diff --git a/DOCS-changelog.md b/DOCS-changelog.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..912aa60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DOCS-changelog.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Changelog
+
+Releases are named after the popes, in order: release *n* is pope *n*. The
+version number is a pure function of that ordinal — see `signal_bot/versioning.py`
+for the two constants and why they are what they are. The short version is that
+Jan Paweł II has to land on 2.13.7, and everything else follows.
+
+The bot reads this file. The heading format is load-bearing:
+
+```
+## <version> — <pope name>
+- <one change, in Polish, as the group will read it>
+```
+
+Add the new section at the top when you bump `RELEASE_ORDINAL`. Anything that
+is not a `##` heading or a `-` bullet under one is ignored, so prose between
+releases is free.
+
+## 0.0.1 — Linus
+
+- wersje bota nazywają się teraz imionami kolejnych papieży
+- po aktualizacji bot ogłasza w grupie nową wersję i listę zmian
+- `/healthz` pokazuje wersję i papieża, więc widać co naprawdę działa
+
+## 0.0.0 — Święty Piotr Apostoł
+
+- bot taki, jaki był przed drabinką papieską: `!cat`, `!dog` i dzienne podsumowanie
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aa5c1dc..fb938e5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -237,13 +237,13 @@ Counts live in SQLite and survive a restart.
 ## Develop
 
 ```sh
-pytest                       # 189 tests, 100% branch coverage, no network
+pytest                       # 359 tests, 100% branch coverage, no network
 pre-commit run --all-files   # ruff ALL + mypy strict + 250-line cap + gates
 ./scripts/e2e.sh             # the real bot against the fake server
 ```
 
-No `# noqa`, no `# type: ignore`, no coverage omits. Docs on the wire format
-are in [DOCS-signal-envelopes.md](DOCS-signal-envelopes.md).
+No `# noqa`, no `# type: ignore`, no coverage omits. Wire format:
+[DOCS-signal-envelopes.md](DOCS-signal-envelopes.md). Releases are named after the popes, in order: [DOCS-changelog.md](DOCS-changelog.md).
 
 ## Licence
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e7b6fc3..633b031 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "signal-bot"
-version = "1.0.0"
+version = "0.0.1"
 description = "A Signal group bot: image commands and daily message tallies."
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/signal_bot/announce.py b/signal_bot/announce.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f5ca7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/signal_bot/announce.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""Telling a group that the bot has been upgraded.
+
+A group is told about every release it has not seen, and a group that has
+never been told anything has not seen any of them -- so the first
+announcement starts at 0.0.0 "Swiety Piotr Apostol" rather than skipping
+straight to whatever is current. Watching the ladder start at Peter is the
+point of naming releases after popes at all.
+
+That does mean a group added years from now would be handed the whole
+backlog, so the message is capped at MAX_RELEASES and says how many older
+versions it left out.
+
+The version is recorded *before* the message is sent. `Restart=always` with
+`RestartSec=5` means a crash between the two would otherwise re-announce on
+every restart, and a missed announcement is far cheaper than a looping one.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final
+
+from signal_bot.changelog import since
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Iterable
+
+    from signal_bot.changelog import Release
+    from signal_bot.store import Store
+    from signal_bot.transport_base import Transport
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+ANNOUNCED_KEY: Final = "announced_version"
+
+# How many releases one announcement may list before it becomes a wall.
+MAX_RELEASES: Final = 10
+
+
+def render(version: str, pope: str, releases: Iterable[Release]) -> str:
+    """Return the message announcing a new version, in Polish.
+
+    One release is rendered flat, because the header already names it. Several
+    get a block each, so the group can see the ladder it is climbing.
+    """
+    shown = list(releases)
+    header = f"Wersja {version} \u00ab{pope}\u00bb wydana"
+    omitted = max(0, len(shown) - MAX_RELEASES)
+    shown = shown[-MAX_RELEASES:]
+    if len(shown) == 1:
+        body = "\n".join(f"- {line}" for line in shown[0].lines)
+        return f"{header}\nChangelog:\n{body}"
+    blocks = [
+        "\n".join(
+            [f"{release.version} \u00ab{release.pope}\u00bb", *(f"- {x}" for x in release.lines)]
+        )
+        for release in shown
+    ]
+    tail = f"\n\n(pominieto {omitted} starszych wersji)" if omitted else ""
+    return f"{header}\nChangelog:\n\n" + "\n\n".join(blocks) + tail
+
+
+async def announce_to(
+    transport: Transport,
+    store: Store,
+    group_id: str,
+    releases: tuple[Release, ...],
+    version: str,
+    pope: str,
+) -> None:
+    """Announce the current version to one group, if it has not seen it."""
+    previous = store.meta(group_id, ANNOUNCED_KEY)
+    if previous == version:
+        return
+    # No record at all means the group has seen nothing, not that it should be
+    # skipped: that is how Swiety Piotr Apostol gets announced rather than
+    # silently assumed.
+    pending = releases if previous is None else since(releases, previous)
+    store.set_meta(group_id, ANNOUNCED_KEY, version)
+    if not pending:
+        logger.info("group %s recorded at %s with nothing to announce", group_id, version)
+        return
+    await transport.send_text(render(version, pope, pending), group_id)
+
+
+async def announce_all(
+    transport: Transport,
+    store: Store,
+    group_ids: Iterable[str],
+    releases: tuple[Release, ...],
+    version: str,
+    pope: str,
+) -> None:
+    """Announce to every watched group; one failure must not silence the rest."""
+    for group_id in group_ids:
+        try:
+            await announce_to(transport, store, group_id, releases, version, pope)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception("release announcement failed for group %s", group_id)
diff --git a/signal_bot/app.py b/signal_bot/app.py
index 1de839b..d27b69e 100644
--- a/signal_bot/app.py
+++ b/signal_bot/app.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import httpx
 from fastapi import FastAPI, Response, status
 
 from signal_bot.animals import register_animal_commands
+from signal_bot.announce import announce_all
+from signal_bot.changelog import load as load_changelog
 from signal_bot.config import Config, load_config
 from signal_bot.counting import format_tally
 from signal_bot.decorators import cooldown
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ from signal_bot.scheduler import DailyScheduler
 from signal_bot.store import Store
 from signal_bot.transport_rest import RestTransport
 from signal_bot.trust import InviteTrust
+from signal_bot.versioning import POPE, __version__
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -78,6 +81,17 @@ class Bot:
                 continue
             self.store.reset_tallies(group_id)
 
+    async def announce_release(self) -> None:
+        """Tell every watched group about a version it has not seen yet."""
+        await announce_all(
+            self.transport,
+            self.store,
+            list(self.directory.groups),
+            load_changelog(),
+            __version__,
+            POPE.name,
+        )
+
     async def listen(self) -> None:
         """Consume frames forever, handing each to the dispatcher."""
         async for frame in self.transport.receive():
@@ -149,6 +163,9 @@ class Runtime:
             # Fourth loop: without it, a dead connection to Signal is
             # indistinguishable from a quiet evening, for hours.
             asyncio.create_task(self.bot.liveness.run()),
+            # Fifth, and one-shot: says hello with a changelog when the
+            # running version is newer than what a group was last told.
+            asyncio.create_task(self.bot.announce_release()),
         ]
 
     async def stop(self) -> None:
@@ -218,7 +235,8 @@ async def healthz(response: Response) -> dict[str, str]:
     thinks to look at the logs.
     """
     liveness: Liveness = app.state.runtime.bot.liveness
+    build = {"version": __version__, "pope": POPE.name}
     if liveness.healthy:
-        return {"status": "ok"}
+        return {"status": "ok", **build}
     response.status_code = status.HTTP_503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE
-    return {"status": "deaf", "reason": liveness.reason}
+    return {"status": "deaf", "reason": liveness.reason, **build}
diff --git a/signal_bot/changelog.py b/signal_bot/changelog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31a8640
--- /dev/null
+++ b/signal_bot/changelog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""The changelog the bot announces, read from DOCS-changelog.md.
+
+That file is the single source: there is no second machine-readable copy to
+drift out of sync with it. Only two shapes are recognised -- a `## <version> —
+<pope>` heading and a `- ` bullet beneath one -- so prose around them is free.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Final
+
+from signal_bot.versioning import ordinal_for
+
+# Repo root, since the changelog is documentation rather than package data.
+DEFAULT_PATH: Final = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "DOCS-changelog.md"
+
+_HEADING: Final = re.compile(r"^##\s+(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)\s*[—-]\s*(.+?)\s*$")
+_BULLET: Final = re.compile(r"^-\s+(.+?)\s*$")
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class Release:
+    """One released version and the lines describing it."""
+
+    version: str
+    pope: str
+    lines: tuple[str, ...]
+
+    @property
+    def ordinal(self) -> int:
+        """The papal ordinal this release carries."""
+        return ordinal_for(self.version)
+
+
+def parse(text: str) -> tuple[Release, ...]:
+    """Return every release in the document, oldest first."""
