Popes through the ages

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Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI now joins a long history of 265 popes past, becoming the first in nearly 600 years to step down before his death. From John Paul I, who reigned for only 33 days before suddenly dying to the first pope to be filmed by a motion picture camera, here's a look at some popes throughout the ages. See gallery

Real name: Joseph Alois Ratzinger. Ratzinger chose the pontifical name Benedict, which comes from the Latin word meaning "the blessed," in honor of both Pope Benedict XV and Saint Benedict of Nursia. Oldest to become pope since Pope Clement XII in 1730. First pope to willingly renounce the Papacy since Pope Celestine V in 1294.

Papal reign: 2005-2013

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Pope John Paul II

Real name: Karol Józef Wojtyła. John Paul II reigned for 26 years, five months and 15 days, making his the third-longest pontificate. First Polish pope and first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Canonized more saints than all his predecessors.

Papal reign: 1978-2005

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Pope John Paul I

Real name: Albino Luciani. He chose John Paul (the first double name in the history of the papacy) to honor his two immediate predecessors: John XXIII, who had named him a bishop, and Paul VI, who had named him Patriarch of Venice and a cardinal. John Paul I reigned for just 33 days in 1978 before suddenly dying.

Papal reign: 1978

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Pope Paul VI

Real name: Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Marìa Montini.Montini took the name Paul to indicate a renewed worldwide mission to spread the message of Christ. The last pope to be crowned with the Papal Tiara. First pope to travel to the United States.

Papal reign: 1963-1978

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Pope John XXIII

Real name: Àngelo Giuseppe Roncalli. Roncalli chose John as his regnal name upon election. This was the first time in over 500 years that this name had been chosen. Previous popes had avoided this name since Antipope John XXIII during the Western Schism. He is sometimes called "Good Pope John."

Papal reign: 1958-1963

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Pope Pius XII

Real name: Eugenio Marìa Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli. Pacelli took the same papal name as his predecessor, Pius XI, a title used exclusively by Italian popes. He was quoted as saying, "I call myself Pius; my whole life was under popes with this name, but especially as a sign of gratitude towards Pius XI."

Papal reign:1939-1958

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Pope Pius XI

Real name: Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti. Signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, establishing Vatican City as a sovereign state.

Papal reign: 1922-1939

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Pope Benedict XV

Given name: Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa. Credited for intervening for peace during World War I. Remembered by Pope Benedict XVI as a "prophet of peace."

Papal reign:1914-1922

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Pope Pius X

Given name: Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto. Sarto took as his papal name Pius X out of respect for his recent predecessors of the same name, particularly Pope Pius IX, who had fought against theological liberals and for papal supremacy.

Papal reign: 1903-1914

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Pope Leo XIII

Real name: Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci. Leo XIII was the first pope of whom a sound recording was made and the first pope to be filmed on the motion picture camera.

Papal reign: 1878-1903

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Pope Pius IX

Real name: Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti. Mastai Ferretti chose the name Pius IX in honor of Pope Pius VII, who had encouraged his vocation to the priesthood despite his childhood epilepsy. Opened First Vatican Council; lost the Papal States to Italy. Longest serving pope in history.

Papal reign: 1846-1878

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Pope Gregory XVI

Real name: Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari. Cappellari's decision to choose the name Gregory XVI as his regnal name had to do with the fact that he had been abbot of San Gregorio monastery on the Coelian Hill for more than 20 years. He was the last non-bishop to be elected.

Papal reign: 1831-1846

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Pope Pius VIII

Real name: Francesco Saverio Castiglioni. Accepted Louis Philippe I as King of the French.

Papal reign: 1829-1830

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Pope Leo XII

Real name: Count Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga. Placed the Catholic educational system under the control of the Jesuits.

Papal reign: 1823-1829

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Pope Pius VII

Real name: Count Barnaba Niccolò Marìa Luigi Chiaramonti. Present at Napoleon's coronation as Emperor of the French. Temporarily expelled from the Papal States by the French between 1809 and 1814.

Papal reign: 1800-1823

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Pope Pius VI

Real name: Count Giovanni Àngelo Braschi. Condemned the French Revolution and was expelled from the Papal States by French troops from 1798 until his death.

Papal reign: 1775-1799

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Pope Clement XIV

Real name: Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli. Member of the Conventual Franciscan Order. Suppressed the Jesuit Order.

Papal reign: 1769-1774

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Pope Clement XIII

Real name: Carlo della Torre Rezzonico. Provided the famous fig leaves on male statues in the Vatican.

Papal reign: 1758-1769

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Pope Benedict XIV

Real name: Pròspero Lorenzo Lambertini

Papal reign: 1740-1758

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Pope Clement XII

Real name: Lorenzo Corsini. Commissioned the Trevi Fountain, 1732.

Papal reign: 1730-1740

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Pope Benedict XIII

Real name: Pierfrancesco Orsini. At first Orsini called himself Benedict XIV but later changed the title to Benedict XIII (the previous Benedict XIII having been considered an antipope). Third and last member of the Orsini family to be Pope.

Papal reign: 1724-1730

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Pope Innocent XIII

Real name: Michelàngelo de' Conti

Papal reign: 1721-1724

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Pope Clement XI

Real name: Giovanni Francesco Albani

Papal Reign: 1700-1721

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Pope Innocent XII

Real name: Antonio Pignatelli

Papal reign: 1691-1700

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Pope Alexander VIII

Real name: Piètro Vito Ottoboni. Ottoboni chose the name Alexander in gratitude to Cardinal Flavio Chigi, the nephew of Alexander VII Chigi, who also had helped support his candidacy.

Papal reign: 1689-1691

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