On This Day

Constantine begins his reign as Catholic Pope

The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff.

The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of state of the Papal States, and since 1929 of the much smaller Vatican City State. From a Catholic viewpoint, the primacy of the bishop of Rome is largely derived from his role as the apostolic successor to Saint Peter, to whom primacy was conferred by Jesus, who gave Peter the Keys of Heaven and the powers of "binding and loosing", naming him as the "rock" upon which the Church would be built.

Historical Significance

The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.

Events Before

  1. Military triumph of Wak Jalam Chan (Lady Six Sky), female ruler of the Maya city of Sa’aal (Naranjo) as depicted on Stel

    Military triumph of Wak Jalam Chan (Lady Six Sky), female ruler of the Maya city of Sa’aal (Naranjo) as depicted on Stela 24 Naranjo [1]

  2. John VII begins his reign as Catholic Pope

    John VII begins his reign as Catholic Pope

  3. Greek pope John VII chosen as successor to John VI

    Greek pope John VII chosen as successor to John VI

  4. Remains of Chinese Emperor Gaozong, his wife Empress Wu Zetian and family members interred in Qianling Mausoleum by Empe

    Remains of Chinese Emperor Gaozong, his wife Empress Wu Zetian and family members interred in Qianling Mausoleum by Emperor Zhongzong, outside Chang'an on Mount Liangshan

  5. John VII ends his reign as Catholic Pope

    Pope John VII (Latin: Ioannes VII; c. 650 – 18 October 707) was the bishop of Rome from 1 March 705 to his death on 18 October 707.

Events After

  1. Saracens invade Sardinia

    Sardinia, officially the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, and one of the twenty regions of Italy.

  2. Islamic conquest of Iberia: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberi

    Islamic conquest of Iberia: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus)

  3. Berbers under Tarik-ibn Ziyad occupy North Spain

    Berbers under Tarik-ibn Ziyad occupy North Spain

  4. Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic

    The Umayyad Caliphate destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century.

  5. Catholic Pope Constantine dies after seven years in office

    Catholic Pope Constantine dies after seven years in office

More from the 700s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on March 25, 708?
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of state of the Papal States, and since 1929 of the much smaller Vatican City State.
Why is Constantine begins his reign as Catholic Pope significant?
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.

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