Born
July 1519
Birthplace
Bologna, Italy
Pope from
29 October 1591
Pope until
30 December 1591
Died
30 December 1591
Who he was
A doctor of law from Bologna, he served in the households of Cardinal Farnese and others, became Bishop of Nicastro and attended the Council of Trent. As nuncio in Venice he helped build the alliance that won the victory of Lepanto in 1571, and he was later Patriarch of Jerusalem and a cardinal. He carried much of the work of government under the ailing Gregory XIV.
What he is remembered for
He reigned for only two months, supporting Philip II of Spain and the Catholic League in France and planning a reserve fund for the Holy See before he died. He is little remembered outside histories of the papacy.
Sources
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