+    releases: list[Release] = []
+    version = pope = ""
+    lines: list[str] = []
+    for raw in text.splitlines():
+        heading = _HEADING.match(raw)
+        if heading is not None:
+            if version:
+                releases.append(Release(version, pope, tuple(lines)))
+            version, pope, lines = heading.group(1), heading.group(2), []
+            continue
+        bullet = _BULLET.match(raw)
+        if bullet is not None and version:
+            lines.append(bullet.group(1))
+    if version:
+        releases.append(Release(version, pope, tuple(lines)))
+    return tuple(sorted(releases, key=lambda release: release.ordinal))
+
+
+def load(path: Path | None = None) -> tuple[Release, ...]:
+    """Return every release, or nothing if the changelog is not on disk.
+
+    A missing changelog must not stop the bot: it is documentation that lives
+    outside the package, so an odd install layout should cost an announcement
+    rather than the whole process.
+    """
+    source = DEFAULT_PATH if path is None else path
+    try:
+        text = source.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    except OSError:
+        return ()
+    return parse(text)
+
+
+def since(releases: tuple[Release, ...], previous: str) -> tuple[Release, ...]:
+    """Return the releases newer than ``previous``, oldest first."""
+    try:
+        floor = ordinal_for(previous)
+    except ValueError:
+        return ()
+    return tuple(release for release in releases if release.ordinal > floor)
diff --git a/signal_bot/popes.json b/signal_bot/popes.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1d8f99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/signal_bot/popes.json
@@ -0,0 +1,1607 @@
+{
+ "source": "https://pl.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=parse&page=Poczet%20papie%C5%BCy&prop=wikitext&format=json&formatversion=2",
+ "popes": [
+  {
+   "ordinal": 1,
+   "name": "Święty Piotr Apostoł",
+   "reign": "33-64",
+   "portrait": "1-St.Peter.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 2,
+   "name": "Linus",
+   "reign": "64-76",
+   "portrait": "2-St.Linus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 3,
+   "name": "Anaklet",
+   "reign": "76-88",
+   "portrait": "3-St.Cletus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 4,
+   "name": "Klemens I",
+   "reign": "88-97",
+   "portrait": "4-St.Clement I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 5,
+   "name": "Ewaryst",
+   "reign": "97-105",
+   "portrait": "5-St.Evaristus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 6,
+   "name": "Aleksander I",
+   "reign": "105-115",
+   "portrait": "6-St.Alexander I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 7,
+   "name": "Sykstus I",
+   "reign": "115-125",
+   "portrait": "7-St.Sixtus I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 8,
+   "name": "Telesfor",
+   "reign": "125-136",
+   "portrait": "8-St.Telesphrous.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 9,
+   "name": "Hygin",
+   "reign": "136-140",
+   "portrait": "9-St.Hyginus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 10,
+   "name": "Pius I",
+   "reign": "140-155",
+   "portrait": "10-St.Pius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 11,
+   "name": "Anicet",
+   "reign": "155-166",
+   "portrait": "11-St.Anicetus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 12,
+   "name": "Soter",
+   "reign": "166-175",
+   "portrait": "12-St.Soter.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 13,
+   "name": "Eleuteriusz",
+   "reign": "175-189",
+   "portrait": "13-St.Eleuterus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 14,
+   "name": "Wiktor I",
+   "reign": "189-199",
+   "portrait": "14-St.Victor I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 15,
+   "name": "Zefiryn",
+   "reign": "199-217",
+   "portrait": "15-St.Zephyrinus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 16,
+   "name": "Kalikst I",
+   "reign": "217-222",
+   "portrait": "CalixtusI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 17,
+   "name": "Urban I",
+   "reign": "222-230",
+   "portrait": "UrbanI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 18,
+   "name": "Poncjan",
+   "reign": "230-235",
+   "portrait": "Pontianus (pope).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 19,
+   "name": "Anteros",
+   "reign": "235-236",
+   "portrait": "Anterus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 20,
+   "name": "Fabian",
+   "reign": "236-250",
+   "portrait": "Saint Fabian1.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 21,
+   "name": "Korneliusz",
+   "reign": "251-253",
+   "portrait": "Heiliger Cornelius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 22,
+   "name": "Lucjusz I",
+   "reign": "253-254",
+   "portrait": "Lucius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 23,
+   "name": "Stefan I",
+   "reign": "254-257",
+   "portrait": "Stephen I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 24,
+   "name": "Sykstus II",
+   "reign": "257-258",
+   "portrait": "Altenfelden - Hochaltar - Papst Sixtus II. 1858.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 25,
+   "name": "Dionizy",
+   "reign": "259-268",
+   "portrait": "Pope Dionysius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 26,
+   "name": "Feliks I",
+   "reign": "269-274",
+   "portrait": "PopeFelixI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 27,
+   "name": "Eutychian",
+   "reign": "275-283",
+   "portrait": "Eutychian.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 28,
+   "name": "Kajus",
+   "reign": "283-296",
+   "portrait": "PCaius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 29,
+   "name": "Marcelin",
+   "reign": "296-304",
+   "portrait": "Marcellinus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 30,
+   "name": "Marceli I",
+   "reign": "308-309",
+   "portrait": "Papa Marcelo I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 31,
+   "name": "Euzebiusz",
+   "reign": "309-310",
+   "portrait": "Eusebius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 32,
+   "name": "Milcjades",
+   "reign": "311-314",
+   "portrait": "Pope miltiades.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 33,
+   "name": "Sylwester I",
+   "reign": "314-335",
+   "portrait": "Sylvester I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 34,
+   "name": "Marek",
+   "reign": "336-336",
+   "portrait": "Marcus (papa).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 35,
+   "name": "Juliusz I",
+   "reign": "337-352",
+   "portrait": "Iulius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 36,
+   "name": "Liberiusz",
+   "reign": "352-366",
+   "portrait": "Liberio papa1.gif"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 37,
+   "name": "Damazy I",
+   "reign": "366-384",
+   "portrait": "Saintdamasus.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 38,
+   "name": "Syrycjusz",
+   "reign": "384-399",
+   "portrait": "Siricius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 39,
+   "name": "Anastazy I",
+   "reign": "399-401",
+   "portrait": "Anastasius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 40,
+   "name": "Innocenty I",
+   "reign": "401-417",
+   "portrait": "Innocentius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 41,
+   "name": "Zozym",
+   "reign": "417-418",
+   "portrait": "Zosimus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 42,
+   "name": "Bonifacy I",
+   "reign": "418-422",
+   "portrait": "Bonifacius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 43,
+   "name": "Celestyn I",
+   "reign": "422-432",
+   "portrait": "Coelestinus I.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 44,
+   "name": "Sykstus III",
+   "reign": "432-440",
+   "portrait": "Pope-Sixtus-III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 45,
+   "name": "Leon I",
+   "reign": "440-461",
+   "portrait": "Papa Leo I Magnus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 46,
+   "name": "Hilary",
+   "reign": "461-468",
+   "portrait": "Pope Hilarius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 47,
+   "name": "Symplicjusz",
+   "reign": "468-483",
+   "portrait": "Simplicius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 48,
+   "name": "Feliks III",
+   "reign": "483-492",
+   "portrait": "Felix3.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 49,
+   "name": "Gelazjusz I",
+   "reign": "492-496",
+   "portrait": "San Galasio I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 50,
+   "name": "Anastazy II",
+   "reign": "496-498",
+   "portrait": "Anastasius II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 51,
+   "name": "Symmachus",
+   "reign": "498-514",
+   "portrait": "Papa Symmachus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 52,
+   "name": "Hormizdas",
+   "reign": "514-523",
+   "portrait": "Pope Hormisdas.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 53,
+   "name": "Jan I",
+   "reign": "523-526",
+   "portrait": "Johannes I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 54,
+   "name": "Feliks IV",
+   "reign": "526-530",
+   "portrait": "Papa Felix IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 55,
+   "name": "Bonifacy II",
+   "reign": "530-532",
+   "portrait": "Boniface II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 56,
+   "name": "Jan II",
+   "reign": "533-535",
+   "portrait": "Johannes II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 57,
+   "name": "Agapit I",
+   "reign": "535-536",
+   "portrait": "Papa Agapito I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 58,
+   "name": "Sylweriusz",
+   "reign": "536-537",
+   "portrait": "Silverius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 59,
+   "name": "Wigiliusz",
+   "reign": "537-555",
+   "portrait": "Vigilius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 60,
+   "name": "Pelagiusz I",
+   "reign": "556-561",
+   "portrait": "Pelagius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 61,
+   "name": "Jan III",
+   "reign": "561-574",
+   "portrait": "Papa Joao III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 62,
+   "name": "Benedykt I",
+   "reign": "575-579",
+   "portrait": "Benedict I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 63,
+   "name": "Pelagiusz II",
+   "reign": "579-590",
+   "portrait": "Pelagius II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 64,
