Pope Benedict XVI

The following is a snapshot of the papacies of the 11 popes that preceded Pope Francis, from Pope Benedict XVI to Blessed Pope Pius IX.

Subtitled “An American Lawyer and Diplomat in the Last Absolute Monarchy of the West,” Mary Ann Glendon’s new book offers keen insights into how the last three pontiffs handled the more temporal side of church affairs.

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“This story has nudged me to pray for the exiles, but especially for Bishop Álvarez, and to offer fasts of food and small pleasures for his good — for his well-being, his spirit, his fortitude — for his freedom, should God will it.”

“Every pope is different like every person is different in this world,” artist Igor Babailov said. “Pope Benedict, one of the important things about him, we all know, is he was a theologian, a scholar, an educator, and I wanted somehow to portray that.”

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“In a hundred years’ time, he will be seen to have laid the foundation for a theological renewal,” said Tracey Rowland, a theologian at The University of Notre Dame Australia.

“As we give thanks for the gifts of faith, mercy and salvation in God’s eternal kingdom, we give thanks for Pope Benedict’s part in bringing much of this to us, God’s people. He gave his entire life to building that kingdom,” Bishop Kettler said.