The
Papacy - A Historical Perspective
1277-1287 A.D.
Nicholas III : 1277-1280 A.D.
188. Born in Rome. Elected December 26, 1277 - died August 22, 1280,
in his villa at Soriano nel Cimino.
He was the first Pope to live in
the Vatican and
had the famous gardens built.
He sent missionaries to convert Tartar Kings.
He came to an agreement with the city of Viterbo concerning the
curia and forced the Municipality to appropriately furbish the
Pontifical Palace, giving free residence to the cardinals and the
members of the curia and sending away prostitutes and mediators.
He had the famous "Passetto" built: an elevated corridor linking
the Vatican to the
fortress of Castel S. Angelo.
He ordered the third series of portraits of the Popes in S. Paolo
Fuori Ie Mura, deducting dates and physiognomy from ancient documents.
He is buried in the Vatican Grottoes. His pontificate lasted about
2 years and 8 months.
Martin IV : 1281-1285 A.D.
189. Born in France. Elected March 23, 1281 - died March 23, 1285.
He tried to convey the sense of charity
to the great and
powerful of that period.
During his pontificate, the famous revolution of the Sicilian
Vespers broke out.
Giuseppe Verdi wrote an opera in 5 acts, which was performed for
the first time in Paris in 1855.
He ordered the building of two pontifical palaces in Orvieto and
Montefiascone, from where the strong-
hold takes origin. He is buried in the Cathedral of Perugia.
His pontificate lasted 4 years and 1 month.
Honorius IV :1285-1287 A.D.
190. Born in Rome. Elected May 20, 1285 - died April 3, 1287.
His first action was that of restoring
order in the Pontifical State.
He fostered the University of Paris and tried to resume relations
with the Greek Church;
he also tried to come to an agreement with the Islamic people.
He recognised the Carmelites.
He was so tormented by gout that he had difficulty moving, and when
he was saying Mass he needed some special devices to raise his hands
and lift the Host.
Paul III (1534-1549) transferred the body of Honorius IV to the
Aracoeli Church, near his mother's grave.
His pontificate lasted 2 years and 1 day.
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Index of Roman
Pontiffs
Introduction
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