An image of "The Pilgrims Meet the Pope", created by Vittore Carpaccio, c. 1492 (Tempera on canvas, 281 x 307 cm).

Portrait of Pope Julius II by Raphael. The website includes a very short description of Pope Julius II's accomplishments as pope and information on the portrait. Thumbnail can be enlarged for viewing purposes.

Comprehensive learning module on Renaissance and Reformation explores its evolution, culture, contirbutions and conflict. Complete set of multi-media course resources.

This site contains a wealth of information on Pope John Paul II. It contains links to his writings and speeches, and to articles and stories written on the pope.

A letter/Encyclical from Pope Gregory XVI to the Catholic leadership of Poland condemning their revolutionary uprising and asking them to submit to their monarch.

This site provides a biography of Alexander Pope including detailed information about Pope's life and literary career. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia" is a historic reference source and should be viewed in the context of...

A profile of Pope Benedict XVI, who was elevated to the papacy on April 19, 2005, is provided. The profile comments on Benedict's conservative leanings and on his aspirations of uniting the Catholic Church under his uncompromising...

Brief article reports that a papal medal commemorating Pope Francis' first year has been withdrawn after a spelling mistake on the medal was discovered.

An unofficial posting of news articles about the views of Pope Benedict, written before his election to the papacy, when he was known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Articles are gleaned from sources around the world, principally from...

A brief report on the life of Pope Urban II.

Three of the famous satirist's poems are included here in full text, along with a brief biographical sketch and a recommended book for further reading.

This site gives a brief overview of Alexander Pope's life. It includes links to two pictures of him--one as a child and one as an adult.

Text of the short story "The Little Frenchman and His Water Lots" by American author George Pope Morris. (Free site registration offers some additional features, e.g., the ability to insert annotations.)

This site provides a short definition of the term Heroic Couplet along with a short example from a piece of poetry by Pope.

This site gives a brief history of how the city of Florence came to be.

At this site from the MIT Program you can read how Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker, or Madame C.J. Walker, and Marjorie Joyner "founded beauty schools for blacks" and changed the lives of African-Americans.

A description of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus' appeal for aid from the West against the threatening Turks.

An in-depth overview of the major events of the First Crusade.

Text of an extensive interview with Pope Francis which took place about six months after his election to the Papacy in 2013. The interviewer was representing several notable Jesuit journals.

An audio slideshow of the burial of John Paul II and the lead-up to the election of a new pope. Includes slides of the heads of state in attendance at the funeral, of the crowd, of the ceremony, and of the security measures. The business...

This site from Fardham University gives information on The "Crusade". Many of the characteristics of the Crusade - the vow, taking the cross, etc. - evolved over time. This selection of texts shows the evolution of the religious legal...

Scroll down to the Guides for Selected Titles to find a wealth of information on a variety of titles for adults and teens. Each entry, though they come from different sources, includes book discussion questions and some background about...

A drawing of Pope Pius IX. He was the pope from June 16, 1846 until February 7, 1878. Pope Pius IX is known as the longest reigning pope in church history.

Pope Saint Gregory VII (c. 1020/1025 - May 25, 1085), born Hildebrand of Soana (Italian: Ildebrando di Soana), was pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he...