September 20 has witnessed some very important moments in the history of the Catholic Church. On this date, a serious division began in the medieval Church; the Pope lost control of Rome as a political territory; Padre Pio experienced the event that made him famous around the world; saints died; popes travelled on important missions; and religious leaders gathered to pray for peace.
September 20 is also the day when the Church remembers the Korean Martyrs, including St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang.
Here are 10 memorable and important events connected with Catholic Church history on September 20.
1. September 20, 536 – Pope St. Agapetus I Is Laid to Rest in Rome
Pope St. Agapetus I died in Constantinople on April 22, 536, while carrying out an important Church mission. His body was later taken back to Rome in a lead coffin.
On September 20, his remains were placed in St. Peter’s Basilica. Agapetus had been pope for less than one year, but his short papacy was important.
While in Constantinople, he became involved in a serious disagreement concerning Christian teaching and removed Patriarch Anthimus from office.
He also personally consecrated Mennas as the new Patriarch of Constantinople. The Church later honoured Agapetus as a saint.
2. September 20, 1378 – The Western Schism Begins
One of the most painful divisions in Catholic history began on September 20, 1378. Earlier that year, Pope Urban VIhad been elected in Rome.
However, a group of cardinals later rejected his election. They met at Fondi and elected Robert of Geneva, who took the name Clement VII.
He is now counted as an antipope. Europe became divided between supporters of the pope in Rome and supporters of the rival claimant, who eventually lived in Avignon, France.
The crisis became known as the Western Schism and lasted for almost 40 years before Church unity was restored.
3. September 20, 1870 – Italian Troops Enter Rome, and the Papal States Come to an End
On September 20, 1870, troops of the Kingdom of Italy entered Rome after breaking through the city’s wall near Porta Pia. The event effectively ended the old Papal States, large areas of central Italy that popes had governed for many centuries.
Pope Pius IX then considered himself a prisoner in the Vatican and rejected the new political arrangement. The disagreement between the Holy See and Italy continued for many years.
It was finally settled by the Lateran Pacts of 1929, which recognised Vatican City as an independent state. September 20 therefore marked a major change in the relationship between the papacy and political government.
4. September 20, 1904 – St. José María de Yermo y Parres Dies
St. José María de Yermo y Parres died in Puebla, Mexico, on September 20, 1904. He was a Catholic priest who dedicated much of his life to helping poor and abandoned people.
He founded schools, hospitals, homes for elderly people and orphanages. He also founded the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor.
Even when he faced illness and many difficulties, he continued caring for people who had very little help from society. Pope John Paul II beatified him in Mexico in 1990 and declared him a saint in Rome in 2000. His feast is celebrated on September 20.
5. September 20, 1918 – Padre Pio Experiences the Visible Stigmata
On September 20, 1918, the Capuchin friar Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was praying after celebrating Mass at San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy.
According to his own account and Capuchin records, marks resembling the wounds of the crucified Jesus appeared on his hands, feet and side.
These marks are called the stigmata. They remained associated with Padre Pio for many years and attracted enormous attention.
Thousands of people later travelled to meet him, attend his Masses or go to confession to him. Padre Pio died in 1968 and was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
6. September 20, 1995 – Pope John Paul II Ends His African Journey in Kenya
On September 20, 1995, Pope St. John Paul II left Kenya from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, ending an important journey through Africa.
The trip had taken him to Cameroon, South Africa and Kenya. In Kenya, he had celebrated Mass and met bishops taking part in the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.
During his farewell, the Pope thanked Kenyans for their welcome. He encouraged Christians and Muslims to continue building friendship and mutual respect and called people of different backgrounds to work together for the good of society.
His departure ended an important papal pilgrimage focused on the Catholic Church in Africa.
7. September 20, 1998 – Pope John Paul II Beatifies Giuseppe Tovini
On September 20, 1998, Pope St. John Paul II declared Giuseppe Tovini blessed during Mass in Brescia, Italy. Tovini was unusual because he was not a priest or religious brother.
He was a husband, father of ten children, lawyer and active Catholic layman. He worked especially hard to improve Christian education and helped establish Catholic schools and other educational projects.
John Paul II presented him as an example of how ordinary Catholic men and women can serve God through family life, education and their work in society. His beatification also took place during celebrations marking 100 years since the birth of Pope Paul VI.
8. September 20, 2015 – Pope Francis Celebrates Mass in Havana, Cuba
On September 20, 2015, Pope Francis celebrated a large outdoor Mass in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba. Tens of thousands of people attended.
The Pope spoke about Christian service and reminded people that true greatness means serving others rather than using power for personal benefit.
During the same day, Francis met Cuban President Raúl Castro and also visited former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. His visit took place during a period when relations between Cuba and the United States were beginning to improve.
Francis encouraged reconciliation and peaceful dialogue. He also met priests, religious men and women, seminarians and young people in Havana.
9. September 20, 2016 – Pope Francis Joins Religious Leaders in Assisi to Pray for Peace
On September 20, 2016, Pope Francis travelled to Assisi, Italy, to join leaders from different religions in praying for peace. Christians, Muslims, Jews and representatives of other religions took part.
The gathering marked 30 years since Pope John Paul II’s famous interreligious meeting for peace in Assisi in 1986. Francis strongly rejected the use of God’s name to justify violence.
Christians prayed together in the Basilica of St. Francis, while members of other religions prayed according to their own traditions. Religious leaders later gathered in St. Francis Square and made a common appeal for peace in a world affected by war and terrorism.
10. September 20, 2025 – Pope Leo XIV Celebrates the Jubilee of Justice
On September 20, 2025, Pope Leo XIV met thousands of people involved in the work of justice during the Jubilee of Justice in St. Peter’s Square.
Judges, lawyers, magistrates, prosecutors and other legal workers came from many countries. Vatican organizers described it as the first Jubilee event specifically dedicated to people working in justice.
Pope Leo reminded them that justice is more than simply applying laws. He said it should protect human dignity, especially the dignity of weak and forgotten people.
He encouraged those responsible for justice to see their work as a service to society and to respect the value of every human person.
Saints of the Day – The Korean Martyrs
September 20 is the Catholic Church’s memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang and their companions, the Korean Martyrs.
Christianity developed unusually in Korea. Much of its early growth came through lay Catholics, even before priests were regularly available.
St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn became the first Korean Catholic priest. St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang was an important lay Catholic leader.
They are remembered together with many other Korean Christians who died during persecutions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The group celebrated on September 20 includes 103 martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II in Seoul in 1984.
It is important to remember that September 20 is their common feast day. The individual martyrs did not all die on September 20.
What Can We Learn From September 20?
September 20 contains both painful and inspiring chapters of Catholic history.
The Western Schism reminds us how damaging division can become.
The end of the Papal States shows that the way the Church works in the world can change greatly over time.
St. José María de Yermo teaches us to care for poor and forgotten people.
Padre Pio reminds Catholics of prayer and the suffering of Christ.
The Korean Martyrs show extraordinary courage in keeping their faith during persecution.
And the gatherings led by recent popes remind us that Catholics are called to work for peace, justice, reconciliation and human dignity.
The lesson of September 20 is simple: remain faithful to God, serve people in need, seek unity and become an instrument of peace.
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