Pope Pius XII 

One terrible Pius was not enough for this world to handle. Pope Pius XII took power, leading the Vatican shortly after his predecessor Pius IX, the pope who gave orders to assassinate Lincoln.

It is crucial to examine the time period when Pius XII was in charge – from 1939 to 1958. If anyone wonders where exactly Hitler got the idea to exterminate millions of Jews between 1939 and 1945, they need look no further than Pius XII. Pope Pius XII personally gave Hitler detailed instructions on how to systematically eliminate non-Catholic minorities throughout Europe and how to build death camps for the purpose of their murder.

Pope Julius III

 

Julius III was a rare pope of the 1500s, having gained power through intrigue and murder. At that time, the position of pope was only accessible to the wealthiest and most powerful families in Italy, similar to the presidency of the United States today. Compared to these families, Julius III was considered a war hero among cardinals.

Decades before becoming pope, Julius had been traded as a hostage by Pope Clement VII to Emperor Charles V during the sacking of Rome. He was saved from death by Cardinal Pompeo Colonna, an enemy of Clement VII and a rogue commando cardinal.

After being elected pope, Julius III used the papal funds to renovate his mansion in Rome, the Villa Giula, which became his full-time residence. He personally oversaw the construction, hiring the best, including Michelangelo, and showed little interest in the duties of being a pope.

In addition to looting the Catholic treasury for his personal gain, Julius III was known for his relationships with younger men, engaging in sexual activities with them, which earned him a notorious reputation.

Pope Innocent III 

During his papacy from 1198-1216, this pope is said to have played a role in the murder of more than one million people. He gathered military support for the Inquisition after excommunicating Philip II of France and imposed an injunction on both France and England, exercising his granted power of punishment.

Innocent also initiated the Fourth Crusade, which became focused on Constantinople. Although the pope excommunicated the Crusaders who attacked Christian cities, he did not intervene or condemn their actions, as he believed that the presence of Latin forces would lead to a reconciliation between the Eastern and Western Churches. Additionally, Innocent ordered a crusade against the Albigenses, which effectively suppressed the Cathar heresy in France, but at a significant cost in terms of lives lost.

Pope Alexander VI 

Pope Alexander VI was believed to have a reserved place in Hell. It was rumored that on Halloween night in 1501, he orchestrated and participated in a notorious orgy, which is considered the worst in Vatican history. While some may forgive his involvement with promiscuous women, despite being unwed and committed to a life of celibacy and devotion to God, his other abhorrent actions would be condemned by any member of our modern civilized society. Alexander VI engaged in regular sexual relations with his two sisters and his daughter, a crime of incest that solidifies his status as one of the most wicked popes to have ever lived on this planet.

Pope Pius IX 

It should be noted that Pius IX, who served as Pope for 33 years, resided in the Vatican. It is also important to mention that there was a direct connection between his constant plotting and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The funding and mission plan for the assassination originated from the papal office and ended up in the hands of John Wilkes Booth, who fatally shot Lincoln on April 15th, 1865, at the Ford Theater in Washington D.C. Despite criticisms, it can be argued that Lincoln's death was carried out under the orders of the Roman Catholic Church.

The motive behind assassinating Lincoln was rooted in a disagreement between Pope Pius IX and Lincoln regarding the issue of slavery. The Pope believed that it was not against divine law for slaves to be bought, sold, or exchanged.

Pope John XXIII 

Do not mistake this Pope for the one who rose to power in the 20th century. This particular Pope is considered one of the most wicked individuals to have ever existed. The true extent of his crimes remains unclear, and the true nature of his evil is largely misunderstood. This individual, if he can even be called that, committed nearly every imaginable monstrous act. Thirty-seven members of the clergy witnessed and testified against him, accusing him of fornication, adultery, incest, sodomy, simony, theft, and, most notably, murder. There is only one destination fitting for him, and that is hell.

Pope Damascus I 

During Damascus's reign, the Church engaged in the abhorrent practice of trafficking women and children for sexual slavery in order to generate funds. Those who dared to oppose his tyrannical rule were subjected to torture and burned alive, while their lands were seized by the Church. Even female priests and nuns were forced into prostitution under his regime.

Despite the strong disapproval of forty-four bishops towards Pope Damascus I's actions, he managed to evade conviction for the crimes he was accused of. Shockingly, after the charges were brought against him, all forty-four bishops were mercilessly murdered under the Pope's direct orders. Additionally, Damascus I was the first Pope to assert that the papacy held supreme authority from God, using the Petrine text in the book of Matthew as justification for his claims.

Pope Leo X 

Pope Leo X, often associated with Martin Luther and the disorder of the Protestant Reformation, is renowned for being one of the most extravagant and uncontrollable spenders to have ever led the Christian church.

Originally named Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici, Leo came from a powerful family and received early favors that helped him ascend to the papal throne at the young age of 37. While he deserves recognition for his support of the arts, education, and charity, Leo's obsession with money and political advancement quickly depleted the church's treasury. His financial instability became so severe that he resorted to pawning furniture, jewels, and statues from the palace, as well as borrowing large sums of money from creditors who were left bankrupt when the Pope passed away.

In addition to his lavish lifestyle, Leo practiced nepotism, infamously using the sale of indulgences to fund the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica. He was even accused of homosexuality, with some sources claiming that he died in bed while engaging in sexual activity with a young person. While the truth of this accusation remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Leo allowed his love for luxury to overpower him.

Pope Nicholas III 

Being the Pope of millions of followers is always a great position to hold. However, during Nicholas III's reign from 1277 to 1280, it might have been even more advantageous to be his brother, uncle, or cousin. Nicholas III allocated the principalities in the Papal States to his family members, granting them both land and political influence. This act of nepotism ultimately resulted in his condemnation to Dante's eighth circle of Hell.

 Pope Benedict IX 

This pope is included in this list due to his involvement in public murders and adulteries, as well as his notorious reputation for robbing pilgrims of their money. Consequently, the people of Rome expelled him from the city. The Catholic encyclopedia describes him as a complete disgrace to his position.