Some surprising Papal firsts

John Freund, CM
January 21, 2013

Who was the first pope to

  • appear on film:
    • Leo XIII, [1878 – 1903] in 1896.
  • make a radio broadcast:
    • Pius XI, [1922 – 1939] c. 1931.
  • have a ‘full-length’ movie made about him:
    • Pius XII, [1939 – 1958], in 1942 the movie called ‘Pastor Angelus‘ (angelic shepard) per the Malachyprophecy for that papacy.
  • speak on TV:
    • Pius XII, [1939 – 1958].
  • allow TV cameras into the Vatican:
    •  John XXIII, 1961 to film a day in the life of  John XXIII
  • fly in an airplane (when pope):
    • Paul VI, [1963 – 1978].
  • use the Internet:
    • John Paul II , [1978-2005]
  • do a question-and-answer (Q&A) on TV:
    • Benedict XVI, [2005 ->] on Good Friday, April 23, 2011
  • make a call to space (at least to talk with other humans):
    • Benedict XVI, [2005 ->] on May 4, 2011 to two Italian astronauts on the International Space Station.

How many could you identify?

Visit the Popes and Papacy web page for more background on these events.


Papal firsts in media

 


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