One of the most Evil Popes of all timePope Clement VII

Shanny Li

Pope Clement VII

Brief Introduction

AKA Giulio de Medici Born: 26-May-1478

Birthplace: Florence, ItalyDied: 25-Sep-1534Location of death: Rome, ItalyCause of death: unspecifiedRemains: Buried, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Church, Rome, Italy

Gender: MaleReligion: Roman CatholicRace or Ethnicity: WhiteOccupation: Religion

Nationality: ItalyExecutive summary: Roman Catholic Pope, 1523-34

Election At Leo X's death in 1521, Cardinal Medici was considered

especially palpable in the protracted conclave.

Although he is unable to gain the Papacy for himself, he still took a leading part in determining the unexpected election of the short-lived Pope Adrian VI with whom he also wielded formidable influence.

Following Adrian VI's death on 14 September 1523, Medici finally succeeded in being elected Pope Clement VII in the next conclave (19 November 1523).

He brought to the papal throne a high reputation for political ability and possessed in fact all the accomplishments of a wily diplomat. However, he was considered worldly and indifferent to the perceived dangers of the Protestant Reformation by the people of the papacy.

Sack of Rome—A full beard During his half-year imprisonment in 1527,

Clement VII grew a full beard as a sign of mourning for the sack of Rome.

This was a violation of Catholic canon law, which required priests to be clean-shaven; however, it had the precedent of the beard which Pope Julius II had worn for nine months in 1511–12 as a similar sign of mourning for the loss of the papal city of Bologna.