Pope Quiz

Answer Key

Answers are provided in the format of: Pope Name (# in papal succession)

  1. He was the pope during the saddest point in the Great Western Schism.  Pope Gregory VII (#205)
  2. He held the first conclave in the Vatican. Pope Urban VI (#202)
  3. He brought the Papacy back to Rome.  Pope Gregory XI (#201)     
  4. He decreed the first Holy Year.   Pope Boniface VIII (#193)
  5. He tried to bring the Pope back to Rome, but failed and had to return to France.   Blessed Urban V (#200)
  6. Urban V says the three corners of the tiara are for... Imperial Power, Royal Power, and Spiritual Power
  7. He instituted the feast of the Most Holy Trinity.  Pope John XXII (#196)
  8. According to Celestin IV, where the 'Conclave' come from?  Latin for “under lock and key”
  9. He received the title 'healer' because of the many miracles he worked.  St. Agatheo (#79)
  10. He decreed the observance of chastity for all priests.  St. Eugene I (#75)
  11. He decreed that only the universal bishop of Rome was the Pope.  Pope Gregory VII (#157)
  12. He instituted the Gregorian Chant.  Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great) (#64)
  13. He instituted the blessing of crops.   St. Euthychian (#27)
  14. He ordained St. Francis.  Pope Innocent III (#176)
  15. He ordered the universal ringing of bells at midday.  Pope Sabinian (#65)
  16. He founded the Vatican Library.  Pope Nicholas V (#208)
  17. He was the most traveled pope in history.  Pope John Paul II (#264)
  18. He sent St. Patrick to Ireland.  St. Celestine I (#43)
  19. He canonized St. Claire.  Pope Alexander IV (#181)
  20. He instituted the 'Holy Inquisition.'  Pope Gregory IX (#178)
  21. He was the first pope to reside permanently at the Vatican.  Pope Nicholas III (#188)
  22. He died at the age of 29.  Pope John XI (#125)
  23. He said the newly elected Pope has the right to refuse his election. St. Celestine V (#192)
  24. He discovered the remains of St. Petronilla who, according to tradition, was the daughter of St. Peter.  St. Paul I (#93)
  25. He inserted the 'Kyrie Eleison' into the Mass.  St. Gelasius (Pope Gelasius I) (#49)
  26. He was in office only 31 days.  Pope John Paul I (#263)
  27. He was the first non-Italian pope elected in four hundred fifty years.  Pope John Paul II (#264)
  28. Why did Angelo Roncolli choose the name John XXIII when he became pope?  During the Western Schism in 1379, several men claimed to be the lawful successor to St. Peter.  One of these men took the name John XXII, but was not the true Pope.  To restore dignity to the name Angelo Roncalli, a true Pope, took the name John XXIII as well.
  29. He depleted the funds of the Vatican to help victims and prisoners of war after World War I.  Pope Benedict XV (#258)
  30. What was the name of the encyclical in which Pope Paul VI urged developed nations to help underdeveloped nations?  Populorum Progressio (“The Development of People”)
  31. He first allowed children who have reached the age of reason to receive the Eucharist.  St. Pius X (#257)
  32. He wrote an encyclical condemning Nazism in 1937 that had to be smuggled to the Church in Germany.  Pope Pius XI (#259)
  33. He lived under communist rule before being elected.  Pope John Paul II (#264)
  34. He wrote "Utterly Wonderful" - an encyclical on television, radio and movies.  Pope Pius XII (#260)
  35. According to tradition, he was the first pope.  St. Peter (#1)