<Li> 1865: The Society of African Missions of Lyon establishes a mission in Lagos, Nigeria . The same Society establishes a mission in Benin, five years later . </Li> <Li> 1866: Cardinal John Henry Newman finishes his autobiography, Apologia Pro Vita Sua . </Li> <Li> December 8, 1869: Pope Pius IX opens the First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican </Li> <Li> July 18, 1870--The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church of Christ from the fourth session of Vatican I, "Pastor Aeternus", issues the dogma of papal infallibility among other issues before the fall of Rome in the Franco - Prussian War causes it to end prematurely and brings an end to the Papal States . Controversy over several issues leads to the formation of the Old Catholic Church . This council was not formally closed until 1960 by Pope John XXIII in preparation for the Second Vatican Council . </Li>

Over the course of its history the roman catholic church has been a