January 28

Born Camillo Borghese in 1550, he was elected Pope in 1605, taking the name Paul V. His papacy was marked by patronage of the arts and the completion of projects such as the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica. Paul V famously clashed with the Venetian Republic over jurisdictional rights and played a role in the trial of Galileo Galilei. He strengthened the enforcement of church doctrine and oversaw the expansion of the Papal States. His tenure solidified the authority of the Catholic Church on the eve of the Thirty Years’ War. He died in 1621, having left a lasting impact on church governance and architecture.

Richard Allestree was born in 1619 and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. A royalist chaplain during the English Civil War, he remained loyal to the monarchy and later served Charles II. Allestree became President of Trinity College, Oxford, where he influenced generations of students. He authored devotional works such as 'The Government of the Tongue' and 'Meditations,' reflecting his Anglican convictions. As a participant in the Savoy Conference, he helped shape post-Restoration church settlements. He died in 1681, remembered as a significant figure in the history of Anglican theology.

Ferdinand Verbiest was born in 1623 in Flanders and joined the Society of Jesus. Sent to China in 1659, he impressed Emperor Kangxi with his knowledge of astronomy and instrumentation. Verbiest reformed the Chinese calendar and constructed precise astronomical instruments, including an improved sextant and celestial globe. He authored the 'Tabulae Sinicae,' integrating European astronomical methods into Chinese science. His work strengthened Sino-European scholarly exchange and earned him high imperial favor. He died in 1688 in Beijing, leaving a legacy of cross-cultural scientific collaboration.

Born in 1938, Choekyi Gyaltsen was recognized as the 10th Panchen Lama at age six and held significant religious authority in Tibet and exile. He navigated complex relations with the Chinese government, advocating for the cultural and spiritual rights of the Tibetan people. The Panchen Lama's writings and teachings emphasized compassion, education, and preservation of Tibetan heritage. His interactions with the Dalai Lama and political leaders highlighted the tensions between Tibetan autonomy and Beijing's control. Despite health challenges, he traveled internationally to promote Tibetan Buddhism and human rights. His death in 1989 remains a subject of international concern and mystery, fueling discussions on religious freedom.

Robert F. Drinan was a Jesuit priest and legal scholar born in 1920. He served as a law professor at Georgetown University before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970 as the first Roman Catholic priest to hold public office. In Congress, he championed civil liberties, human rights, and an end to the Vietnam War. Drinan's dual role sparked debate over clergy in politics, leading to a Vatican directive that priests withdraw from elected office. After leaving Congress in 1981, he returned to academia and continued his work in legal ethics and social justice until his death in 2007.