How Well Do You Know the History of the Papacy?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
How Well Do You Know the History of the Papacy?
Image: Avalon_Studio/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The papacy became an influential force in European history as early as the fourth century, and since then its power has only increased as the Catholic Church spread Christianity across the world, from Asia to the Americas. During the majority of this expansion, Rome was the residency for the papacy, though at times the office would be forced to move elsewhere.

The pope, of course, was the religious figure who held the office of the papacy, heading the Roman Catholic Church as it became the most powerful body within Christianity. Over time, the pope was not only looked at for religious guidance but turned the Catholic Church into a major player in secular matters as well. At times, depending on the person holding office, the pope oversaw the appointment of monarchs and determined who controlled what lands. Their influence, though, did not come without conflict, another major aspect of papal history.

Are you prepared to test your knowledge of the papacy with this quiz? You might need some divine intervention if you hope to get all of these questions right, especially when it comes to the crusades. 

If you're ready to take a break from studying Bible verses, get started and see how far back your knowledge of the papacy extends. 

1 Jesus
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The papacy believes its power comes from Jesus, who appointed which apostle as the leader of the church?
Mark
Luke
John
Peter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to the Bible, Jesus recognized Peter's authority when he said, "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." Future popes used this message to assert their own authority since Peter traveled to Rome to preach.

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2 Crucifixion
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Peter was martyred for his religion. How was he killed?
Crucifixion
Burned at the stake
Fed to lions
Death by hanging
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Viewed as a problematic leader for preaching views that went against the Roman Empire, Emperor Nero had Peter crucified. However, according to legend, Peter refused to be crucified in the same way as Jesus and asked to be placed upside down.

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3 Emperor Constantine
Wiki Commons by Chabe01
Do you know which edict was issued by Emperor Constantine, recognizing Christianity within the Roman Empire?
Edict of Paris
Edict of Milan
Edict of Ashoka
Edict of Pistres
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Edict of Milan not only provided Christians with freedom inside the Roman Empire but gave any religion the ability to worship the deity of their choice. It wasn't the first such edict of toleration, but it was the first one to not perish after the death of its creator.

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4 Lateran Palace
Wiki Commons by Dnalor 01
Where was the original papal residence moved to in 313 under Pope Miltiades?
Flavian Palace
House of Augustus
Lateran Palace
Palace of Domitian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though it's no longer used as the residence of the pope, the Lateran Palace still stands, currently housing the Vatican Historical Museum. The museum was moved to the palace in 1987 and opened to the public in 1991.

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5 St. Peter's Basilica
Wiki Commons by Alvesgaspar
At which church was Charlemagne crowned emperor by Pope Leo III?
San Marco
St. Peter's Basilica
Santa Constanza
Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most of the popes from the time of its creation until when it was rebuilt in the 16th century were buried at St. Peter's Basilica. The site marked the location where Christians believed Saint Peter's remains were buried.

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6 Visigoths
Wiki Commons by Maïtre François
Still trying to increase the power of the church, Pope Innocent I was unable to keep which group from sacking Rome in 410?
Vikings
Franks
Visigoths
Saxons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As the Huns began to pressure Germanic tribes, the Visigoths sought sanctuary in the Roman Empire then ruled by Emperor Valens. They were given land near the Danube, but it didn't take long for problems to flare up between the Visigoths and Roman governors, leading to conflicts in the empire.

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7 Leo I
Wiki Commons by Raphael
Can you identify the pope who kept Attila the Hun from invading Rome as he progressed across Europe?
Leo I
Felix III
Anastasius II
Hormisdas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Renaissance painter Raphael captured the pleas of Pope Leo I to Attila in a fresco titled "The Meeting of Leo I and Attila," which was completed in 1514. In the painting, Raphael used the face of Pope Leo X to depict Leo I.

