Pope Leo XI
Leo XI | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Papacy began | 1 April 1605 |
| Papacy ended | 27 April 1605 |
| Predecessor | Pope Clement VIII |
| Successor | Pope Paul V |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici |
| Born | 2 June 1535 Florence |
| Died | 27 April 1605(aged 69) Rome, Papal States |
| Other popes named Leo | |
Pope Leo XI(Latin:Leo Undecimus;2 June 1535 – 27 April 1605), bornAlessandro Ottaviano de' Medici,was anItalianpriest of theRoman Catholic Churchand the233rdPopefor only 26 days in April 1605.[1]
Early life
[change|change source]He was born inFlorence.His grandmother was a sister ofLeo X.[2]
Priest
[change|change source]In 1567, Medici wasordainedas apriest.[2]
In 1569,Cosimo I de' Medici,Grand Duke ofTuscany,sent Father Medici to be theambassadorof Florence in the court ofPope Pius V.For 15 years in Rome, Father Medici was the representative of the city and the Medici family.[2]
Bishop
[change|change source]Gregory XIIImade himBishopofPistoiain 1573. He was namedArchbishopof Florence in 1574.[2]
Cardinal
[change|change source]Gregory raised him to the rank ofcardinalin 1583.[2]
In 1596,Clement VIIIsent Cardinal Medici as ambassador to the court ofHenry IV of France.[2]
Pope
[change|change source]On 1 April 1605, Cardinal Medici was elected pope. He chose to be called Leo XI in honor of his unclePope Leo X.[2]
When he was elected, Leo XI was almost seventy years of age, and he died within the month. His death came as a result of fatigue and cold in the ceremony of taking possession of the Basilica of St John Lateran.[3]He was calledPapa Lampo( "Lightning Pope" ) because his papacy was so short.
Related pages
[change|change source]References
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Other websites
[change|change source]
Media related toLeo XIat Wikimedia Commons
.Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.- "Leo XI"inEncyclopædia Britannica,1911
- Catholic Hierarchy,Pope Leo XI
- Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church,Cardinal MediciArchived2013-10-29 at theWayback Machine
- Leo XI at St Peter's Basilica
| Preceded by Clement VIII |
Pope 1605 |
Succeeded by Paul V |