page_title: List of cardinal-nephews
section_title: 16th century
hierarchical_section_title: List of cardinal-nephews / 16th century
context_page_description: A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a pope who was his uncle, or more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. From the Avignon Papacy until Pope Innocent XII's anti-nepotism bull, Romanum decet pontificem, nearly every pope who appointed cardinals appointed at least one relative to the College of Cardinals, including every Renaissance-era pope.
  Although nephews were the most common relation to be elevated to the College, other family members include sons and grandsons, brothers, grandnephews, cousins and even uncles. At least 15, and possibly as many as 19 cardinal-nephews were later elected pope. One became antipope, and two or three were canonized.
  Similarly created cardinals include cardinal-nephews of antipopes and papal relatives made cardinals by other popes.
caption: Ranuccio Farnese was made cardinal by Paul III at the age of 15.
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