Since the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church has formally required priests and bishops to be celibate. Celibacy is a practice and discipline, however, going back to the early Church, even if it were not absolutely required of all ordained previously. In this context, celibate is not synonymous with sexually abstinent; celibate means not married; it entails sexual abstinence because of a separate church doctrine requiring sexual abstinence outside of marriage. The discipline of celibacy is not considered one of the infallible immutable dogmas, but Catholic doctrine does say that virginity and celibacy, lived out as abstinence, are higher than marriage, following the Letters of Paul of Tarsus and confirmed by a dogma in the Council of Trent (see clerical celibacy). For example, in some cases a married Protestant minister or Anglican priest who becomes a Catholic may be ordained to the priesthood. In particular, present-day church law allows the College of Cardinals to elect a married man to the papacy. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, married men are routinely ordained to the priesthood, but not to the episcopate. According to the Gospels, Saint Peter was married. According to early Christian tradition, St. Peter founded the Christian community in Rome and became its bishop. Catholic Church redirects here. ... Clerical celibacy is the practice of various religious traditions in which clergy, monastics and those in religious orders (female or male) adopt a celibate life, refraining from marriage and sexual relationships, including masturbation and impure thoughts (such as sexual visualisation and fantasies). ... For other senses of this word, see dogma (disambiguation). ... Clerical celibacy is the practice of various religious traditions in which clergy, monastics and those in religious orders (female or male) adopt a celibate life, refraining from marriage and sexual relationships, including masturbation and impure thoughts (such as sexual visualisation and fantasies). ... The Sacred College of Cardinals is the body of all Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church established by Pope St. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... The Eastern Catholic Churches are autonomous particular Churches in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ... “St Peter” redirects here. ...

Some popes were sexually active before their election as pope; and it has sometimes been claimed that other Popes were sexually active during their papacies. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... This article is about sexual practices (i. ...

Periods in parentheses refer to the years of their papacies.

Allegedly and factually sexually active popes

There have been 254 popes. There are various classifications for those who were sexually active at some time during their life:

Popes required to be married by Jewish law

• Saint Peter, whose mother-in-law is mentioned in the bible as having been miraculously healed (Mat 8:15). Nothing is known of Peter's marital status during his apostleship.

“St Peter” redirects here. ...

Popes who are not considered sexually active during their papacy but were married or active prior to receiving Holy Orders

• Pope St. Hormisdas (514–523) was married and widowed before ordination. He was the father of Pope Silverius. ^[1]
• Pope Adrian II (867–872) was married, before taking orders, and had a daughter.^{[citation needed]}
• Pope John XVII (1003) was married before his election to the papacy and had three sons, who all became priests.^{[citation needed]}
• Pope Clement IV (1265–1268) was married, before taking holy orders, and had two daughters.^[2]
• Pope Pius II (1458–1464) had at least two illegitimate children (one in Strasbourg and another one in Scotland), born before he entered ecclesiestical state.^[3]
• Pope Innocent VIII (1484–1492) had at least two illegitimate children, born before he entered ecclesiestical state. ^[4]
• Pope Julius II (1503–1513) had at least one illegitimate daugheter, Felice (born in 1483, twenty years before his election). Some sources indicate that he has two additional illegitimate daughters, who died in their childhood.^[5]
• Pope Clement VII (1523–1534) was probably the father of Alessandro de' Medici (born in 1510, thirteen years before his election), whom he made Duke of Florence.^{[citation needed]}
• Pope Paul III (1534–1549) held off ordination in order to continue his promiscuous lifestyle, fathering four illegitimate children (three sons ands one daughter) by his mistress Silvia Rufina. He broke his relations with her ca. 1513 and there's no evidence of his sexual activity during his papacy. ^[6]
• Pope Pius IV (1559–1565) had three illegitimate children before his election to the papacy.^[7]
• Pope Gregory XIII (1572–1585) had an illegitimate son before he took holy orders. ^[8]

