Pope Leo XI

Pope Leo XI (; 2 June 1535 – 27 April 1605), born Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 233rd Pope for only 26 days in April 1605. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-8.

Early life
He was born in Florence.  His grandmother was a sister of Leo X."Pope Leo XI", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-8.

Priest
In 1567, Medici was ordained as a priest.

In 1569, Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, sent Father Medici to be the ambassador of Florence in the court of Pope Pius V.  For 15 years in Rome, Father Medici was the representative of the city and the Medici family.

Bishop
Gregory XIII made him Bishop of Pistoia in 1573.  He was named Archbishop of Florence in 1574.

Cardinal
Gregory raised him to the rank of cardinal in 1583.

In 1596, Clement VIII sent Cardinal Medici as ambassador to the court of Henry IV of France.

Pope
On 1 April 1605, Cardinal Medici was elected pope.  He chose to be called Leo XI in honor of his uncle Pope Leo X.

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.Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. (1839). "Leo XI", Penny cyclopaedia,  Vol. 13, p. 428.  He was called Papa Lampo ("Lightning Pope") because his papacy was so short.

Related pages 
 List of popes
 List of popes from the Medici family
 List of popes by length of reign

References

Other websites


  "Leo XI" in Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911
  Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Leo XI
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church , Cardinal Medici 
 Leo XI at St Peter's Basilica

Category:Italian popes
Category:House of Medici
Category:People from Florence
Category:1535 births
Category:1605 deaths