+   "name": "Grzegorz I",
+   "reign": "590-604",
+   "portrait": "Gregorythegreat.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 65,
+   "name": "Sabinian",
+   "reign": "604-606",
+   "portrait": "Sabinian.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 66,
+   "name": "Bonifacy III",
+   "reign": "607-607",
+   "portrait": "Boniface III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 67,
+   "name": "Bonifacy IV",
+   "reign": "608-615",
+   "portrait": "Boniface IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 68,
+   "name": "Adeodat I",
+   "reign": "615-618",
+   "portrait": "Adeodatus I (Deusdedit I).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 69,
+   "name": "Bonifacy V",
+   "reign": "619-625",
+   "portrait": "Papa Bonifacio V.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 70,
+   "name": "Honoriusz I",
+   "reign": "625-638",
+   "portrait": "Honorius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 71,
+   "name": "Seweryn",
+   "reign": "640-640",
+   "portrait": "Severinus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 72,
+   "name": "Jan IV",
+   "reign": "640-642",
+   "portrait": "Murner History Cod Karlsruhe 3117 (crop).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 73,
+   "name": "Teodor I",
+   "reign": "642-649",
+   "portrait": "Theodorus I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 74,
+   "name": "Marcin I",
+   "reign": "649-655",
+   "portrait": "Pope Martin I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 75,
+   "name": "Eugeniusz I",
+   "reign": "655-657",
+   "portrait": "Papa Eugenio I (1).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 76,
+   "name": "Witalian",
+   "reign": "657-672",
+   "portrait": "Pope Vitalian.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 77,
+   "name": "Adeodat II",
+   "reign": "672-676",
+   "portrait": "Adeodatus II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 78,
+   "name": "Donus",
+   "reign": "676-678",
+   "portrait": "Dono I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 79,
+   "name": "Agaton",
+   "reign": "678-681",
+   "portrait": "Agatho.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 80,
+   "name": "Leon II",
+   "reign": "682-683",
+   "portrait": "LeoII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 81,
+   "name": "Benedykt II",
+   "reign": "684-685",
+   "portrait": "BenedictII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 82,
+   "name": "Jan V",
+   "reign": "685-686",
+   "portrait": "Johannes V.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 83,
+   "name": "Konon",
+   "reign": "686-687",
+   "portrait": "Konon.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 84,
+   "name": "Sergiusz I",
+   "reign": "687-701",
+   "portrait": "Sergius I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 85,
+   "name": "Jan VI",
+   "reign": "701-705",
+   "portrait": "John VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 86,
+   "name": "Jan VII",
+   "reign": "705-707",
+   "portrait": "Greek Pope John VII.JPG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 87,
+   "name": "Syzyniusz",
+   "reign": "708-708",
+   "portrait": "Sisinnius.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 88,
+   "name": "Konstantyn",
+   "reign": "708-715",
+   "portrait": "PopeConstantine.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 89,
+   "name": "Grzegorz II",
+   "reign": "715-731",
+   "portrait": "GregoryII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 90,
+   "name": "Grzegorz III",
+   "reign": "731-741",
+   "portrait": "Pope Gregory III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 91,
+   "name": "Zachariasz",
+   "reign": "741-752",
+   "portrait": "Pope Zachary.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 92,
+   "name": "Stefan II",
+   "reign": "752-757",
+   "portrait": "La donacion de Pipino el Breve al Papa Esteban II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 93,
+   "name": "Paweł I",
+   "reign": "757-767",
+   "portrait": "Paul I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 94,
+   "name": "Stefan III",
+   "reign": "768-772",
+   "portrait": "StephenIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 95,
+   "name": "Hadrian I",
+   "reign": "772-795",
+   "portrait": "Papa Hadrianus I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 96,
+   "name": "Leon III",
+   "reign": "795-816",
+   "portrait": "Papa Leone III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 97,
+   "name": "Stefan IV",
+   "reign": "816-817",
+   "portrait": "Stephen IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 98,
+   "name": "Paschalis I",
+   "reign": "817-824",
+   "portrait": "Pope Paschalis I. in apsis mosaic of Santa Prassede in Rome.gif"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 99,
+   "name": "Eugeniusz II",
+   "reign": "824-827",
+   "portrait": "Eugene II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 100,
+   "name": "Walentyn",
+   "reign": "827-827",
+   "portrait": "Valentine.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 101,
+   "name": "Grzegorz IV",
+   "reign": "827-844",
+   "portrait": "Gregory IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 102,
+   "name": "Sergiusz II",
+   "reign": "844-847",
+   "portrait": "Pope Sergius II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 103,
+   "name": "Leon IV",
+   "reign": "847-855",
+   "portrait": "St.Leo IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 104,
+   "name": "Benedykt III",
+   "reign": "855-858",
+   "portrait": "Benedict III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 105,
+   "name": "Mikołaj I Wielki",
+   "reign": "858-867",
+   "portrait": "Nicholas I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 106,
+   "name": "Hadrian II",
+   "reign": "867-872",
+   "portrait": "Adrian II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 107,
+   "name": "Jan VIII",
+   "reign": "872-882",
+   "portrait": "Papa Ioannes VIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 108,
+   "name": "Maryn I",
+   "reign": "882-884",
+   "portrait": "Marinus I.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 109,
+   "name": "Hadrian III",
+   "reign": "884-885",
+   "portrait": "Papa Hardianus III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 110,
+   "name": "Stefan V",
+   "reign": "885-891",
+   "portrait": "Stephen V.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 111,
+   "name": "Formozus",
+   "reign": "891-896",
+   "portrait": "PopeFormosusBW.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 112,
+   "name": "Bonifacy VI",
+   "reign": "896",
+   "portrait": "Boniface VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 113,
+   "name": "Stefan VI",
+   "reign": "896-897",
+   "portrait": "Stephen VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 114,
+   "name": "Roman",
+   "reign": "897-897",
+   "portrait": "Pope Romanus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 115,
+   "name": "Teodor II",
+   "reign": "897",
+   "portrait": "Pope Theodore II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 116,
+   "name": "Jan IX",
+   "reign": "898-900",
+   "portrait": "John IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 117,
+   "name": "Benedykt IV",
+   "reign": "900-903",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 118,
+   "name": "Leon V",
+   "reign": "903-903",
+   "portrait": "Pope Leo V.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 119,
+   "name": "Sergiusz III",
+   "reign": "904-911",
+   "portrait": "SergiusIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 120,
+   "name": "Anastazy III",
+   "reign": "911-913",
+   "portrait": "Pope Anastasius III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 121,
+   "name": "Lando",
+   "reign": "913-914",
+   "portrait": "Pope Lando.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 122,
+   "name": "Jan X",
+   "reign": "914-928",
+   "portrait": "Pope John X.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 123,
+   "name": "Leon VI",
+   "reign": "928-928",
+   "portrait": "Pope Leo VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 124,
+   "name": "Stefan VII",
+   "reign": "928-931",
+   "portrait": "Stephen VII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 125,
+   "name": "Jan XI",
+   "reign": "931-935",
+   "portrait": "Papa Ioannes XI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 126,
+   "name": "Leon VII",
+   "reign": "936-939",
+   "portrait": "Leone-VII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 127,
+   "name": "Stefan VIII",
+   "reign": "939-942",
+   "portrait": "Stephen VIII.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 128,
+   "name": "Maryn II",
+   "reign": "942-946",
+   "portrait": "Marinus II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 129,
+   "name": "Agapit II",
+   "reign": "946-955",
+   "portrait": "Pope Agapetus II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 130,
+   "name": "Jan XII",
+   "reign": "955-964",
+   "portrait": "GiovanniXII.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 131,
+   "name": "Leon VIII",
+   "reign": "963-965",
+   "portrait": "Pope Leo VIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 132,
+   "name": "Benedykt V",
+   "reign": "964-965",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict V.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 133,
+   "name": "Jan XIII",
+   "reign": "965-972",
+   "portrait": "Giovanni13.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 134,
+   "name": "Benedykt VI",
+   "reign": "973-974",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 135,
+   "name": "Benedykt VII",
+   "reign": "974-983",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict VII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 136,
+   "name": "Jan XIV",
+   "reign": "983-984",
+   "portrait": "Pope John XIV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 137,
+   "name": "Jan XV",
+   "reign": "985-996",
+   "portrait": "Pope John XV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 138,
+   "name": "Grzegorz V",
+   "reign": "996-999",
+   "portrait": "Otto III wird von Papst Gregor V. zum Kaiser gesalbt.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 139,
+   "name": "Sylwester II",
+   "reign": "999-1003",
