Lessons For a New Pope From the Greatest Popes, by Dawn Beutner

Since the death of the first pope, Saint Peter, two hundred and sixty-five men have succeeded him in that office. And now, following the death and burial of Pope Francis, we can consider how the examples of some of the greatest popes in Church history can inspire us to hope as we await the election of our next pope.

Of Saint Peter’s successors (not counting anti-popes), only four have been nicknamed “the Great”. This title is not granted by a complicated Vatican procedure but is instead granted by the Body of Christ. That is, throughout history, there have been four men who have reigned in such an extraordinary way that the Catholic laity have spontaneously given them the title of “the Great” after their deaths.^{1 ….}

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