283 A.D.
Election of Pope Saint Caius, 28th successor of Peter. This Dalmatian-born Pope's uncle was the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Despite this he would still die a martyr on April 22, 296. His thirteen year pontificate would be significant for him decreeing that no one should be ordained bishop until he had passed through the orders of tonsure, porter, lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon, deacon and priesthood.
693 A.D.
Death of Saint Begga who married Ansegilius,the son of Saint Arnulf. By the couple they had a son named Pepin who would be the founder of the Carolingian dynasty of rulers of France. She died in the church and convetn she had built at Andenne on the Meuse River.
779 A.D.
Death of Saint Sturmi, monastery founder and religious who is known as the "Apostle of the Saxons." He was the first abbot appointed by Saint Boniface at Fulda. He became the first German to be a Benedictine priest and was befriended by Charlemagne the Great. He was canonized in 1139 by Pope Innocent II.
1187 A.D.
Death of Pope Gregory VIII, 173rd successor of Peter, at the age of 77. Born in Benevento, Italy around 1110, he was elected on October 25th and his papacy lasted less than two months. He was highly thought of by German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and would without doubt have succeeded in solving the grave disagreements between the Church and the Empire had his pontificate been longer. He assisted in every way the Christians in the Holy Land.
1213 A.D.
Death of Saint John de Matha, French hermit and founder of the Trinitarians, the Order of athe Most Holy Trinity which received papal approval in 1197 from Pope Innocent III. The Order was established to ransom Christian prisoners and hostages of the Saracens which John did, dispatching many of his missionaries to North Africa and throughout France, England, Spain and Italy.
1526 A.D.
Pope Clemens VII publishes his decree Cum ad zero which officially announces the formation of the Roman Inquisition in an attempt to stop the rebellion and heresies by those breaking away from the Church in droves in what would be called the Protestant Reformation.
1538 A.D.
Pope Paul III formally excommunicates King Henry VIII of England. Once hailed as "Defender of the Faith" he is now handed the bell, book and candle and he doesn't handle it well as the selfish, egotistical king seeks to usurp all Catholic property in England and make all clerics subject to him rather than the Pope.