Silvester I begins his reign as Pope of the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Miltiades.

Pope Mark dies, leaving the papacy vacant.

Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher.

Protestantism: The villagers around today's Baden-Baden elect their own priest in defiance of the local bishop. Later, in a move that would not be seen before the Protestant Reformation, he is also elected Pope by acclamatio, just to die that same day. It is rumored that Ildebrando di Soana heard of the acclamatio and used it later to get elected himself as Pope Gregory VII.

King John of England makes an oath to Pope Innocent III as a crusader to gain his support.

In France, the Second Council of Lyons opens to regulate the election of the Pope.

Saint Celestine V resigns the papacy after only five months; Celestine hoped to return to his previous life as an ascetic hermit.

Pope Boniface VIII is elected Pope, replacing St. Celestine V, who had resigned.

Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 147 Swiss Guards, including their commander, die fighting the forces of Charles V in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape into Castel Sant'Angelo.

Pope Urban VII dies 13 days after being chosen as the Pope, making his reign the shortest papacy in history.

Gregory XV becomes Pope, the last Pope elected by acclamation.

The Papal conclave of 1846 concludes. Pope Pius IX is elected Pope beginning the longest reign in the history of the papacy (not counting St. Peter).

Roman Catholic papal encyclical ''Quas Primas'' introduces the Feast of Christ the King.

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli is elected Pope and takes the name Pius XII.

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli becomes Pope Pius XII.

Pope Pius XII witnesses "The Miracle of the Sun" while at the Vatican.

Becoming the first Pope to ever visit the United States of America and the Western hemisphere, Pope Paul VI arrives in New York.

Pope Paul VI arrives in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the first visit of a pope to Latin America.

Pope John Paul II first official visit to his native Poland, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.