+   "portrait": "Silvester II.JPG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 140,
+   "name": "Jan XVII",
+   "reign": "1003-1003",
+   "portrait": "Papa Joao XVII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 141,
+   "name": "Jan XVIII",
+   "reign": "1004-1009",
+   "portrait": "Ioannes XVIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 142,
+   "name": "Sergiusz IV",
+   "reign": "1009-1012",
+   "portrait": "Sergius IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 143,
+   "name": "Benedykt VIII",
+   "reign": "1012-1024",
+   "portrait": "BENEDICT VIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 144,
+   "name": "Jan XIX",
+   "reign": "1024-1032",
+   "portrait": "B Johannes XIX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 145,
+   "name": "Benedykt IX",
+   "reign": "1032-1044",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 146,
+   "name": "Sylwester III",
+   "reign": "1045-1045",
+   "portrait": "Silvestro3.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 147,
+   "name": "Benedykt IX",
+   "reign": "1045-1045",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 148,
+   "name": "Grzegorz VI",
+   "reign": "1045-1046",
+   "portrait": "148-Gregory VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 149,
+   "name": "Klemens II",
+   "reign": "1046-1047",
+   "portrait": "ClementeII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 150,
+   "name": "Benedykt IX",
+   "reign": "1047-1048",
+   "portrait": "Pope Benedict IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 151,
+   "name": "Damazy II",
+   "reign": "1048-1048",
+   "portrait": "B Damasus II1.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 152,
+   "name": "Leon IX",
+   "reign": "1049-1054",
+   "portrait": "Papa Leone IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 153,
+   "name": "Wiktor II",
+   "reign": "1055-1057",
+   "portrait": "Papa Vittore II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 154,
+   "name": "Stefan IX",
+   "reign": "1057-1058",
+   "portrait": "Papa Stefano IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 155,
+   "name": "Mikołaj II",
+   "reign": "1058-1061",
+   "portrait": "Papa Nicolau II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 156,
+   "name": "Aleksander II",
+   "reign": "1061-1073",
+   "portrait": "Papa Alexandre II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 157,
+   "name": "Grzegorz VII",
+   "reign": "1073-1085",
+   "portrait": "Papa Gregorio VII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 158,
+   "name": "Wiktor III",
+   "reign": "1086-1087",
+   "portrait": "Papa Vittorio III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 159,
+   "name": "Urban II",
+   "reign": "1088-1099",
+   "portrait": "Urban II cropped.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 160,
+   "name": "Paschalis II",
+   "reign": "1099-1118",
+   "portrait": "B Paschalis II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 161,
+   "name": "Gelazjusz II",
+   "reign": "1118-1119",
+   "portrait": "GelasioII.gif"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 162,
+   "name": "Kalikst II",
+   "reign": "1119-1124",
+   "portrait": "Callistus II.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 163,
+   "name": "Honoriusz II",
+   "reign": "1124-1130",
+   "portrait": "Pope honorius ii.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 164,
+   "name": "Innocenty II",
+   "reign": "1130-1143",
+   "portrait": "B Innozenz II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 165,
+   "name": "Celestyn II",
+   "reign": "1143-1144",
+   "portrait": "Caelestinus II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 166,
+   "name": "Lucjusz II",
+   "reign": "1144-1145",
+   "portrait": "B Lucius II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 167,
+   "name": "Eugeniusz III",
+   "reign": "1145-1153",
+   "portrait": "B Eugen III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 168,
+   "name": "Anastazy IV",
+   "reign": "1153-1154",
+   "portrait": "B Anastasius IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 169,
+   "name": "Hadrian IV",
+   "reign": "1154-1159",
+   "portrait": "PopeAdrianIVCameo.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 170,
+   "name": "Aleksander III",
+   "reign": "1159-1181",
+   "portrait": "Papa alessandro III illustrazione di spinello aretino particolare siena italia 03.gif"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 171,
+   "name": "Lucjusz III",
+   "reign": "1181-1185",
+   "portrait": "Pope Lucius III.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 172,
+   "name": "Urban III",
+   "reign": "1185-1187",
+   "portrait": "B Urban III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 173,
+   "name": "Grzegorz VIII",
+   "reign": "1187-1187",
+   "portrait": "B Gregor VIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 174,
+   "name": "Klemens III",
+   "reign": "1187-1191",
+   "portrait": "B Clemens III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 175,
+   "name": "Celestyn III",
+   "reign": "1191-1198",
+   "portrait": "Celestin III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 176,
+   "name": "Innocenty III",
+   "reign": "1198-1216",
+   "portrait": "Innozenz3.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 177,
+   "name": "Honoriusz III",
+   "reign": "1216-1227",
+   "portrait": "Interior of Santi Giovanni e Paolo (Venice) - Honorius III by Leandro Bassano.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 178,
+   "name": "Grzegorz IX",
+   "reign": "1227-1241",
+   "portrait": "PopeGregoryIX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 179,
+   "name": "Celestyn IV",
+   "reign": "1241-1241",
+   "portrait": "B Colestin IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 180,
+   "name": "Innocenty IV",
+   "reign": "1243-1254",
+   "portrait": "Inocenc IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 181,
+   "name": "Aleksander IV",
+   "reign": "1254-1261",
+   "portrait": "B Alexander IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 182,
+   "name": "Urban IV",
+   "reign": "1261-1264",
+   "portrait": "Pope Urban IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 183,
+   "name": "Klemens IV",
+   "reign": "1265-1268",
+   "portrait": "Pope Clement IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 184,
+   "name": "Grzegorz X",
+   "reign": "1271-1276",
+   "portrait": "B Gregor X.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 185,
+   "name": "Innocenty V",
+   "reign": "1276-1276",
+   "portrait": "InnocentV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 186,
+   "name": "Hadrian V",
+   "reign": "1276-1276",
+   "portrait": "Hadrian V.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 187,
+   "name": "Jan XXI",
+   "reign": "1276-1277",
+   "portrait": "Pope John XXI (crop).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 188,
+   "name": "Mikołaj III",
+   "reign": "1277-1280",
+   "portrait": "NicholasIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 189,
+   "name": "Marcin IV",
+   "reign": "1281-1285",
+   "portrait": "B Martin IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 190,
+   "name": "Honoriusz IV",
+   "reign": "1285-1287",
+   "portrait": "PopeOnorioIV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 191,
+   "name": "Mikołaj IV",
+   "reign": "1288-1292",
+   "portrait": "NicholasIV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 192,
+   "name": "Celestyn V",
+   "reign": "1294-1294",
+   "portrait": "Celestinus quintus.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 193,
+   "name": "Bonifacy VIII",
+   "reign": "1294-1303",
+   "portrait": "Bonifatius viii papst.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 194,
+   "name": "Benedykt XI",
+   "reign": "1303-1304",
+   "portrait": "B Benedikt XI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 195,
+   "name": "Klemens V",
+   "reign": "1305-1314",
+   "portrait": "Papst klemens v.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 196,
+   "name": "Jan XXII",
+   "reign": "1316-1334",
+   "portrait": "John22.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 197,
+   "name": "Benedykt XII",
+   "reign": "1334-1342",
+   "portrait": "Benedikt XII1.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 198,
+   "name": "Klemens VI",
+   "reign": "1342-1352",
+   "portrait": "Clemens VI.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 199,
+   "name": "Innocenty VI",
+   "reign": "1352-1362",
+   "portrait": "Innozenz VI.gif"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 200,
+   "name": "Urban V",
+   "reign": "1362-1370",
+   "portrait": "Urban V.gif"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 201,
+   "name": "Grzegorz XI",
+   "reign": "1370-1378",
+   "portrait": "PopeGregoryXI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 202,
+   "name": "Urban VI",
+   "reign": "1378-1389",
+   "portrait": "Urbanus VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 203,
+   "name": "Bonifacy IX",
+   "reign": "1389-1404",
+   "portrait": "IX.Bonifac.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 204,
+   "name": "Innocenty VII",
+   "reign": "1404-1406",
+   "portrait": "Innocent VII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 205,
+   "name": "Grzegorz XII",
+   "reign": "1406-1415",
+   "portrait": "Gregory XII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 206,
+   "name": "Marcin V",
+   "reign": "1417-1431",
+   "portrait": "Pisanello, copia da Ritratto di Martino V (Galleria Colonna).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 207,
+   "name": "Eugeniusz IV",
+   "reign": "1431-1447",
+   "portrait": "PapstEugen.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 208,
+   "name": "Mikołaj V",
+   "reign": "1447-1455",
+   "portrait": "Paus Nicolaas V door Peter Paul Rubens.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 209,
+   "name": "Kalikst III",
+   "reign": "1455-1458",
+   "portrait": "Calixtus III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 210,
+   "name": "Pius II",
+   "reign": "1458-1464",
+   "portrait": "Pintoricchio 014.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 211,
+   "name": "Paweł II",
+   "reign": "1464-1471",
+   "portrait": "Pietrobarbo.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 212,
