The Resume

(1235-October 11, 1303)
Birth name is Benedetto Caetani
194th Pope of the Catholic Church (1294-1303)

Why he might be annoying:

He was a lawyer.
He encouraged Pope Celestine V to abdicate the papacy.
One of his first act was to then declare all of Pope Celestine's actions as invalid and order his arrest.
He pushed papal authority to its extreme when he declared: 'It is necessary for salvation that every living creature be under submission to the Roman pontiff.'
He saw himself as the ruler of the world.
He used his spiritual authority to increase the standing of his family in Rome.
He ordered the absolute destruction of the city of Palestrina, killing 6,000 citizens and salting the earth where it stood.
He threw his political rivals to the mob by excommunicating them.
Dante included him in 'Divine Comedy' (he made the eighth circle of Hell).
There is strong evidence that he did not believe in God.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was kidnapped by agents of Philip IV, but released when he refused to abdicate.
He possessed a brilliant legal mind.
He was one of the most powerful popes in the history of the Catholic Church.
He said: 'The dead will rise just as little as my horse which died yesterday.'
He said: 'Sex and the satisfaction of natural drives is as little a sin as hand washing.'
As a result of his kidnapping, he died a paranoid and broken man.

Credit: Captain Howdy

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Body Part Names
• Captain Howdy's Profiles [Series 5]
• Criminals
• Dante Saw Me in Hell (Ranked: 8)
• Dictator's Club
• I am an Atheist
• I Died in Debt
• I Made a Biased Comment in Public [Some Alleged]
• I was Kidnapped
• Look at Me, I'm Postage
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Crown
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Look at My Bling Bling
• Medieval Times
• Number Names (Ranked: 8)
• Popes
• Profiles 18501-18750 (Ranked: 18565)
• Supersized Egos
• Time Magazine's 10 Most Controversial Popes (Ranked: 6)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 163 Votes: 47.85% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 32 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 211 Votes: 51.18% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 145 Votes: 47.59% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 27 Votes: 51.85% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 74 Votes: 47.30% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 87 Votes: 47.13% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 167 Votes: 46.71% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 130 Votes: 41.54% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 67 Votes: 34.33% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 102 Votes: 67.65% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 220 Votes: 48.18% Annoying