This is a list of sexually active popes, list of priests who were sexually active before becoming pope and popes who were legally married, and who belonged to the Catholic Church. Some candidates were sexually active before their election as pope, and it has sometimes been claimed that other Popes were sexually active during their papacies. Since such relationships were sometimes undertaken outside of the bonds of matrimony, and because sometimes the Pope was under a vow of celibacy, the Catholic Church considers these to be grave abuses and causes of scandal. However, it believes it does not undermine the Catholic doctrines considering the authority and succession of the Papacy from Saint Peter the Apostle.
According to standard lists, there have been 265 popes; there are various classifications for those who were sexually active at some time during their lives. Periods in parentheses refer to the years of their papacies. There have been thirty-nine popes since 1585. None of them is known to have been sexually active during his papacy.
Read more about List Of Sexually Active Popes: Background
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