Pope from April 1, 1605 - April 27, 1605
Lived: June 2, 1535 - April 27, 1605
Who was this guy before he was pope?
Alessandro de Medici was born in 1535 in Florence, an heir of the powerful Medici family. Alessandro, who was a great-nephew of the notorious Pope Leo X, seemed to be cut from a different cloth than his ambitious relatives. His mother attempted to discourage a call to the priesthood, so Alessandro waited until her death in 1566 to officially seek a vocation and become ordained. St. Philip Neri, with whom Alessandro was close from 1560 on, actually predicted that his young friend would ascend to the papacy one day. Alessandro served Pius V as an ambassador, was made a bishop in 1573 by Gregory XIII, and was named Archbishop of Florence in 1574. He became a cardinal at the hands of Sixtus V in 1583, and served as papal legate to France a decade later.
Give me the scoop on Leo XI.
In a conclave that seemed to favor the prominent Cardinals Cesare Baronius and (future saint) Robert Bellarmine, the Italian and French red hats instead banded together to elect Pope Leo XI, in direct opposition to the Spanish royalty. Leo XI chose his name to honor (God knows why) his late uncle, Pope Leo X. The 70-year-old pontiff fell ill almost immediately and died just 27 days after his coronation. Called Papa Lampo (“Lightning Pope”) because his reign was so short, Leo XI is tied with Pius III (#215) for the eighth-shortest papacy in Church history.
Fun Fact: When Leo was at death’s door, all of his advisors recommended that he elevate a beloved great-nephew to the College of Cardinals. Being staunchly opposed to nepotism, Leo refused. Even Leo’s confessor, who was present to confer the last sacraments, tried twisting the dying pope’s arm, but Leo was so irate that he banished the priest and requested someone else to prepare him for death.
SOURCES (and further reading)
Lived: June 2, 1535 - April 27, 1605
Birth name: Alessandro Ottaviano de Medici
Alessandro de Medici was born in 1535 in Florence, an heir of the powerful Medici family. Alessandro, who was a great-nephew of the notorious Pope Leo X, seemed to be cut from a different cloth than his ambitious relatives. His mother attempted to discourage a call to the priesthood, so Alessandro waited until her death in 1566 to officially seek a vocation and become ordained. St. Philip Neri, with whom Alessandro was close from 1560 on, actually predicted that his young friend would ascend to the papacy one day. Alessandro served Pius V as an ambassador, was made a bishop in 1573 by Gregory XIII, and was named Archbishop of Florence in 1574. He became a cardinal at the hands of Sixtus V in 1583, and served as papal legate to France a decade later.
Give me the scoop on Leo XI.
In a conclave that seemed to favor the prominent Cardinals Cesare Baronius and (future saint) Robert Bellarmine, the Italian and French red hats instead banded together to elect Pope Leo XI, in direct opposition to the Spanish royalty. Leo XI chose his name to honor (God knows why) his late uncle, Pope Leo X. The 70-year-old pontiff fell ill almost immediately and died just 27 days after his coronation. Called Papa Lampo (“Lightning Pope”) because his reign was so short, Leo XI is tied with Pius III (#215) for the eighth-shortest papacy in Church history.
Fun Fact: When Leo was at death’s door, all of his advisors recommended that he elevate a beloved great-nephew to the College of Cardinals. Being staunchly opposed to nepotism, Leo refused. Even Leo’s confessor, who was present to confer the last sacraments, tried twisting the dying pope’s arm, but Leo was so irate that he banished the priest and requested someone else to prepare him for death.
SOURCES (and further reading)
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Pope Leo XI - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09166a.htm
Pope Leo XI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XI
List of popes by length of reign - https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes_by_length_of_reign
Pope from May 16, 1605 - January 28, 1621
Lived: September 17, 1550 - January 28, 1621
Who was this guy before he was pope?
Though Camillo Borghese was born in Rome, he hailed from a noble Sienan family that claimed relation to the great St. Catherine. Becoming an accomplished canon lawyer in his younger years, Camillo was greatly devoted to his craft even after being made a cardinal and Vicar of Rome by Clement VIII in 1596.
Give me the scoop on Paul V.
