From the Chaplain

Bl. Pope Innocent V

From the Chaplain

Some of you may know that the current pope, Pope Francis, is a member of the Society of Jesus, that is, a Jesuit. In fact, besides being the first pope from the southern hemisphere, the first from the Americas, and even the first non-European pope since 741 AD, he is the first Jesuit pope. The Jesuits were founded in 1540 by St Ignatius and, until Pope Francis, had avoided having a member elected pope.

 

Of the 266 popes in the history of the Church, just 34 belonged to a religious order before they were made pope (technically, before they were made a bishop, as one is no longer under the authority of a religious order after becoming a bishop). Of these 34 ‘religious’ popes, 17 were Benedictines, six Augustinians, four Franciscans, two Cistercians, one Jesuit and, you guessed the remaining order, four Dominicans!

 

The four Dominican popes have been Benedict XIII (1724 – 1730), St Pius V (1566 – 1572), Blessed Benedict XI (1303-1304), and Blessed Innocent V (1276). This Friday, 22 June, is the feast day of Bl. Innocent V.

 

Peter of Tarantaise, later Pope Innocent V, was born in about 1225 and joined the Dominican Order at about the age of 16. He was a very bright student, and so was sent to study at St James’ Priory in Paris, which was a natural stepping stone for someone going on to study at the great University of Paris. Not only was he a very bright student, but he also gained a reputation as a great preacher.

 

He became a professor at the University of Paris in 1259, and during that year also attended a General Chapter of the Dominican Order. During this chapter, he worked with St Thomas Aquinas and St Albert the Great to develop what was called a ratio studiorum, or ‘program of studies’ for the students in the Dominican Order. This approach to study became characteristic of the Dominican Order and resulted in the great scholastic tradition which has been so important in the intellectual life of the Church up to the present day.

 

Later Peter was named Archbishop of Lyon, and then cardinal, and took part in the Second Council of Lyon. It was while travelling to this council that St Thomas Aquinas died in 1274. This council was of immense historical importance because it sought to reconcile the Great Schism of 1054 which had taken place between the Eastern and Western Churches of Christianity. Although a union was agreed upon between the powers-that-be of both sides, the agreement was eventually repudiated by later Byzantine leaders.

 

In January 1276, Peter was unanimously elected pope, the first Dominican to become pope, and took the name ‘Innocent’, the fifth pope to do so, and so became known as Pope Innocent V. He worked enthusiastically during his pontificate to maintain good relations with the Churches of the East and strengthen the agreement which had been reached at the Second Council of Lyon. Unfortunately, he died after five months as pope on 22 June 1276. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1898 on account of his holiness of life. The image above is a representation of Pope Innocent V by Bl. Fr Angelico. Bl. Innocent V – pray for us.

 

Fr Matthew Boland OP

CHAPLAIN