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8 Gregory I
Wiki Commons by Francisco de Zurbarán
Gregory I began the papacy's mission of spreading Christianity by sending missionaries to which country?
Greece
Spain
France
England
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mission sent by Gregory I to England was led by Augustine of Canterbury, who is considered the founder of the English Church. After a difficult journey, Augustine was welcomed by King Aethelbert of Kent, who had married a Christian princess prior to becoming the first Christian king of England.

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9 Dug from grave
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In the famous Cadaver Synod, why was Pope Formosus dug from his grave?
To stand trial
To be burned for paganism
To find gold
To be worshiped
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pope Formosus was dug from his grave to stand trial for accusations that he obtained the papacy illegally. He, of course, was found guilty of the charges, three of his fingers used for blessings were cut off and his body was thrown into the Tiber River.

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10 controversial election
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Archdeacon Symmachus ran against Archpriest Laurentius for the papacy in 498. Who decided the controversial election?
The English king
The Spanish king
The Gothic king
The Eastern Roman emperor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Theodoric the Great was the Gothic king responsible for selecting the pope after the death of Pope Anastasius II. Theodoric based his decision on who was elected first, eventually ruling that Symmachus had the right to the papacy.

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11 The Papal States
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What was created in northern Italy after the Lombards were driven out by the Frankish king Pepin?
The Vatican
The Papal States
The German Empire
The city of Florence
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The current territories of Lazio, Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna are considered the boundaries of the Papal States, though the area was not fixed throughout its existence. The territory was created to help solidify a central power in northern Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

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12 Catholic monarchs
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Jus exclusivae gave which power to Catholic monarchs?
To go to war
To rule Italy
To appoint bishops
The veto a papal candidate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Throughout its use, the right to veto a papal candidate was held by different monarchs at separate times, including the rulers of the French, Spanish and Holy Roman Empire. The right was eventually viewed as a corruptive force inside the Catholic Church and stripped away.

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13 Saint Boniface
Wiki Commons by Cornelis Bloemaert
During the eighth century, which missionary traveled throughout the Frankish Empire, converting Germanic people?
Saint Patrick
Saint Pancras
Saint Willibrord
Saint Boniface
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After years of successful missions across the Frankish kingdom, Saint Boniface set out to convert the Frisians, a Germanic tribe in the Netherlands. While on this mission, Boniface was robbed and killed by bandits looking for treasure that they did not find.

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14 College of Cardinals
Wiki Commons by Unknown Author
When did the College of Cardinals gain the right to elect the pope after centuries of controversial selections by secular rulers?
799
901
1059
1246
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was under Pope Nicholas II that the election of the pope by cardinals was put into place in 1059. With this change, Nicholas hoped to strengthen the power of the papacy, which had been almost nonexistent under the rule of Henry III.

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15 The Holy Roman Empire
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Do you know which empire was created when Charlemagne was named emperor?
The Frankish Empire
The Holy Roman Empire
The Eastern Roman Empire
The Byzantine Empire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The creation of the Holy Roman Empire linked the Papal States with lands in present-day France and Germany. Though it would lose territory over time, the empire lasted until it was dissolved during the Napoleonic Wars in 1806.

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16 Otto I
Wiki Commons by Hugo Vogel
Germanic influence over the papacy increased substantially under which ruler in 962 after who was crowned emperor?
Otto I
Francis I
Louis the Pious
Frederick III
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After the death of Henry the Fowler in 936, Otto was named king of the Germans at the age of 23. The young prince was crowned at Aachen by the archbishops of Mainz and Cologne, symbolizing his relationship with the Catholic Church.

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17 Holy See
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Are you familiar with the name given to the papacy as the governing body over the Catholic Church?
Benediction
Holy See
Canon
Cardinal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Holy See is recognized as a sovereign state by the international community, holding dominion over the Vatican City State. The Roman Curia maintains administrative responsibilities for the Holy See.

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18 Land
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Pope Nicholas II set up a feudal relationship with allies by providing them with what?
Land
Blessings
Bishops
Glory
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pope Nicholas II only held the papacy for two years, but his time as the leader of the Catholic Church was instrumental in its development. Under his authority, the Normans began the conquest of Sicily, which was held by Muslim forces.

