Benedict was the first pope to resign since Celestine V in 1294 voluntarily. Who does the pope's job before a new pope is elected? The work a pope does, such as appointing bishops, announcing new ...

beginning with Celestine II up to the Church's current leader. One passage, attributed to Pope Sixtus V, reads: “Axle in the midst of a sign”. Pope Sixtus’ tenure began 442 years after the ...