Pope Innocent VIII

Pope Innocent VIII (; 1432 – July 25, 1492), born Giovanni Battista Cibo, was an Italian cleric of the Roman Catholic Church and the 214th Pope from 29 August 1484 to his death, in July 1492. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-29.

Early years
In 1432, Giovanni Battista Cybo was born in Genoa, the son of Arano Cybo and wife Teodorina de Mari. His father was from an old Genoese family of Greek ancestry, a viceroy of Naples and then a senator in Rome under Pope Calixtus III. Giovanni Battista's early years were spent at the Neapolitan court. While in Naples he was appointed a Canon of the Cathedral of Capua, and was given the Priory of Santa Maria d'Arba in Genoa. After the death of King Alfonso (1458), friction between Giovanni Battista and the Archbishop of Genoa induced him to resign his canonry, and to go to Padua and then to Rome for his education.

Early career
In Rome he became a priest in the retinue of Cardinal Calandrini, half-brother to Pope Nicholas V (1447–55). In 1467, he was made Bishop of Savona by Pope Paul II, but exchanged this see in 1472 for that of Molfetta in south-eastern Italy. In 1473, with the support of Giuliano Della Rovere, later Pope Julius II, he was made cardinal by Pope Sixtus IV, whom he succeeded on 29 August 1484 as Pope Innocent VIII.'

Bishop
Pope Paul II made Cibo the Bishop of Savona in 1467.  He was made Bishop of Molfetta in 1472.

Cardinal
In 1473, Pope Sixtus IV raised Cibo to the rank of  cardinal.

Pope
Cardinal Cibo was elected pope on August 29, 1484; and he chose to be called Innocent VIII.

Pope Innocent was involved in Italian and European political disputes.

 Papal actions 
 1486 – Henry VII of England confirmed as king
 1487 – Tomás de Torquemada made grand inquisitor of Spain.
 1492 – Ferdinand II of Aragon awarded the epithet "Catholic Majesty " after the Moors left Granada"Pope Innocent VII", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-29.

Related pages 
 List of popes

References

Other websites


  Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Innocent VIII
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church ,  Cardinal Cibo 




Category:Italian popes
Category:1432 births
Category:1492 deaths