+   "name": "Sykstus IV",
+   "reign": "1471-1484",
+   "portrait": "Pope Sixtus IV (head).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 213,
+   "name": "Innocenty VIII",
+   "reign": "1484-1492",
+   "portrait": "Ritratto di papa Innocenzo VIII – Calvi dell'Umbria.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 214,
+   "name": "Aleksander VI",
+   "reign": "1492-1503",
+   "portrait": "Pope Alexander Vi adj.JPG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 215,
+   "name": "Pius III",
+   "reign": "1503-1503",
+   "portrait": "PiusIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 216,
+   "name": "Juliusz II",
+   "reign": "1503-1513",
+   "portrait": "Pope Julius II.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 217,
+   "name": "Leon X",
+   "reign": "1513-1521",
+   "portrait": "Pope-leo10.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 218,
+   "name": "Hadrian VI",
+   "reign": "1522-1523",
+   "portrait": "Hadrian VI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 219,
+   "name": "Klemens VII",
+   "reign": "1523-1534",
+   "portrait": "Clement VII. Sebastiano del Piombo. c.1531..jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 220,
+   "name": "Paweł III",
+   "reign": "1534-1549",
+   "portrait": "Tizian (Schule) 001.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 221,
+   "name": "Juliusz III",
+   "reign": "1550-1555",
+   "portrait": "Julius III.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 222,
+   "name": "Marceli II",
+   "reign": "1555-1555",
+   "portrait": "Portrait_of_Pope_Marcellus_II_Cervini_(Vatican_Museums_-_Musei_Vaticani,_Vatican).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 223,
+   "name": "Paweł IV",
+   "reign": "1555-1559",
+   "portrait": "Pope Paul IV – Jacopino Conte (Manner), ca. 1560.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 224,
+   "name": "Pius IV",
+   "reign": "1559-1565",
+   "portrait": "Ritratto di Pio IV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 225,
+   "name": "Pius V",
+   "reign": "1566-1572",
+   "portrait": "El Greco 050.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 226,
+   "name": "Grzegorz XIII",
+   "reign": "1572-1585",
+   "portrait": "Gregory XIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 227,
+   "name": "Sykstus V",
+   "reign": "1585-1590",
+   "portrait": "(Albi) Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile - Trèsor - Portrait du pape Sixte V - PalissyIM81001477.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 228,
+   "name": "Urban VII",
+   "reign": "1590-1590",
+   "portrait": "Portrait of Pope Urban VII Castagna (Vatican Museums - Musei Vaticani, Vatican).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 229,
+   "name": "Grzegorz XIV",
+   "reign": "1590-1591",
+   "portrait": "Roman School – Portrait of Pope Gregory XIV (16th Century).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 230,
+   "name": "Innocenty IX",
+   "reign": "1591-1591",
+   "portrait": "Portrait of Pope Innocent IX (Fidenza Cathedral Museum - Museo del Duomo di Fidenza, Fidenza).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 231,
+   "name": "Klemens VIII",
+   "reign": "1592-1605",
+   "portrait": "Papst Clemens VIII Italian 17th century.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 232,
+   "name": "Leon XI",
+   "reign": "1605-1605",
+   "portrait": "Leo XI 2.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 233,
+   "name": "Paweł V",
+   "reign": "1605-1621",
+   "portrait": "PaoloHasekura.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 234,
+   "name": "Grzegorz XV",
+   "reign": "1621-1623",
+   "portrait": "(Albi) Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile - Trèsor - Portrait du pape Grégoire XV - PalissyIM81001477.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 235,
+   "name": "Urban VIII",
+   "reign": "1623-1644",
+   "portrait": "Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Portrait d'Urbain VIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 236,
+   "name": "Innocenty X",
+   "reign": "1644-1655",
+   "portrait": "Innocentus x-velazquez.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 237,
+   "name": "Aleksander VII",
+   "reign": "1655-1667",
+   "portrait": "Alexander VII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 238,
+   "name": "Klemens IX",
+   "reign": "1667-1669",
+   "portrait": "Clemente IX.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 239,
+   "name": "Klemens X",
+   "reign": "1670-1676",
+   "portrait": "Portrait of Pope Clement X Altieri (by Ciro Ferri).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 240,
+   "name": "Innocenty XI",
+   "reign": "1676-1689",
+   "portrait": "Jacob Ferdinand Voet - Portrait of Innocenzo XI Odescalchi (cropped).jpeg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 241,
+   "name": "Aleksander VIII",
+   "reign": "1689-1691",
+   "portrait": "Portrait of Pope Alexander VIII – Roman School of 17th Century – (unframed).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 242,
+   "name": "Innocenty XII",
+   "reign": "1691-1700",
+   "portrait": "Pope Innocent XII.PNG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 243,
+   "name": "Klemens XI",
+   "reign": "1700-1721",
+   "portrait": "Portrait of Pope Clement XI Albani (Vatican Museums - Musei Vaticani, Vatican).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 244,
+   "name": "Innocenty XIII",
+   "reign": "1721-1724",
+   "portrait": "InnocientXIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 245,
+   "name": "Benedykt XIII",
+   "reign": "1724-1730",
+   "portrait": "Benedict XIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 246,
+   "name": "Klemens XII",
+   "reign": "1730-1740",
+   "portrait": "Agostino Masucci – Portrait of Pope Clement XII, seated.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 247,
+   "name": "Benedykt XIV",
+   "reign": "1740-1758",
+   "portrait": "Benoit XIV.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 248,
+   "name": "Klemens XIII",
+   "reign": "1758-1769",
+   "portrait": "Clemens XIII.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 249,
+   "name": "Klemens XIV",
+   "reign": "1769-1774",
+   "portrait": "Clemens XIV.PNG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 250,
+   "name": "Pius VI",
+   "reign": "1775-1799",
+   "portrait": "Popepiusvi.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 251,
+   "name": "Pius VII",
+   "reign": "1800-1823",
+   "portrait": "Jacques-Louis David 018.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 252,
+   "name": "Leon XII",
+   "reign": "1823-1829",
+   "portrait": "Pope Leo XII.PNG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 253,
+   "name": "Pius VIII",
+   "reign": "1829-1830",
+   "portrait": "Ritratto di Papa Pio VIII, by Clemente Alberi.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 254,
+   "name": "Grzegorz XVI",
+   "reign": "1831-1846",
+   "portrait": "Gregory XVI.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 255,
+   "name": "Pius IX",
+   "reign": "1846-1878",
+   "portrait": "G.P.A.Healy, Portrait of Pope Pius IX (1871).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 256,
+   "name": "Leon XIII",
+   "reign": "1878-1903",
+   "portrait": "Portrait of Pope Leo XIII, Fabio Cipolla.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 257,
+   "name": "Pius X",
+   "reign": "1903-1914",
+   "portrait": "Papst Pius X-01..jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 258,
+   "name": "Benedykt XV",
+   "reign": "1914-1922",
+   "portrait": "G.B.Torriglia, Benedetto XV in poltrona.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 259,
+   "name": "Pius XI",
+   "reign": "1922-1929",
+   "portrait": "Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937) - Portrait of Pope Pius XI (1857–1939) - JL 501 - Bodleian Libraries.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 260,
+   "name": "Pius XII",
+   "reign": "1939-1958",
+   "portrait": "Papa Pio XII nel 1953.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 261,
+   "name": "Jan XXIII",
+   "reign": "1958-1963",
+   "portrait": "Ioannes XXIII, by De Agostini, 1958–1963.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 262,
+   "name": "Paweł VI",
+   "reign": "1963-1978",
+   "portrait": "Paulus VI, by Fotografia Felici, 1969.jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 263,
+   "name": "Jan Paweł I",
+   "reign": "1978-1978",
+   "portrait": "Paus Johannes Paulus I (Bestanddeelnr 929-9074) (cropped-colour).png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 264,
+   "name": "Jan Paweł II",
+   "reign": "1978-2005",
+   "portrait": "Jan Paweł II Autor Zbigniew Kotyłło.JPG"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 265,
+   "name": "Benedykt XVI",
+   "reign": "2005-2013",
+   "portrait": "Benedict xvi.png"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 266,
+   "name": "Franciszek",
+   "reign": "2013-2025",
+   "portrait": "Korea Pope Francis Gwanghwamun Beatification 33 (14932565852) (cropped v3).jpg"
+  },
+  {
+   "ordinal": 267,
+   "name": "Leon XIV",
+   "reign": "2025",
+   "portrait": "Papa Leon XIV-20251011-54852216541-20251112111339.jpg"
+  }
+ ]
+}
diff --git a/signal_bot/schema.py b/signal_bot/schema.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e96a96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/signal_bot/schema.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""The database shape, kept apart from the code that queries it.
+
+Split out of ``store.py`` so both stay under the 250-line cap, and because
+"what the tables are" and "how the bot reads them" are two things.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Final
+
+# Bumped whenever the shape below changes. See Store._apply_schema for why
+# a version number is the only safe way to notice.
+#
+# Deliberately NOT bumped when a whole new table is added: CREATE TABLE IF
+# NOT EXISTS is additive and harmless, whereas a bump drops every table and
+# would throw away the live tallies to gain nothing.
+SCHEMA_VERSION: Final = 2
+
+# Every table is keyed by group first. The bot watches several groups, and a
+# tally, a cooldown or a vote that leaked between them would mean a test
+# message throttling the production group -- so the scope is in the primary
+# key rather than in the callers' discipline.
