Thursday, May 23, 2013

Popes of the Catholic Church-- Part 6

1501--  Alexander VI, one of the most notorious popes dies.  A member of the Borgio family, he is a womanizer who bribed his way to the papacy.  According to one story of his death, he tried to poison a rival with a drink, but had them switched accidentally.

1521--  As the papacy grew in power, the corruption and abuse also grew.  Martin Luther strongly objected to the sale of indulgences, which forgave sins.  They were being sold to pay for the new St. Peter's Basilica.

Martin Luther issues his 95 Theses which led to the Protestant Reformation.

In 1521, Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther, but that didn't stop the Reformation.

1582--  Gregory XIII orders the use of the more accurate Gregorian calendar which introduced leap year and meant that the day after October 4th that year became Oct. 15th.  It was decades before the Protestant countries adopted the new calendar.

Continuing.

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