History of Paola

Antoine De Paule became Grandmaster of the Order of St. John on 10 March 1623 when he was 71 years old. On 20 July 1626, he set up a new town which he named "Paula" in his honour. De Paule wanted to build a church in the town which he wanted to dedicate to St. Ubaldesca who was a sister in the Order of St. John. Pope Urbanus VIII issued the Bull which gave permission for this church to be built. This Papal Bull was issued from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome on 31 July 1629. An extract from this Bull reads as follows: "we accept this request and to the a