+SCHEMA: Final = """
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS message_counts (
+    group_id     TEXT NOT NULL,
+    uuid         TEXT NOT NULL,
+    display_name TEXT NOT NULL,
+    count        INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, uuid)
+);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS command_uses (
+    group_id  TEXT NOT NULL,
+    user_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
+    command   TEXT NOT NULL,
+    used_at   REAL NOT NULL,
+    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, user_uuid, command)
+);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS daily_uses (
+    group_id  TEXT NOT NULL,
+    user_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
+    command   TEXT NOT NULL,
+    day       TEXT NOT NULL,
+    uses      INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, user_uuid, command, day)
+);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS votes (
+    group_id   TEXT NOT NULL,
+    command    TEXT NOT NULL,
+    voter_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
+    voted_at   REAL NOT NULL,
+    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, command, voter_uuid)
+);
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS group_meta (
+    group_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    key      TEXT NOT NULL,
+    value    TEXT NOT NULL,
+    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, key)
+);
+"""
+
+TABLES: Final = (
+    "message_counts",
+    "command_uses",
+    "daily_uses",
+    "votes",
+    "group_meta",
+)
diff --git a/signal_bot/store.py b/signal_bot/store.py
index f5b9b2d..16af1aa 100644
--- a/signal_bot/store.py
+++ b/signal_bot/store.py
@@ -12,52 +12,12 @@ import sqlite3
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Self
 
+from signal_bot.schema import SCHEMA, SCHEMA_VERSION, TABLES
+
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Iterator
     from types import TracebackType
 
-# Bumped whenever the shape below changes. See Store._apply_schema for why
-# a version number is the only safe way to notice.
-SCHEMA_VERSION = 2
-
-# Every table is keyed by group first. The bot watches several groups, and a
-# tally, a cooldown or a vote that leaked between them would mean a test
-# message throttling the production group -- so the scope is in the primary
-# key rather than in the callers' discipline.
-_SCHEMA = """
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS message_counts (
-    group_id     TEXT NOT NULL,
-    uuid         TEXT NOT NULL,
-    display_name TEXT NOT NULL,
-    count        INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, uuid)
-);
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS command_uses (
-    group_id  TEXT NOT NULL,
-    user_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
-    command   TEXT NOT NULL,
-    used_at   REAL NOT NULL,
-    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, user_uuid, command)
-);
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS daily_uses (
-    group_id  TEXT NOT NULL,
-    user_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
-    command   TEXT NOT NULL,
-    day       TEXT NOT NULL,
-    uses      INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, user_uuid, command, day)
-);
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS votes (
-    group_id   TEXT NOT NULL,
-    command    TEXT NOT NULL,
-    voter_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
-    voted_at   REAL NOT NULL,
-    PRIMARY KEY (group_id, command, voter_uuid)
-);
-"""
-
-_TABLES = ("message_counts", "command_uses", "daily_uses", "votes")
-
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
 class Tally:
@@ -93,9 +53,9 @@ class Store:
         """
         version = int(self._conn.execute("PRAGMA user_version").fetchone()[0])
         if version < SCHEMA_VERSION:
-            for table in _TABLES:
+            for table in TABLES:
                 self._conn.execute(f"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS {table}")
-        self._conn.executescript(_SCHEMA)
+        self._conn.executescript(SCHEMA)
         self._conn.execute(f"PRAGMA user_version = {SCHEMA_VERSION}")
         self._conn.commit()
 
@@ -131,6 +91,26 @@ class Store:
         self._conn.execute("DELETE FROM command_uses WHERE group_id = ?", (group_id,))
         self._conn.execute("DELETE FROM daily_uses WHERE group_id = ?", (group_id,))
         self._conn.execute("DELETE FROM votes WHERE group_id = ?", (group_id,))
+        self._conn.execute("DELETE FROM group_meta WHERE group_id = ?", (group_id,))
+        self._conn.commit()
+
+    # -- per-group key/value state -----------------------------------------
+
+    def meta(self, group_id: str, key: str) -> str | None:
+        """Return a stored value for one group, or None if never set."""
+        row = self._conn.execute(
+            "SELECT value FROM group_meta WHERE group_id = ? AND key = ?",
+            (group_id, key),
+        ).fetchone()
+        return None if row is None else str(row["value"])
+
+    def set_meta(self, group_id: str, key: str, value: str) -> None:
+        """Store a value for one group, replacing any previous one."""
+        self._conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO group_meta (group_id, key, value) VALUES (?, ?, ?) "
+            "ON CONFLICT(group_id, key) DO UPDATE SET value = excluded.value",
+            (group_id, key, value),
+        )
         self._conn.commit()
 
     # -- message tallies ---------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/signal_bot/versioning.py b/signal_bot/versioning.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a10965f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/signal_bot/versioning.py
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""Release versions named after the popes, in order.
+
+Release *n* is pope *n*: 0.0.0 is Święty Piotr Apostoł, and the version is a
+pure function of the ordinal rather than a judgement about the size of a
+change. The one fixed point is Jan Paweł II at 2.13.7, which is what picks
+the two constants below -- eight patches per minor, and majors opening at
+ordinals 33 and 153:
+
+    (264 - 153) = 111 = 13 * 8 + 7   ->  2.13.7
+
+Both earlier majors happen to divide evenly by eight as well (32 = 4 * 8,
+120 = 15 * 8), so no bracket needs a fudge factor. The anchors are not
+arbitrary either: 33 is Sylwester I, pope through the Edict of Milan and
+Nicaea, and 153 is Wiktor II, the first pope elected after the 1054 schism.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, Final
+
+# Ordinals at which a new major version opens. Ascending, first entry 1.
+MAJOR_STARTS: Final = (1, 33, 153)
+PATCHES_PER_MINOR: Final = 8
+
+# Which release this build is. Bump by one per release; everything else,
+# including the version string in pyproject.toml, follows from it.
+RELEASE_ORDINAL: Final = 2
+
+_POPES_FILE: Final = Path(__file__).with_name("popes.json")
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class Pope:
+    """One entry of the papal list, as the version ladder needs it."""
+
+    ordinal: int
+    name: str
+    reign: str
+    portrait: str
+
+
+def _load() -> tuple[Pope, ...]:
+    """Read popes.json once, at import."""
+    document: dict[str, Any] = json.loads(_POPES_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    return tuple(
+        Pope(
+            ordinal=int(entry["ordinal"]),
+            name=str(entry["name"]),
+            reign=str(entry["reign"]),
+            portrait=str(entry["portrait"]),
+        )
+        for entry in document["popes"]
+    )
+
+
+POPES: Final = _load()
+
+
+def version_for(ordinal: int) -> str:
+    """Return the dotted version string for the given papal ordinal.
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: if the ordinal is outside the known list.
+    """
+    if not 1 <= ordinal <= len(POPES):
+        message = f"no pope with ordinal {ordinal}; the list has {len(POPES)}"
+        raise ValueError(message)
+    major = max(index for index, start in enumerate(MAJOR_STARTS) if ordinal >= start)
+    offset = ordinal - MAJOR_STARTS[major]
+    return f"{major}.{offset // PATCHES_PER_MINOR}.{offset % PATCHES_PER_MINOR}"
+
+
+def pope_for(ordinal: int) -> Pope:
+    """Return the pope with the given ordinal.
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: if the ordinal is outside the known list.
+    """
+    if not 1 <= ordinal <= len(POPES):
+        message = f"no pope with ordinal {ordinal}; the list has {len(POPES)}"
+        raise ValueError(message)
+    return POPES[ordinal - 1]
+
+
+def ordinal_for(version: str) -> int:
+    """Return the papal ordinal a version string denotes.
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: if no release carries that version.
+    """
+    for pope in POPES:
+        if version_for(pope.ordinal) == version:
+            return pope.ordinal
+    message = f"no release carries version {version!r}"
+    raise ValueError(message)
+
+
+__version__: Final = version_for(RELEASE_ORDINAL)
+POPE: Final = pope_for(RELEASE_ORDINAL)
diff --git a/tests/test_announce.py b/tests/test_announce.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7045de5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_announce.py
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""Upgrade announcements: told once, never on the way in, never in a loop."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from signal_bot.announce import ANNOUNCED_KEY, announce_all, announce_to, render
+from signal_bot.changelog import parse
+from signal_bot.transport_fake import FakeTransport
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from signal_bot.store import Store
+
+GROUP = "group.one"
+DOCUMENT = """\
+## 0.0.1 — Linus
+
+- druga zmiana
+
+## 0.0.0 — Święty Piotr Apostoł
+
+- pierwsza zmiana
+"""
+RELEASES = parse(DOCUMENT)
+
+
+async def _announce(store: Store, transport: FakeTransport, version: str = "0.0.1") -> None:
+    await announce_to(transport, store, GROUP, RELEASES, version, "Linus")
+
+
+def test_a_single_release_is_rendered_flat() -> None:
+    """The header already names it; a per-release block would just repeat it."""
+    message = render("0.0.1", "Linus", RELEASES[1:])
+    assert message == "Wersja 0.0.1 «Linus» wydana\nChangelog:\n- druga zmiana"
+
+
+def test_a_long_backlog_is_capped_and_says_so() -> None:
+    """A group added years from now must not be handed 200 releases."""