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19 Church officials
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The papacy increased its power during the Investiture Controversy, an event that determined which appointments?
Kings
Knights
Church officials
Barons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The conflict between church and state is not a new concept, and the Investiture Controversy is an example of this conflict in action. Beginning as early as the 11th century, the controversy was finally settled in 1122 with the Concordat of Worms, giving the papacy control of appointing church officials.

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20 Kingdom of Italy
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What year were the Papal States incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy?
1288
1456
1602
1870
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The fall of the Papal States to the Kingdom of Italy did not end the conflict between the two powers, which continued until 1929 when the Lateran Treaty was negotiated. The treaty provided the Catholic Church with money for the lost territory and established the Vatican City State.

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21 Simony
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Do you remember the name given to the practice of buying and selling church offices?
Heresy
Celibacy
Simony
Curia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One powerful pope who came to office through the help of simony was Julius II. However, after receiving the papacy, Julius issued a decree that voided any future papal appointment if simony was involved.

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22 East-West Schism
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Which famous schism split the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054?
East-West Schism
Nestorian Schism
Schism of the Three Chapters
Succession crisis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The East-West Schism wasn't a conflict that arose all of a sudden. Instead, the issue developed over centuries when theological disputes, as well as political structures, split Christianity between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

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23 Pope Urban II
Wiki Commons by Giovanni Francesco Romanelli
Pope Urban II gave a speech during the Council of Clermont that led to what?
The Reconquista
The First Crusade
Viking conversions
The Age of Exploration
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The First Crusade resulted from the fall of Syria and Palestine to confrontational Turks, who replaced the Saracen caliphs. Not long after the conquest, thousands of Christian pilgrims were murdered in Jerusalem, striking fear across Christian Europe.

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24 Normans
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Who rescued Pope Gregory VII after Rome was invaded by Henry IV?
Lombards
Anglo-Saxons
Celts
Normans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV resulted in the king being excommunicated on three separate occasions. To counteract this, Henry appointed his own pope to split the power of the church.

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25 Inquisition
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Can you identify the institution established to combat heresy across Christian Europe?
Inquisition
Holy Orders
Knights Templar
Ordination
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Inquisition was particularly prevalent in Spain, where torture and persecution were commonplace. Trying to combat Jewish and Muslim influence across Spanish territory, the Inquisition resulted in over 30,000 executions.

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25 The Knights Templar
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The Knights Templar was created to protect travelers heading where?
Rome
Paris
Constantinople
Jerusalem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Knights Templar used an early type of banking system to help ensure travelers could cross the Holy Land in peace. The system worked by giving travelers the ability to sell their valuables to the Templars for a note that could be exchanged at a Templar office in the Holy Land.

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27 Martyr
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The papacy gave what title to those who died for their faith?
Laity
Martyr
Evangelist
Disciple
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The earliest Christian martyrs met their fates at the hands of the Romans due to a misunderstanding of the sacrament of Eucharist. During this time, the Romans failed to note that the Christians were consuming bread and wine, instead believing they were cannibals.

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28 Eugene III
Wiki Commons by BSonne
After the fall of the County of Edessa, which pope called for the Second Crusade?
Lucius II
Anastasius IV
Eugene III
Celestine II
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Obtaining the office of the papacy because others would not, Pope Eugene III was elected pope after the death of Pope Lucius II. Eugene's predecessor had been killed trying to stand up to the Roman Senate, who looked to reassert their power in Rome.

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29 Cathars
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The papacy attacked which of these groups as heretics?
Benedictines
Franciscans
Jesuits
Cathars
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cathars chose to stand up against the Roman Catholic Church, which they believed had grown corrupt by expanding its secular power. Calling themselves true Christians, the Cathars created their own theology and church hierarchy.

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30 Sicilian throne
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The Sicilian throne became vacant in 1254. To fill the vacancy, the papacy first tried to establish a king from where?
Italy
Spain
England
Germany
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

King Henry III of England desperately wanted to put his son, Edmund, on the Sicilian throne because of the wealth it would bring England. However, he faced resistance from the English Parliament, which eventually resulted in the Second Barons' War.

