Born
24 February 1536
Birthplace
Fano, Italy
Pope from
30 January 1592
Pope until
3 March 1605
Died
3 March 1605
Who he was
Born at Fano into a noted Florentine family, he trained as a lawyer under his father and rose through the Roman courts to become a cardinal in 1585. St Philip Neri was his confessor for thirty years, and as pope he confessed every evening to Cardinal Baronius. He was known for a blameless life and great devotion at Mass.
What he is remembered for
He received Henry IV of France back into the Church in 1595, ending the French wars of religion, and helped make peace between France and Spain at Vervins in 1598. He introduced the Forty Hours' Devotion, issued revised editions of the Vulgate (1598), Breviary and Missal, presided over the great Jubilee of 1600, and welcomed the Ruthenian union with Rome agreed at Brest in 1595.
Sources
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