+    document = "\n\n".join(
+        f"## {v} — Pope{i}\n\n- zmiana {i}"
+        for i, v in enumerate(
+            [
+                "0.0.0",
+                "0.0.1",
+                "0.0.2",
+                "0.0.3",
+                "0.0.4",
+                "0.0.5",
+                "0.0.6",
+                "0.0.7",
+                "0.1.0",
+                "0.1.1",
+                "0.1.2",
+                "0.1.3",
+            ]
+        )
+    )
+    message = render("0.1.3", "Soter", parse(document))
+    assert "(pominieto 2 starszych wersji)" in message
+    assert "zmiana 0" not in message
+    assert "zmiana 11" in message
+
+
+def test_render_names_the_version_and_lists_every_pending_line() -> None:
+    message = render("0.0.1", "Linus", RELEASES)
+    assert message.startswith("Wersja 0.0.1 «Linus» wydana\nChangelog:")
+    assert "- pierwsza zmiana" in message
+    assert "- druga zmiana" in message
+
+
+async def test_a_group_told_nothing_yet_hears_the_ladder_from_peter(
+    store: Store, transport: FakeTransport
+) -> None:
+    """kuhy asked for this explicitly: the joke only lands if Peter is posted."""
+    await _announce(store, transport)
+    assert len(transport.sent) == 1
+    message = transport.sent[0].text or ""
+    assert "0.0.0 «Święty Piotr Apostoł»" in message
+    assert "pierwsza zmiana" in message
+    assert "druga zmiana" in message
+    assert store.meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY) == "0.0.1"
+
+
+async def test_a_group_already_on_this_version_hears_nothing(
+    store: Store, transport: FakeTransport
+) -> None:
+    store.set_meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY, "0.0.1")
+    await _announce(store, transport)
+    assert transport.sent == []
+
+
+async def test_an_upgraded_group_is_told_what_changed(
+    store: Store, transport: FakeTransport
+) -> None:
+    store.set_meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY, "0.0.0")
+    await _announce(store, transport)
+    assert len(transport.sent) == 1
+    assert "Wersja 0.0.1 «Linus» wydana" in (transport.sent[0].text or "")
+    assert "druga zmiana" in (transport.sent[0].text or "")
+    assert "pierwsza zmiana" not in (transport.sent[0].text or "")
+    assert store.meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY) == "0.0.1"
+
+
+async def test_a_version_with_no_changelog_entry_records_but_says_nothing(
+    store: Store, transport: FakeTransport
+) -> None:
+    """An empty announcement is worse than none."""
+    store.set_meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY, "0.0.1")
+    await _announce(store, transport, version="0.0.2")
+    assert transport.sent == []
+    assert store.meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY) == "0.0.2"
+
+
+async def test_the_version_is_recorded_before_the_send(store: Store) -> None:
+    """A crash between the two must not re-announce on every restart."""
+
+    class Exploding(FakeTransport):
+        async def send_text(self, text: str, recipient: str) -> None:
+            raise RuntimeError(text, recipient)
+
+    store.set_meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY, "0.0.0")
+    await announce_all(Exploding(), store, [GROUP], RELEASES, "0.0.1", "Linus")
+    assert store.meta(GROUP, ANNOUNCED_KEY) == "0.0.1"
+
+
+async def test_one_failing_group_does_not_silence_the_others(store: Store) -> None:
+    other = "group.two"
+
+    class RefusingFirst(FakeTransport):
+        async def send_text(self, text: str, recipient: str) -> None:
+            if recipient == GROUP:
+                raise RuntimeError(recipient)
+            await super().send_text(text, recipient)
+
+    for group in (GROUP, other):
+        store.set_meta(group, ANNOUNCED_KEY, "0.0.0")
+    transport = RefusingFirst()
+    await announce_all(transport, store, [GROUP, other], RELEASES, "0.0.1", "Linus")
+    assert [message.recipient for message in transport.sent] == [other]
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index d494e6a..ebbbf6d 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from signal_bot.membership import MembershipError
 from signal_bot.transport_fake import FakeTransport
 from signal_bot.transport_rest import TransportError
 from signal_bot.trust import InviteTrust
+from signal_bot.versioning import __version__
 from tests.conftest import SECOND_GROUP, WATCHED_GROUP, envelope, group_entry, listing_client
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -121,8 +122,9 @@ async def test_runtime_start_and_stop_cancels_tasks(
     client = _client(lambda r: httpx.Response(200))
     runtime = Runtime(bot=_bot(config, store, transport, directory), client=client, store=store)
     runtime.start()
-    # listen, the daily report, the group refresh loop, the deafness gate.
-    assert len(runtime.tasks) == 4
+    # listen, the daily report, the group refresh loop, the deafness gate,
+    # and the one-shot release announcement.
+    assert len(runtime.tasks) == 5
     await asyncio.sleep(0)
     await runtime.stop()
     assert all(task.done() for task in runtime.tasks)
@@ -138,7 +140,9 @@ def test_healthz_serves_and_startup_completes(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(app_module.httpx, "AsyncClient", fake_client)
     with TestClient(app_module.app) as client:
-        assert client.get("/healthz").json() == {"status": "ok"}
+        body = client.get("/healthz").json()
+        assert body["status"] == "ok"
+        assert body["version"] == __version__
 
 
 async def test_lifespan_is_an_async_context_manager(
diff --git a/tests/test_changelog.py b/tests/test_changelog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ec8a8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_changelog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""DOCS-changelog.md is the only copy, so the parser has to earn that."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from signal_bot.changelog import Release, load, parse, since
+from signal_bot.versioning import __version__
+
+DOCUMENT = """\
+# Changelog
+
+Prose between releases is ignored.
+
+- a bullet before any heading belongs to no release
+
+## 0.0.1 — Linus
+
+- druga zmiana
+- trzecia zmiana
+
+Some more prose.
+
+## 0.0.0 — Święty Piotr Apostoł
+
+- pierwsza zmiana
+"""
+
+
+def test_parse_reads_headings_and_their_bullets() -> None:
+    releases = parse(DOCUMENT)
+    assert [r.version for r in releases] == ["0.0.0", "0.0.1"]
+    assert releases[0].pope == "Święty Piotr Apostoł"
+    assert releases[1].lines == ("druga zmiana", "trzecia zmiana")
+
+
+def test_a_bullet_above_every_heading_belongs_to_nobody() -> None:
+    """Otherwise the file's own format documentation becomes a changelog entry."""
+    assert all("belongs to no release" not in line for r in parse(DOCUMENT) for line in r.lines)
+
+
+def test_parse_of_nothing_is_nothing() -> None:
+    assert parse("# Changelog\n\njust prose\n") == ()
+
+
+def test_releases_come_back_oldest_first_whatever_the_file_order() -> None:
+    assert [r.ordinal for r in parse(DOCUMENT)] == [1, 2]
+
+
+def test_since_returns_only_what_the_group_has_not_seen() -> None:
+    releases = parse(DOCUMENT)
+    assert [r.version for r in since(releases, "0.0.0")] == ["0.0.1"]
+    assert since(releases, "0.0.1") == ()
+
+
+def test_since_an_unknown_version_announces_nothing() -> None:
+    """A hand-edited or downgraded record must not dump the whole backlog."""
+    assert since(parse(DOCUMENT), "9.9.9") == ()
+
+
+def test_a_missing_changelog_costs_an_announcement_not_the_process() -> None:
+    assert load(Path("/nonexistent/DOCS-changelog.md")) == ()
+
+
+def test_the_real_changelog_covers_the_running_version() -> None:
+    """A release with no entry would announce a version and then say nothing."""
+    versions = [release.version for release in load()]
+    assert __version__ in versions
+
+
+def test_release_knows_its_ordinal() -> None:
+    assert Release("2.13.7", "Jan Paweł II", ()).ordinal == 264
diff --git a/tests/test_healthz.py b/tests/test_healthz.py
index ed89274..6244ddc 100644
--- a/tests/test_healthz.py
+++ b/tests/test_healthz.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from fastapi import Response
 from signal_bot import app as app_module
 from signal_bot.app import healthz
 from signal_bot.liveness import Liveness
+from signal_bot.versioning import POPE, __version__
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from signal_bot.config import Config
@@ -34,7 +35,8 @@ def _install(liveness: Liveness) -> None:
 async def test_a_healthy_bot_answers_ok(config: Config) -> None:
     _install(_gate(config, httpx.Response(200, json=[])))
     response = Response()
-    assert await healthz(response) == {"status": "ok"}
+    body = await healthz(response)
+    assert body["status"] == "ok"
     assert response.status_code == httpx.codes.OK
 
 
@@ -50,3 +52,19 @@ async def test_a_deaf_bot_answers_503_and_says_why(config: Config) -> None:
     assert response.status_code == httpx.codes.SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE
     assert body["status"] == "deaf"
     assert "Closed unexpectedly" in body["reason"]
+
+
+async def test_healthz_names_the_build_either_way(config: Config) -> None:
+    """Without this you cannot ask a running bot which version it is."""
