From extreme weather to scientific advancements
Besides engaging in the rather peculiar pastime of observing equine copulation for amusement, this Pope also gained notoriety when he was linked to an event in 1501 titled the Banquet of Chestnuts.
According to historian Tony Perrotet, it is reported that he managed to convince 50 women to undress, and afterward, chestnuts were tossed onto the ground, 'forcing the women to grovel around their feet like swine.'
Pope Alexander VI is said to have added excitement to the party by supposedly offering rewards to the individual who engaged in the most intimate encounters with women.
The Crusades spanned from 1095 to 1291, with the initial aim of capturing Jerusalem from Islamic control, resulting into a 300-year-long violent conflict.
Pope Boniface VIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1294 to 1303, had a questionable reputation. Various accounts suggest that he engaged in inappropriate behavior with multiple women and children, leading to posthumous accusations of heresy and sodomy.
He is even portrayed in Dante's 'Inferno' as deserving a place in hell. Additionally, he destroyed the entire city of Palestrina, resulting in the deaths of approximately 6,000 individuals.
Written in 1487, the book 'Malleus Maleficarum' (also known as 'Hammer of Witches') emerged after Pope Innocent VIII's declaration affirming the existence of witches. This declaration marked the start of a dark era in which countless women were unjustly persecuted and put to death under suspicions of witchcraft. The number of casualties from this era is estimated to be between 40,000 and 50,000, primarily consisting of women; however, it is widely believed that the actual number may be significantly higher, considering not all executions were carried out in public.
The violence initiated by the publication endured over many years, evidenced by notable incidents like the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Historical records suggest that the final documented execution occurred in Poland in 1793. Nonetheless, witch hunts persist today in certain regions, especially various African nations.
The Catholic military order, established in 1118, played a crucial role in both the Crusades and serving the Church. However, King Philip IV of France exerted pressure on the Church to remove them due to his outstanding debts to the order.
In 1307, Pope Clement V initiated the persecution of the Templars. By 1312, an adequate number of heresy confessions were obtained, resulting in the dissolution of the order, followed by the execution of several members through burning.
Joan of Arc was known for her military endeavors against the English, yet she faced persecution by the Catholic Church due to her attire choices.
The Church eventually tried the 19-year-old for over 70 offenses, one of which was the act of wearing men's clothes. In 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, but a few years later, she was recognized as a martyr and in 1920, the Church that had condemned her canonized her.
Pope Pius XII has long been criticized for disregarding eyewitness accounts of Nazi-perpetrated mass executions targeting Jewish individuals.
New evidence discovered in 2020 by the Vatican suggests that in September 1942, the pope's assistant received a report witnessing the persecution of Jews in Warsaw, despite conflicting claims.
The Church executed the English scholar by burning him at the stake for his translation of the Bible into English, enabling widespread accessibility.
The Catholic Church opposed the distribution of a vernacular Bible to lay people, leading to the burning of both Tyndale and his book copies.
A contributor to Protestantism, Wycliffe believed the Catholic Church should give up its possessions. He too was involved in the first English translation of the Bible.
In 1415, 31 years after his passing, Wycliffe was labeled as a heretic. His writings were incinerated during a 12-year span, followed by the cremation of his exhumed remains.
Galileo Galilei proposed that the Earth orbits the sun and that the star is the focal point of the universe. He was accused of heresy, renounced his ideas, and remained incarcerated until his passing.
Jan Hus, a Czech theologian and philosopher, believed that the Church was flawed due to its human leaders. However, his ideas didn't sit well with the Catholic Church. Consequently, in 1415, Hus was apprehended, charged with heresy, and ultimately executed by burning at the stake.
The idea of indulgence has existed in the Church for quite some time. However, it begs the question: what does it truly entail? “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.”
During the reign of Pope Leo X (1513-1521), it was customary for individuals to offer payment in exchange for the absolution of their sins. In more extreme cases, some even sold indulgences for sins yet to be committed, contributing to Martin Luther's motivation to initiate the Protestant Reformation.
For many years, numerous cases of abuse, including of minors, have been covered up by the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis publicly admitted and expressed his opposition to abusers in the Church only in 2019.
Although not known for its strong Catholic presence, the US alone has reportedly endured around 17,200 victims, as indicated by a report in 2011.
Sources: (Ranker) (The Wall Street Journal) (NBC) (The Smart Set)
See also: The world's quirkiest churches
In August 1942, Ukrainian Archbishop Andrzej Szeptycki informed the Vatican that Jews in the Lvov ghetto were facing persecution, a month prior.
The Crusades persecuted not only Muslims but also Jewish individuals, who suffered from forced conversions and murders.
Approximately 1.7 million individuals perished during this ill-fated endeavor, comprising not solely Muslims but also other casualties devoted to the Catholic Church. It is thought that a mere one in 20 Crusaders lived to witness Jerusalem's sight.
Over the years, numerous religious scandals have occurred, and this is especially evident within the Catholic Church, the largest Christian church in the world. Although many of these scandals only came to light in recent decades, the Church has a long and contentious history dating back centuries.
Take a look at the gallery below to explore and gain knowledge about the various scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church.
Secrets the Catholic Church tried to hide
Delving into the dark history of the Catholic Church
LIFESTYLE Religion
Over the years, numerous religious scandals have occurred, and this is especially evident within the Catholic Church, the largest Christian church in the world. Although many of these scandals only came to light in recent decades, the Church has a long and contentious history dating back centuries.
Take a look at the gallery below to explore and gain knowledge about the various scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church.