by CatholicCulture.org
They have governed the world's largest religion for the past two millennia - yet their fascinating history is strangely little-known. These are the lives and reigns of the popes of the Catholic Church, told in a continuous chronological narrative, from St. Peter on through successors famous or obscure. Put another way, this is a popes'-eye view of the whole history of the Catholic Church. Hosted by Thomas Mirus. A production of CatholicCulture.org.
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August 3, 2026
<p class="MsoNormal">Both of the popes featured in this installment are remembered for honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most of our time will be spent on the first, St. Celestine, who is important chiefly for his involvement in the Council of Ephesus, which confirmed the title of Mary as Mother of God.</p> <p>This episode covers the 43rd pope, St. Celestine I (422-432), and the 44th, St. Sixtus III (432-440).</p> <p><strong>Links</strong></p> <p>Article version: <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/popes-theotokos/">https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/popes-theotokos/</a></p> <p>Way of the Fathers on the Council of Ephesus <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/24-ephesus-mother-all-controversies/"> https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/24-ephesus-mother-all-controversies/</a></p> <p>Way of the Fathers on Nestorianism <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/415-heresiesnestorianism-two-people-in-one/"> https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/415-heresiesnestorianism-two-people-in-one/</a></p> <p>Philip Hughes, The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325-1870 <a href= "https://clunymedia.com/collections/philip-hughes/products/the-church-in-crisis">https://clunymedia.com/collections/philip-hughes/products/the-church-in-crisis</a></p> <p>DONATE to make this show possible! <a href= "http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio">http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio</a></p> <p>SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters">https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters</a> </p>
July 20, 2026
<p>This installment of Lives of the Popes covers two popes of the early 5<sup>th</sup> century - Sts. Zosimus and Boniface I - the first of whom passed on multiple complicated situations for his successor to resolve. The greatest drama in Rome at this time, though, was the election of Pope St. Boniface I.</p> <p>Article version <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/sword-peter/">https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/sword-peter/</a></p> <p>SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters">https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters</a></p> <p>DONATE to make this show possible! <a href= "http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio">http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio</a></p>
July 7, 2026
<p>So far in this series, we've seen a number of examples of early popes exercising authority over bishops and churches outside of Rome, and even outside of the West. As the documentary record improves, this becomes even clearer, and the popes in this installment, especially St. Innocent I, are striking for the extent to which they asserted their prerogative to govern the entire global Church. We also see evidence of the ancient discipline of clerical continence, the first instance of a person being executed for heresy, and the beginning of the Pelagian controversy.</p> <p>Covered in this episode are popes #38-40: St. Siricius, St. Anastasius I, and St. Innocent I.</p> <p><strong>Links</strong></p> <p>Pope St. Siricius's Decretal to Himerius <a href= "https://earlychurchtexts.com/public/siricius_decretal_to_himerius.htm" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">https://earlychurchtexts.com/public/siricius_decretal_to_himerius.htm</a></p> <p>Way of the Fathers on the Pelagian heresy <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/413-heresiespelagianism-and-seeds-calvinism/">https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/413-heresiespelagianism-and-seeds-calvinism/</a></p> <p>SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: <a href= "https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/">https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/</a></p> <p> DONATE at: <a href= "http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio">http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio</a></p>
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They have governed the world's largest religion for the past two millennia - yet their fascinating history is strangely little-known. These are the lives and reigns of the popes of the Catholic Church, told in a continuous chronological narrative, from St. Peter on through successors famous or obscure. Put another way, this is a popes'-eye view of the whole history of the Catholic Church.
Hosted by Thomas Mirus. A production of CatholicCulture.org.
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