+    _install(_gate(config, httpx.Response(200, json=[])))
+    healthy = await healthz(Response())
+    assert healthy["version"] == __version__
+    assert healthy["pope"] == POPE.name
+
+    deaf_gate = _gate(replace(config, silence_seconds=0), httpx.Response(400, json=DEAD_BODY))
+    for _ in range(3):
+        await deaf_gate.check()
+    _install(deaf_gate)
+    deaf = await healthz(Response())
+    assert deaf["version"] == __version__
+    assert deaf["pope"] == POPE.name
diff --git a/tests/test_store.py b/tests/test_store.py
index 11d1b1f..45cfdd5 100644
--- a/tests/test_store.py
+++ b/tests/test_store.py
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import sqlite3
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from signal_bot.store import SCHEMA_VERSION, Store, open_store
+from signal_bot.schema import SCHEMA_VERSION
+from signal_bot.store import Store, open_store
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from pathlib import Path
diff --git a/tests/test_versioning.py b/tests/test_versioning.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d87936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_versioning.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""The pope ladder, and the one fixed point the whole scheme exists for."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import itertools
+import json
+import tomllib
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from signal_bot.versioning import (
+    POPE,
+    POPES,
+    RELEASE_ORDINAL,
+    __version__,
+    ordinal_for,
+    pope_for,
+    version_for,
+)
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+JOHN_PAUL_II = 264
+
+
+def test_john_paul_ii_is_exactly_2_13_7() -> None:
+    """The requirement the two ladder constants were solved for."""
+    assert version_for(JOHN_PAUL_II) == "2.13.7"
+    assert pope_for(JOHN_PAUL_II).name == "Jan Paweł II"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("ordinal", "version", "name"),
+    [
+        (1, "0.0.0", "Święty Piotr Apostoł"),
+        (2, "0.0.1", "Linus"),
+        (32, "0.3.7", "Milcjades"),
+        (33, "1.0.0", "Sylwester I"),
+        (152, "1.14.7", "Leon IX"),
+        (153, "2.0.0", "Wiktor II"),
+        (265, "2.14.0", "Benedykt XVI"),
+        (267, "2.14.2", "Leon XIV"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_the_anchors_and_the_boundaries_either_side(ordinal: int, version: str, name: str) -> None:
+    assert version_for(ordinal) == version
+    assert pope_for(ordinal).name == name
+
+
+def test_versions_never_go_backwards() -> None:
+    """A ladder that is not monotonic is not a version scheme."""
+    ladder = [
+        tuple(int(part) for part in version_for(n).split(".")) for n in range(1, len(POPES) + 1)
+    ]
+    assert all(earlier < later for earlier, later in itertools.pairwise(ladder))
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("ordinal", [0, -1, 268, 9999])
+def test_an_ordinal_off_the_list_is_refused(ordinal: int) -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="no pope with ordinal"):
+        version_for(ordinal)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="no pope with ordinal"):
+        pope_for(ordinal)
+
+
+def test_ordinal_for_is_the_inverse_of_version_for() -> None:
+    for ordinal in (1, 2, 33, 153, JOHN_PAUL_II, len(POPES)):
+        assert ordinal_for(version_for(ordinal)) == ordinal
+
+
+def test_a_version_no_release_carries_is_refused() -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="no release carries version"):
+        ordinal_for("9.9.9")
+
+
+def test_this_build_names_itself() -> None:
+    assert __version__ == version_for(RELEASE_ORDINAL)
+    assert pope_for(RELEASE_ORDINAL) == POPE
+
+
+def test_pyproject_agrees_with_the_ladder() -> None:
+    """Two version sources with nothing reconciling them would drift silently."""
+    pyproject = tomllib.loads((REPO_ROOT / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    assert pyproject["project"]["version"] == version_for(RELEASE_ORDINAL)
+
+
+def test_the_committed_pope_list_is_whole() -> None:
+    """popes.json is generated; this is what stops a bad regeneration shipping."""
+    document = json.loads((REPO_ROOT / "signal_bot" / "popes.json").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    entries = document["popes"]
+    assert len(entries) == 267
+    assert [entry["ordinal"] for entry in entries] == list(range(1, 268))
+    assert all(entry["name"] and entry["portrait"] and entry["reign"] for entry in entries)
diff --git a/tool/gen_popes.py b/tool/gen_popes.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0390d96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tool/gen_popes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Krzysztof Rudnicki. MIT licence.
+"""Regenerate ``signal_bot/popes.json`` from the Polish Wikipedia pope list.
+
+Run this by hand when a new pope is elected; the output is committed, so the
+bot never touches the network to learn its own version name.
+
+The ``Lp.`` column of *Poczet papieży* is the authority for the ordinal. It is
+the reason this is scraped rather than recalled: antipopes, Benedykt IX's three
+separate reigns and the Stefan II question all shift the count, and being wrong
+by one silently moves Jan Paweł II off 2.13.7.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import re
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Final
+
+import httpx
+
+API: Final = (
+    "https://pl.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=parse"
+    "&page=Poczet%20papie%C5%BCy&prop=wikitext&format=json&formatversion=2"
+)
+# Wikimedia's policy requires a descriptive agent with a contact URL; the
+# generic client default is rate-limited hard and may be blocked outright.
+USER_AGENT: Final = "signal-bot popes generator (https://github.com/kuhyx/signal-bot)"
+
+# One row per pope: "|<n>." (later rows add a second, per-era numbering that
+# is deliberately ignored), then the linked name, then the portrait file.
+_ROW: Final = re.compile(r"\|(\d+)\.(?: */ *'''\d+\.''')?\s*\n\|\[?\[?([^\]|\n]+)")
+_PORTRAIT: Final = re.compile(r"\[\[Plik:([^\]|]+)")
+# A year is a wiki link whose whole target is digits. Matching bare numbers
+# instead catches "100px" from an image and the "31" of "31 stycznia".
+_YEARS: Final = re.compile(r"\[\[(\d{1,4})\]\]")
+
+# The list spells the first entry "Piotr"; kuhy asked for his full title.
+FIRST_POPE: Final = "Święty Piotr Apostoł"
+EXPECTED_TOTAL: Final = 267
+JOHN_PAUL_II: Final = 264
+
+
+def _clean(name: str) -> str:
+    """Strip the wiki disambiguation suffix from a linked page title."""
+    return re.sub(r"\s*\(papież\)", "", name).strip()
+
+
+def _reign(row: str) -> str:
+    """Return a row's reign years as ``start-end``, or ``start-`` if reigning.
+
+    The reign is the row's last cell -- but a row that ends a wikitable runs
+    on into the prose after ``|}``, which is how Jan Pawel II first came out
+    as "100" (an image width) and Leon XIV as "2005-069" (a footnote).
+    """
+    cell = row.split("\n|}", maxsplit=1)[0].rsplit("\n|", 1)[-1]
+    years = _YEARS.findall(cell)
+    if not years:
+        return ""
+    if len(years) == 1:
+        return f"{years[0]}-" if cell.rstrip().endswith(("-", "\u2013")) else years[0]
+    return f"{years[0]}-{years[-1]}"
+
+
+def parse(wikitext: str) -> list[dict[str, object]]:
+    """Return one entry per pope, ordered by the list's own Lp. column."""
+    popes: dict[int, dict[str, object]] = {}
+    for row in re.split(r"\n\|-", wikitext):
+        match = _ROW.match(row.lstrip("\n"))
+        portrait = _PORTRAIT.search(row)
+        if match is None or portrait is None:
+            continue
+        ordinal = int(match.group(1))
+        popes.setdefault(
+            ordinal,
+            {
+                "ordinal": ordinal,
+                "name": _clean(match.group(2)),
+                "reign": _reign(row),
+                "portrait": portrait.group(1).strip(),
+            },
+        )
+    return [popes[n] for n in sorted(popes)]
+
+
+def _rejection(popes: list[dict[str, object]]) -> str:
+    """Return why this list must not be written, or an empty string."""
+    if [p["ordinal"] for p in popes] != list(range(1, len(popes) + 1)):
+        return "ordinals are not contiguous from 1"
+    if len(popes) != EXPECTED_TOTAL:
+        return f"got {len(popes)} popes, expected {EXPECTED_TOTAL}"
+    if popes[JOHN_PAUL_II - 1]["name"] != "Jan Paweł II":
+        return f"#{JOHN_PAUL_II} is not Jan Paweł II"
+    return ""
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    """Write popes.json, refusing to write anything that fails its own checks."""
+    response = httpx.get(API, headers={"User-Agent": USER_AGENT}, timeout=60.0)
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    popes = parse(str(response.json()["parse"]["wikitext"]))
+    if popes:
+        popes[0]["name"] = FIRST_POPE
+
+    rejection = _rejection(popes)
+    if rejection:
+        sys.stderr.write(f"refusing to write: {rejection}\n")
+        return 1
+
+    out = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "signal_bot" / "popes.json"
+    document = {"source": API, "popes": popes}
+    out.write_text(json.dumps(document, ensure_ascii=False, indent=1) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    sys.stdout.write(f"wrote {len(popes)} popes to {out}\n")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())