September 16 has been an important day in Catholic history. On this date, Church councils ended, popes died, new dioceses were created, saints were honoured, and popes carried out important missions around the world.
Some of these events happened more than 1,000 years ago. Others happened in our own time. Together, they show how the Catholic Church has continued its mission through many different periods of history.
Here are 10 memorable and important events that happened on September 16 in Catholic Church history.
1. September 16, 655 – Pope St. Martin I Dies in Exile
Pope St. Martin I died on September 16, 655, while living in exile far away from Rome. He had strongly defended Catholic teaching about Jesus Christ during a serious disagreement in the Church.
Because he refused to accept teachings that he believed were wrong, Emperor Constans II had him arrested and taken from Rome.
Martin suffered greatly and was finally sent into exile at Cherson, in the area of modern Crimea. He died there. The Catholic Church remembers him as both a pope and a martyr because he suffered for defending the faith. His courage made him an important figure in early Church history.
2. September 16, 681 – The Third Council of Constantinople Comes to an End
On September 16, 681, an important Church council known as the Third Council of Constantinople ended after many months of meetings.
It is recognized by the Catholic Church as the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Bishops had gathered to settle a serious argument about Jesus Christ.
Some people taught that Jesus had only one will. The council taught that Jesus is truly God and truly man and therefore has both a divine will and a human will, perfectly united.
The council held 18 sessions, and 174 bishops or their representatives signed its final teaching. This helped protect the Church’s understanding of who Jesus truly is.
3. September 16, 1087 – Blessed Pope Victor III Dies
Blessed Pope Victor III died on September 16, 1087. Before becoming pope, he was known as Desiderius and was the abbot of the famous monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy.
He had spent much of his life as a monk and did not really want to become pope. Church leaders, however, strongly encouraged him to accept the responsibility.
His time as pope was very short and difficult because there were serious political and Church conflicts at the time. His health was also poor.
Before his death, he returned to Monte Cassino, the monastery he deeply loved. The Catholic Church honours him as Blessed Victor III.
4. September 16, 1498 – Tomás de Torquemada Dies in Spain
Tomás de Torquemada died on September 16, 1498, in Ávila, Spain. He was a Dominican friar and became the first Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition.
The Inquisition was created to investigate people accused of rejecting or secretly acting against the Catholic faith. Torquemada became one of its most powerful leaders, and his name remains closely connected with this difficult and controversial period of Church and Spanish history.
Many people suffered under the Inquisition, and historians continue to study and debate this period. His death on September 16 therefore marks an important moment for understanding both Catholic history and the dangers that can arise when religion and political power become closely joined.
5. September 16, 1810 – Catholic Priest Miguel Hidalgo Begins the Mexican Fight for Independence
Early on September 16, 1810, Catholic priest Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bell in the town of Dolores in Mexico and called people to rise against Spanish rule.
His call became known as the Grito de Dolores, or “Cry of Dolores.” It marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence.
Hidalgo’s followers also used an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe as an important symbol. The struggle continued for years before Mexico finally became independent.
Today, September 16 is celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day. This event is also important in Catholic history because a Catholic priest played a leading role in one of Latin America’s greatest political changes.
6. September 16, 1864 – Pope Pius IX Creates the Diocese of Gozo
On September 16, 1864, Blessed Pope Pius IX officially created the Diocese of Gozo and Comino through a papal document called Singulari Amore, meaning “With Remarkable Love.”
Before this, the islands of Gozo and Comino had been part of the Diocese of Malta. Catholics in Gozo had wanted their own diocese for many years.
Pope Pius IX finally accepted their request. The main church of Gozo, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, became the cathedral of the new diocese.
This was a very important development for Catholics living on the islands because they now had their own bishop and Church administration.
7. September 16, 1995 – Pope John Paul II Arrives in a New South Africa
On September 16, 1995, Pope St. John Paul II arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, during an important visit to Africa. President Nelson Mandela welcomed him.
This visit was especially important because South Africa had recently ended apartheid, the system that had separated people according to race.
The Pope praised the country’s movement toward reconciliation and encouraged South Africans to continue building peace and unity.
He was also bringing the message of the African Synod to Catholics on the continent. His visit showed the Church’s support for human dignity, forgiveness and peaceful rebuilding after many years of division. It became an important moment for Catholics in post-apartheid South Africa.
8. September 16, 2007 – Father Stanislaus Papczyński Is Beatified
On September 16, 2007, Father Stanislaus Papczyński was beatified at the Shrine of Our Lady of Licheń in Poland. Beatification is an important step by which the Catholic Church officially recognizes a person as “Blessed.”
Father Papczyński was a Polish priest who founded the Congregation of Marian Fathers. He was known for preaching, teaching ordinary people about the faith, helping the poor and praying for the dead.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone carried out the beatification in the name of Pope Benedict XVI. Thousands of Catholics gathered for the celebration.
The event gave special joy to the Marian Fathers and to Catholics in Poland who had honoured Father Papczyński for generations.
9. September 16, 2010 – Pope Benedict XVI Begins His Historic Visit to the United Kingdom
On September 16, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Edinburgh and began his four-day apostolic journey to the United Kingdom.
Queen Elizabeth II welcomed him at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. Later that day, the Pope travelled to Glasgow and celebrated Mass at Bellahouston Park with thousands of Catholics.
His visit was important because Britain has a long and sometimes painful history of division between Catholics and Protestants. Benedict spoke about Britain’s Christian roots and encouraged Christians to work together.
The journey later included the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, making it one of the most important events of Benedict XVI’s papacy in Britain.
10. September 16, 2012 – Pope Benedict XVI Gives an Important Message to Christians in the Middle East
On September 16, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Beirut, Lebanon, during his visit to the Middle East. During the celebration, he presented a major Church document called Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, meaning “The Church in the Middle East.”
The document came from discussions held by bishops about the lives and problems facing Christians in the region. Benedict encouraged Christians to remain faithful, work for peace and live respectfully with people of other religions.
He also appealed for peace in Syria and other troubled areas. His visit came at a difficult time in the Middle East and encouraged Christian communities living there.
Catholic Celebration of the Day – Saints Cornelius and Cyprian
September 16 is also the Catholic Church’s Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr.
St. Cornelius became Pope in the year 251 AD. One of the biggest problems he faced was what to do with Christians who had denied their faith during persecution but later wanted to return to the Church. Cornelius supported forgiveness for people who were truly sorry.
St. Cyprian was the Bishop of Carthage in North Africa. He supported Cornelius and strongly defended the unity of the Church.
September 16 is their feast day, but it is not the date on which both saints died. St. Cornelius died in 253, while St. Cyprian was martyred on September 14, 258.
What Can We Learn From September 16?
September 16 teaches us that the history of the Catholic Church is not only about buildings, popes and dates. It is a history of people making difficult decisions about faith, leadership, truth, peace and human dignity.
Pope St. Martin I shows us the courage to stand for what we believe is true. The Third Council of Constantinople reminds us that the Church sometimes has to work very hard to explain its beliefs clearly. Saints Cornelius and Cyprian show us the importance of forgiveness and unity.
And the more recent papal visits remind us that the Church is called to encourage peace, reconciliation and hope wherever people are divided.
The message of September 16 is simple: remain faithful to God, seek truth, forgive others and work for peace.
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