in the period of chaos caused by the invasion and establishment of the Lombard Kingdom, so information is scarce. In his episode, we'll discuss the political developments of the Lombards, the current state of Rome, another holy Benedict, and wargs.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcas...

Pope Silky Dog chose to be a John, but we're not sure when. We're not sure about quite a lot of things, because we've hit a medieval shrouding. And yet, in his episode, we are still able to discuss the distinction of the 'Byzantine Papacy' period, the introduction of the Lombards into Italy, the Exarch, Narses, and even a return to living in the catacombs!   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://...