Pope Hormisdas was Pope from July 20, 514 to 523. ... Events Pope Symmachus (498-514) succeeded by Pope Hormisdas Rebellion in the Byzantine Empire, led by Vitalius Births Deaths Aelle of Sussex, king of Sussex, Bretwalda (approximate date) Categories: 514 ... { ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Catholic deacon... Silverius, Pope (536 - 537), was a legitimate son of Pope Hormisdas, born before his father entered the priesthood. ... Adrian II (also known as Hadrian II), (792–872), pope from 867 to 872, was a member of a noble Roman family, and became pope in 867, at an advanced age. ... September — Basil I becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... John XVII, né Sicco (died November 6, 1003), was a native of Rome who succeeded Silvester II as pope on June 13, 1003, but died less than five months later. ... Events Sweyn I of Denmark begins his first invasion of England. ... Pope Clement IV (Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, November 23, year uncertain – November 29, 1268 in Viterbo), born Gui Faucoi le Gros (English: Guy Foulques the Fat; Italian: Guido il Grosso), was elected Pope February 15, 1265, in a conclave held at Perugia that took four months, while cardinals argued over... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... Conradin (right) is executed by Charles I of Sicily, thus extinguishing the Hohenstaufen dynasty, in 1268. ... Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Latin Aeneas Sylvius), (October 18, 1405 – August 14, 1464) was Pope from 1458 until his death. ... Events January 24 - Matthias I Corvinus becomes king of Hungary Foundation of Magdalen College, University of Oxford George of Podebrady becomes king of Bohemia Pope Pius II becomes pope Turks sack the Acropolis Births February 15 - Ivan the Young, Ruler of Tver (d. ... Events February - Christian I of Denmark and Norway who was also serving as King of Sweden is declared deposed from the later throne. ... Pope Innocent VIII (1432 – July 25, 1492), born Giovanni Battista Cybo, was Pope from 1484 until his death. ... Year 1484 was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar). ... Also film, 1492: Conquest of Paradise. ... Pope Julius II (December 5, 1443 – February 21, 1513), born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513. ... Year 1503 (MDIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... 1513 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The São Tomé settlement is founded. ... For the antipope (1378–1394) see antipope Clement VII. Pope Clement VII (May 26, 1478 – September 25, 1534), born Giulio di Giuliano de Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534. ... Events April - Battle of Villalar - Forces loyal to Emperor Charles V defeat the Comuneros, a league of urban bourgeois rebelling against Charles in Spain. ... 1534 (MDXXXIV) was a common year in the 16th century. ... This article is on the first Duke of Florence. ... Year 1510 (MDX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Pope Paul III with his cardinal-nephew Alessandro Cardinal Farnese (left) and his other grandson (right), Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma Pope Paul III (February 29, 1468 – November 10, 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death 1549. ... 1534 (MDXXXIV) was a common year in the 16th century. ... Events July - Ketts Rebellion Francis Xavier arrives in Japan. ... Pius IV, né Giovanni Angelo Medici (March 31, 1499 – December 9, 1565), pope from 1559 to 1565, was born of humble parentage in Milan, unrelated with the Medicis of Florence. ... January 15 - Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. ... // Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded. ... Pope Gregory XIII (January 7, 1502 – April 10, 1585), born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. ... January 16 - Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried for treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England. ... 1585 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. ...

Popes who appear to be in contravention of their office

Along with other complaints, the activities of the popes between 1458 to 1565, helped to bring about the Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ...

• Pope Sergius III (904–911) was supposedly the father of Pope John XI by Marozia (Source: Liber Pontificalis, Liutprand of Cremona).^{[citation needed]}
• Pope John XII (955–963) (deposed by Conclave) was said to have turned the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano into a brothel and was accused of adultery, fornication, and incest (Source: Patrologia Latina).^[9]
• Pope Benedict IX (1032–1044, again in 1045 and finally 1047–1048) was said to have conducted very dissolute life during his papacy. ^[10]
• Pope Clement VI (1342–1352) according to contemporary writer Petrarch held dissolute life both before and after his election to the papacy. Countness of Turenne was ostensibly his main mistress.
• Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503) had a notably long affair with Vannozza dei Cattanei before his papacy, by whom he had his famous illegitimate children Cesare and Lucrezia. A later mistress, Giulia Farnese, was the sister of Alessandro Farnese, who later became Pope Paul III. For rumors of Alexander's sexual activity see Banquet of Chestnuts. He fathered a total of seven children.^{[citation needed]}
• Pope Julius III (1550–1555) was accused of having homosexual relations with his adoptive nephew Innocenzo Ciocchi del Monte whom he made a cardinal shortly after his election to the papacy. Some others claimed also that he was his father. None of this allegations, however, have been confirmed with certainity.

