Hello, I'm Dr. Willingham. I've spent many years studying Renaissance history. I'm here to tell you what I know about the role of Pope Sixthus in the assassination. The biggest problem for Sixthus was money. He ordered the building of mini churches throughout Italy. He also commissioned artists to create sculptures for him and his churches. However, he spent well beyond what the church could afford. He borrowed a great deal of money from the Medici to help pay for more projects. It was illegal to even have banks in Rome as it was the holy city. The Pope allowed it though as he needed the money. The trouble began when he went to the Medici for a loan to buy a city near Florence. Lorenzo di Midici wanted a town for himself and refused to give a Pope the loan. This was a stunning event. Nobody refuses the Pope when he asks for something. The Pope decided to take all of the church bank accounts and give them to the Potsy family bank. None of this is in dispute. Sixthus argued that he had no reason to attack the Midici since he had already proven his point by closing his account with them. Losing the papal account cost the Medici dearly and gave the Potsy a tremendous boost in power. Lastly, it must be said that as Pope Sixthus could have caused the Medici harm in any number of ways if he really wanted to. He could have used excommunication for example. The only thing holding him back was how much the people of Florence loved the Medici. But, would that fear alone drive a Pope to support murder?