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31 Venice
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Do you know which city did not host the pope after they were forced to leave Rome for a time in the second half of the 13th century?
Venice
Viterbo
Orvieto
Perugia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Located on the coast of the Mediterranean, Venice is composed of over 100 islands, split by waterways and canals. The city, however, is sinking into the sea, and studies suggest it will be underwater within the next 100 years.

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32 Saints Francis of Assisi
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Founded by Saint Francis of Assisi, the Franciscans were a religious order that preached members should do what?
Obtain wealth
Beg for food
Fight for God
Sail to distant lands
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Saint Francis of Assisi came from a family of privilege, where his father was a wealthy silk merchant. After abandoning the life of luxury he lived as a young man, Francis turned to begging, eventually founding the Franciscan Order.

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33 Templar
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Pope Clement V sided with which French king against the Knights Templar?
Philip IV
Louis X
John I
Charles IV
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

King Philip IV of France had accumulated a large debt to the Knights Templar by 1303, when the Templars established a residence in Paris. To get out from under this debt, Philip had many of these knights arrested and tortured into giving false confessions of heresy, bringing an end to the order.

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34 Council of Constance
Wiki Commons by Ulrich of Richenthal
Are you familiar with the council that was called to end the conflict from the Western Schism?
Second Council of Nicaea
Council of Constance
Council of Chalcedon
First Council of Lyon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By 1414, a split in the Catholic Church resulted in three popes claiming the office, each located in different cities. The result of the Council of Constance was that all three popes were removed from power and replaced by Pope Martin V.

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35 Sistine Chapel
Wiki Commoms by Jörg Bittner Unna
Which of these famous Renaissance artists was hired by the pope to paint the Sistine Chapel?
Donatello
Raphael
Leonardo da Vinci
Michelangelo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Michelangelo wasn't Pope Julius II's first choice to paint the Sistine Chapel, as Raphael was the more popular painter at the time. However, Raphael wanted to prove that Michelangelo didn't have the skill to complete the project, so he turned it down in the hope that Michelangelo would humiliate himself.

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36 Spain
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Can you remember what kingdom was given influence in the New World by Pope Alexander VI through a papal bull in 1493?
England
France
Spain
Netherlands
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hailing from the city of Valencia in Spain, Pope Alexander VI favored the Spanish crown held by Isabella and Ferdinand. After Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, Spain used its influence with the pope to secure rights to the new land against other claimants.

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37 Ninety-five Theses
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Who issued the "Ninety-five Theses" that addressed abuses of power carried out by the papacy?
John Wycliffe
John Calvin
Martin Luther
Jan Hus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Martin Luther's "Ninety-nine Theses" eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. This split with the Catholic Church had huge implications moving forward, as monarchs used Protestantism to distance themselves from the pope.

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38 Antichrist
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The Protestant Reformation cast the pope as which figure from the Bible?
Christ
Cain
Moses
Antichrist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the Bible, the Antichrist is listed in a prophecy that describes a figure who will stand against Christ, pretending to be Christ himself. Throughout history, many people have been called the Antichrist, with a popular one being the prophet Muhammad.

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39 Counter-Reformation
Wiki Commons by Paolo Veronese
In response to deserters from Roman Catholicism, do you remember who launched the Counter-Reformation?
Paul III
Julius III
Marcellus II
Pius IV
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Council of Trent was called first in 1545, continuing until 1563, to condemn those who supported the Protestant Reformation while also solidifying the true teachings of the Catholic Church. The results were instrumental in shaping the Catholic Church for the next 400 years.

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40 King Henry VIII
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The 1534 Act of Supremacy split which country from the authority of the papacy?
France
England
Spain
Portugal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With the 1534 Act of Supremacy, King Henry VIII became the head of the Church of England, as declared by Parliament. The split was due to a conflict that arose from Henry's decision to have his marriage with Catherine of Aragon annulled, which the pope refused.

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