The Popes: From St. Peter to Present (Cont.)

U - V

Supreme Pontiff

Detail 

(dates*, ages, prior name, feast, comment/attributes, etc.)

St. Urban I [17]

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: 222

End of Reign: 230

Date of Death: 230

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 8 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): May 25

Martyr; Credited with insistence on making the sacred vessels out of precious metal.

Bl. Urban II [160]

Birth Date: c. 1035

Beginning of Reign: March 12, 1088

End of Reign: July 29, 1099

Date of Death: July 29, 1099

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 53

Lived to Approx. Age: 64

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 11 years

Prior Name (if different): Odo (Eudes)

Feast Day (if applicable): July 29

Struggled against an antipope and, at one point, he had to retreat from Rome. Condemned clerical marriage, simony, and lay investiture. Supported efforts to reconquer Christian lands which had been taken by the Muslims. Launched the First Crusade in 1095 to take back Jerusalem from the Muslim conquerors and promised a Plenary Indulgence in connection with participation in the crusade.

Urban III [173]

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: November 25, 1185

End of Reign: October 19/20, 1187

Date of Death: October 19/20, 1187

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Nearly 2 years

Prior Name (if different): Umberto Crivelli

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Was elected pope on the day Lucius died. His pontificate saw the worsening of imperial relations and the occupation of papal lands..

Urban IV [183]

Birth Date: c. 1200

Beginning of Reign: August 29, 1261

End of Reign: October 2, 1264

Date of Death: October 2, 1264

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 61

Lived to Approx. Age: 64

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 3 years

Prior Name (if different): Jacques Pantaleon

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Due to the conditions there, he resided outside Rome. He added cardinals to the College, sought to recover papal control in Italy, and extended the feast of Corpus Christi to the whole Church.

Bl. Urban V [201]

Birth Date: 1310

Beginning of Reign: September 28, 1362

End of Reign: December 19, 1370

Date of Death: December 19, 1370

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 52

Lived to Approx. Age: 60

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 8 years

Prior Name (if different): Guilaume de Grimoard

Feast Day (if applicable): December19

A generous pope, he supported students and the arts. He fought abuse and was finally able to return the papacy to Rome. He undertook major restoration work in Rome and tried to uproot abuses, but when hostilities surfaced, he returned to Avignon where he soon died.

Urban VI [203]

Birth Date: c. 1318

Beginning of Reign: April 8, 1378

End of Reign: October 15, 1389

Date of Death: October 15, 1389

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 60

Lived to Approx. Age: 71

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 11.5 years

Prior Name (if different): Bartolomeo Prignano

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

At the conclave, cardinals appeased an angry mob - fearful of the papacy returning to France - by telling them a Roman had been elected pope, when this was not the case. Afterwards, Urban's behavior caused alarm and the validity of Urban's pontificate was questioned. An antipope was elected and the Great Schism of the west began. Years of strife ensued, and Urban's behavior was criticized. Urban extended the feast of the Visitation to the whole Church.

Urban VII [229]

Birth Date: August 4, 1521

Beginning of Reign: September 15, 1590

End of Reign: September 27, 1590

Date of Death: September 27, 1590

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 69

Lived to Approx. Age: 69

Approx. Length of Reign: 12 days

Prior Name (if different): Giambattista Castagna

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

This experienced prelate fell ill the night after his election and died within days.

Urban VIII [236]

Birth Date: early 1568

Beginning of Reign: August 6, 1623

End of Reign: July 29, 1644

Date of Death: July 29, 1644

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 55

Lived to Approx. Age: 76

Approx. Length of Reign: Nearly 21 years

Prior Name (if different): Maffeo Barberini

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

He engaged in various building projects which beatified Rome and enhanced security, commissioned Bernini, supported missions, authorized new religious orders, and confirmed canonical procedures regarding beatification and canonization. His papacy saw much political activity due to ongoing wars.

Valentine [101]

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: August 827

End of Reign: September 827

Date of Death: September 827

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 1 month

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Considered a virtuous man, he was elected unanimously, but he died shortly thereafter.

St. Victor I [14]

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: c. 189

End of Reign: c. 199

Date of Death: c. 199

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 10 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): July 28

Martyr; First African pope, conveyed synods to settle the Easter date controversy (including forceful excommunications to resolve the matter).

Victor II [154]

Birth Date: c. 1018

Beginning of Reign: April 13, 1055

End of Reign: July 28, 1057

Date of Death: July 28, 1057

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 37

Lived to Approx. Age: 39

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 2 years

Prior Name (if different): Gebhard

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Held synod at Florence, continued reforms, deposed unworthy bishops, defended clerical celibacy, condemned simony, and affected reconciliations.

Bl. Victor III [159]

Birth Date: c. 1027

Beginning of Reign: May 24, 1086

End of Reign: September 16, 1087

Date of Death: September 16, 1087

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 59

Lived to Approx. Age: 60

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 16 months

Prior Name (if different): Desiderius (Daufer, Daufari)

Feast Day (if applicable): September 16

Was a successful abbot before his election. Struggled against an antipope. Held a council that prohibited lay investiture and condemned simoniacal ordinations. He died after a short pontificate.

Vigilius [59]

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: March 29, 537

End of Reign: June 7, 555

Date of Death: June 7, 555

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 18 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Had a controversial elevation to the papacy (including accusations of a secret arrangement with the monophysite empress to disavow the Council of Chalcedon). Restored churches and buildings in Rome. Faced great pressure and was arrested. He condemned the "Three Chapters" (condemnation of the Antiochenes).

St. Vitalian [76]

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: July 30, 657

End of Reign: January 27, 672

Date of Death: January 27, 672

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 14.5 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): January 27

Was orthodox, but was conciliatory towards the emperor. Supported the English Church.

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