Pope Sergius III, scion of Benedictus, of a noble Roman family, reigned in two intervals between 897 and April 14, 911, during a period of feudal violence and disorder in central Italy, where the Papacy was a pawn of warring aristocratic factions. ... Events Accession of Sergius III Destruction of Changan, the capital of Tang Dynasty and the largest city in the ancient world. ... This article is about the year 911 A.D.. For the emergency telephone number, see 9-1-1. ... John XI (910?–936) was a pope from 931 to 936. ... Marozia also known as Mariuccia, given the unprecedented titles senatrix (senatoress) and patricia of Rome by Pope John X, was born about 890, and died, imprisoned by her son Alberic II, duke of Spoleto, between 932 and 937. ... The Book of the Popes or the Liber Pontificalis is a major source for early medieval history but was also met with intense critical scrutiny. ... Liutprand (Liudprand, Luitprand) (c. ... John XII (Rome, c. ... Events August 10 - Otto I the Great defeats Magyars in the Battle of Lechfeld Edwy becomes King of England. ... Events Holy Roman Emperor Otto I defeats Mieszko I of Poland, compels him to pay tribute Luxembourg is founded, and the Belgium area becomes part of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. ... The late Baroque façade of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano was completed by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 after winning a competition for the design. ... A brothel, also known as a bordello or whorehouse, is an establishment specifically dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. ... This article is about the act of adultery. ... Fornication, or simple fornication, is a term which refers to consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other[1]. In contrast adultery is consensual sex where one or both of the partners are married to someone else. ... Incest is defined as sexual intercourse between closely related persons. ... The Patrologia Latina is an enormous work published by Jacques-Paul Migne between 1844 and 1855, with indices published between 1862 and 1865. ... Benedict IX, né Theophylactus (Rome, c. ... Events February 2 - Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, becomes King of Burgundy. ... Events King Anawrahta seizes the throne of Pagan, Myanmar Births Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as The Cid (d. ... Events Emperor Go-Reizei ascends the throne of Japan. ... Events William the Conqueror, with assistance from King Henry I of France, secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes Births Deaths October 9 - Pope Clement II Categories: 1047 ... Events The city of Oslo is founded by Harald Hardråde of Norway. ... Clement VI, né Pierre Roger (1291 – December 6, 1352), the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was elected in May 1342, and reigned until his death. ... Events May - Pope Clement VI elected John III Comnenus becomes emperor of Trebizond Louis becomes king of Sicily and duke of Athens Constantine IV becomes king of Armenia Patriarch of Antioch transferred to Damascus under Ignatius II Kitzbühel becomes part of Tyrol Louis I becomes king of Hungary Births... Events June 4 - Glarus joins the Swiss Confederation. ... From the c. ... Pope Alexander VI (1 January 1431 – 18 August 1503), born Roderic Borja (Italian: Borgia), (reigned from 1492 to 1503), is the most controversial of the secular popes of the Renaissance and one whose surname became a byword for the debased standards of the papacy of that era. ... Also film, 1492: Conquest of Paradise. ... Year 1503 (MDIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Vannozza (Giovanna) dei Cattanei (1442 – November 24, 1518) was one of the many mistresses of the Pope Alexander VI, whose relationship lasted the longest. ... Cesare Borgia. ... This article is about the historical person. ... Giulia Farnese was one of the mistresses of the Pope Alexander VI. She was known as Giulia la bella, which in Italian means Giulia the Beautiful. Lorenzo Pucci described her as most lovely to behold. Cesare Borgia, the son of Alexander VI, described her as having dark colouring, black eyes... Pope Paul III with his cardinal-nephew Alessandro Cardinal Farnese (left) and his other grandson (right), Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma Pope Paul III (February 29, 1468 – November 10, 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death 1549. ... The Banquet of Chestnuts, known more properly as the Ballet of Chestnuts, refers to a fête in Rome, and particularly to a supper given by Don Cesare Borgia on October 30, 1501, an account of which is preserved in Johann Burchards Liber Notarum. ... Pope Julius III (September 10, 1487 – March 23, 1555), born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, was Pope from February 22, 1550 to 1555. ... Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ... Events Russia breaks 60 year old truce with Sweden by attacking Finland February 2 - Diet of Augsburg begins February 4 - John Rogers becomes first Protestant martyr in England February 9 - Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper is burned at the stake May 23 - Paul IV becomes Pope. ... Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte (1532 - 2 November 1577) was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, and a figure of notoriety in his age. ...

Popes who have been accused of being sexually active since the Counterreformation (1565)

There have been forty popes since 1565. None of them are known to have been sexually active during their papacy. The Counter-Reformation or the Catholic Reformation was a strong reaffirmation of the doctrine and structure of the Catholic Church, climaxing at the Council of Trent, partly in reaction to the growth of Protestantism. ...

See also

• Legends surrounding the papacy

The papacy has been surrounded by numerous legends. ...

Notes

References

• The Pope Encyclopedia: An A to Z of the Holy See , Matthew Bunson, Crown Trade Paperbacks, New York, 1995.
• The Papacy, Bernhard Schimmelpfennig, Columbia University Press, New York, 1984.
• Lives of the Popes, Richard P. McBrien, Harper Collins, San Francisco, 1997.
• Papal Genealogy, George L. Williams, McFarland& Co., Jefferson, North Carolina, 1998.
• Sex Lives of the Popes, Nigel Cawthorne, Prion, London, 1996.