The 11 most scandalous popes in history

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Pope Julius II has been described as "ferocious."

For centuries, the Catholic Church has elected a pope to don an intricate hat and lead the religion's 1.27 billion adherents across the globe.

But not all of the church's 260-odd popes have been models of piety. Actually, handful of popes are best remembered by their violent tempers, shocking sex scandals, and shady financial practices.

Here's a chronological list of some of history's most outrageous papacies.