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Quiz about Historic Popes
Quiz about Historic Popes

Historic Popes Trivia Quiz


Popes have been important figures in the history of Western Europe. See what you remember from your History or Religion classes.

A multiple-choice quiz by chicagojanet. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
chicagojanet
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
358,330
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
9 / 10
Plays
504
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which pope initiated the Second Vatican Council (aka "Vatican 2"), which encouraged priests to celebrate Mass in the local language rather than Latin? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Legend has it that a woman was pope during the Middle Ages. What was her name? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Pope Alexander VI fathered several illegitimate children, including which of the following? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Pope Julius II commissioned which artist to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Leo X excommunicated which Catholic monk for publishing 95 theses calling for reform? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In 1950, Pope Pius XII spoke ex cathedra to define which of the following as an article of faith for Roman Catholics? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which pope resigned in February of 2013? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Pope Pius XII (in office from 1939 to 1958) has been criticized for which of the following? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In 1095, Pope Urban launched which of the following? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which of the following places have never been a papal residence? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which pope initiated the Second Vatican Council (aka "Vatican 2"), which encouraged priests to celebrate Mass in the local language rather than Latin?

Answer: John XXIII

John XXIII opened the council in 1962 but died the next year. The work continued under his successor, Paul VI.
2. Legend has it that a woman was pope during the Middle Ages. What was her name?

Answer: Joan

Pope Joan was supposedly a brilliant woman who dressed as a man. Her true sex was discovered only after she became pregnant and gave birth. As ingriguing as the story is, most historians believe it to be fiction.
3. Pope Alexander VI fathered several illegitimate children, including which of the following?

Answer: Lucrezia Borgia

The Borgia family produced three popes during the 15th and 16th centuries: Calixtus III, Alexander VI, and Pope Innocent X. Alexander (and his children) were accused of many crimes, including incest, rape, bribery, and murder. The Medici were their rivals for political power in Renaissance Italy and produced four popes of their own: Pope Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV, and Leo XI. Although these popes were often questionable religious leaders, they were typically strong patrons of the arts and sciences.
4. Pope Julius II commissioned which artist to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

Answer: Michelangelo

Michelangelo was noted as a sculptor, rather than a painter, but it's hard to say no to a pope. The project took four years... partly because this was the first time Michelangelo had worked in fresco. All of the answers were Renaissance artists - and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
5. Leo X excommunicated which Catholic monk for publishing 95 theses calling for reform?

Answer: Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a German monk and theology professor. Besides advocating for reform, he translated the Bible into German (encouraging ordinary people to read for themselves), wrote hymns (supporting the idea that congregations, not just choirs, should sing during services), and got married (modeling clerical marriage, which is permitted in Protestant churches.)
6. In 1950, Pope Pius XII spoke ex cathedra to define which of the following as an article of faith for Roman Catholics?

Answer: Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The dogma of papal infallibility was formally defined by the First Vatican Council in 1870, but has a long-standing tradition in the Church. Not everything the pope says is infallible - infallibility is reserved for when the pope speaks "ex cathedra" to define a doctrine concerning faith or morals. During the history of the church, there have been very few ex cathedra statements.

The dogma that Christ as both fully man and fully God was one of those... but it was issued by Leo I, at the Council of Chalcedon, way back in 449.
7. Which pope resigned in February of 2013?

Answer: Benedict XVI

Papal resignations are rare. Benedict was the first pope in 600 years to resign. The last pope to do so before Benedict was Celestine V, a hermit, who quit after only five months in office. One of his few official acts was to issue a papal bull decreeing that popes had the right to resign.
8. Pope Pius XII (in office from 1939 to 1958) has been criticized for which of the following?

Answer: Failing to speak out against the Holocaust

Like many religious and secular leaders of the time, Pius did not openly criticize the Nazi regime. However, some people have claimed he secretly opposed the Holocaust by hiding Jews in the Vatican and instructing Catholic clergy to do likewise.
9. In 1095, Pope Urban launched which of the following?

Answer: The First Crusade

The key to this question is the date. All other events occurred much later: The Spanish Inquisition was started by Sixtus IV in 1478, Henry VIII was excommunicated by Paul III in 1538, and Pius V outlawed the selling of indulgences in 1567.
10. Which of the following places have never been a papal residence?

Answer: London, England

Castel Gandolfo is the Pope's summer residence. Between 1309 and 1376, seven popes resided in Avignon rather than Rome.
Source: Author chicagojanet

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LeoDaVinci before going online.
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