Unsurprisingly, the conclave to elect a new pope was rife with bickering between the French and Spanish. As a result, Pope Paul V emerged quickly as a compromise candidate, given that he tended to stay out of party-politicking and was reform-minded to boot. As pope, Paul was as by-the-book as they come. He renewed the Council of Trent’s decrees to the letter, first and foremost of which included sending any absentee bishops and cardinals packing for home. He formally endorsed the Capuchins as a distinct offshoot of the Franciscan order in 1618, and also battled the anti-Catholicism that continued to rage in England under James I. Paul V died of a stroke on January 28, 1621 at the age of 70.
What was he known for?
Paul V is best known for beginning the Church’s involvement in the so-called “Galileo Controversy.” Background: Most scientists at the time were geocentrists (earth-at-the-center), but Copernicus had proposed heliocentrism (sun-at-the-center) a century earlier, at least in theory. We say “theory,” because heliocentrism couldn’t be scientifically proven yet, but that didn’t seem to matter to Galileo.
His trip into hot water started in 1616 with an order from Cardinal Bellarmine to not claim scientific certitude of heliocentrism (which Galileo had begun to do), followed by a meeting with Paul V to the same effect. This episode, however, ended with a “To be continued…” as Galileo’s case wouldn’t wrap up until after Paul’s death. Who doesn’t love a good cliffhanger?
Fun Fact: Pope Paul V was a saint-making machine. During his 16-year reign, Paul canonized (among many others) St. Charles Borromeo and St. Frances of Rome, and also beatified Sts. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Philip Neri, Teresa of Avila, Louis Bertrand, Thomas of Villanova, and Isidore the Farmer.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
September 8, 1620 saw the Mayflower depart from England (September 8) for the third time. It finally arrived two months later at Cape Cod (present-day Massachusetts).
Coming tomorrow...Pope Gregory XV
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Lived: September 17, 1550 - January 28, 1621
Birth name: Camillo Borghese
Though Camillo Borghese was born in Rome, he hailed from a noble Sienan family that claimed relation to the great St. Catherine. Becoming an accomplished canon lawyer in his younger years, Camillo was greatly devoted to his craft even after being made a cardinal and Vicar of Rome by Clement VIII in 1596.
Give me the scoop on Paul V.
Unsurprisingly, the conclave to elect a new pope was rife with bickering between the French and Spanish. As a result, Pope Paul V emerged quickly as a compromise candidate, given that he tended to stay out of party-politicking and was reform-minded to boot. As pope, Paul was as by-the-book as they come. He renewed the Council of Trent’s decrees to the letter, first and foremost of which included sending any absentee bishops and cardinals packing for home. He formally endorsed the Capuchins as a distinct offshoot of the Franciscan order in 1618, and also battled the anti-Catholicism that continued to rage in England under James I. Paul V died of a stroke on January 28, 1621 at the age of 70.
What was he known for?
Paul V is best known for beginning the Church’s involvement in the so-called “Galileo Controversy.” Background: Most scientists at the time were geocentrists (earth-at-the-center), but Copernicus had proposed heliocentrism (sun-at-the-center) a century earlier, at least in theory. We say “theory,” because heliocentrism couldn’t be scientifically proven yet, but that didn’t seem to matter to Galileo.
His trip into hot water started in 1616 with an order from Cardinal Bellarmine to not claim scientific certitude of heliocentrism (which Galileo had begun to do), followed by a meeting with Paul V to the same effect. This episode, however, ended with a “To be continued…” as Galileo’s case wouldn’t wrap up until after Paul’s death. Who doesn’t love a good cliffhanger?
Fun Fact: Pope Paul V was a saint-making machine. During his 16-year reign, Paul canonized (among many others) St. Charles Borromeo and St. Frances of Rome, and also beatified Sts. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Philip Neri, Teresa of Avila, Louis Bertrand, Thomas of Villanova, and Isidore the Farmer.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
September 8, 1620 saw the Mayflower depart from England (September 8) for the third time. It finally arrived two months later at Cape Cod (present-day Massachusetts).
Coming tomorrow...Pope Gregory XV
SOURCES (and further reading)
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Pope Paul V - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11581b.htm
Pope Paul V - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Paul_V
The Galileo Controversy - http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-galileo-controversy
1620 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1620
You're seeing two popes because we want to make sure you get all the popes before New Year's. Don't worry, we'll only be doubling up a few times in the coming weeks :-)
