Pope Gregory XV

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Scipione Cardinal Caffarelli-Borghese
Created cardinal19 September 1616
by Paul V
Personal details
Born
Alessandro Ludovisi

9 January 1554
Died8 July 1623(1623-07-08) (aged 69)
Rome, Papal States
Previous post(s)
Alma materUniversity of Bologna
Coat of armsGregory XV's coat of arms
Other popes named Gregory

Pope Gregory XV (

Latin: Gregorius XV; Italian: Gregorio XV; 9 January 1554 – 8 July 1623), born Alessandro Ludovisi, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 February 1621 until his death in 1623. He is notable for founding the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, an organization tasked with overseeing the spread of Catholicism and missionary work. Gregory XV was also responsible for the canonization of Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Ávila, and Philip Neri, which solidified his commitment to the Counter-Reformation.[1]

Biography

Papal styles of
Pope Gregory XV
Reference style
His Holiness
Spoken styleYour Holiness
Religious styleHoly Father
Posthumous styleNone

Early life

Alessandro Ludovisi was born in Bologna on 9 January 1554[2] to Pompeo Ludovisi, Count of Samoggia (now Savigno in the Province of Bologna) and of Camilla Bianchini. He was the third of seven children.

He was educated at the

priesthood
.

He returned to Rome in 1575 and he served as the Referendary of the

Sacred Roman Rota
from 1599 to 1612.

On 12 March 1612,

bishop on 1 May of that year in the church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
in Rome.

In August 1616, the pope sent him as

On 19 September 1616, Pope Paul V elevated him to the rank of cardinal and appointed him as a

.

Papacy

Bust of Pope Gregory XV, 1621 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Papal conclave

Ludovisi remained in his

Basilica of Saint John Lateran
on 14 May 1621.

At the moment of his election, chiefly through the influence of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, at his advanced age (he was 67) and with his weak state of health he saw at once that he would need an energetic man, in whom he could place implicit confidence, to assist him in the government of the Church. His nephew Ludovico Ludovisi, a young man of 25 years, seemed to him to be the right person and, at the risk of being charged with nepotism, he created him cardinal on the third day of his pontificate. On the same day, his youngest brother Orazio was appointed Captain General of the Church at the head of the Papal army.[3]

Pope Gregory XV with his cardinal-nephew of unprecedented income and authority, Ludovico Ludovisi, known as il cardinale padrone

The future revealed that Gregory XV was not disappointed in his nephew. The

Colonna family by his nephew Ludovico Ludovisi in 1622. A second nephew, Niccolò, was made reigning Prince of Piombino and Lord of the Isola d'Elba
in 1634, having married the heiress, 30 March 1632.

Actions

Gregory XV interfered little in European politics, beyond assisting

Protestants[1]—to the tune of a million gold ducats[citation needed]—as well as Sigismund III Vasa, King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, against the Ottoman Empire.[1] His Declaration against Magicians and Witches (Omnipotentis Dei, 20 March 1623) was the last papal ordinance against witchcraft. Former punishments were lessened, and the death penalty was limited to those who were "proved to have entered into a compact with the devil, and to have committed homicide with his assistance".[3]

He was a learned theologian and manifested a reforming spirit.

Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, the missionary arm of the Holy See.[3] He was influential in bringing the Bolognese artist Guercino to Rome, a landmark in the development of the High Baroque style. He sat for his portrait busts, one of which was by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and by Alessandro Algardi, whose restrained bust in a tondo is in the Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella
.

Consistories

The pope created eleven cardinals in four consistories that saw him elevate his nephew Ludovico and his cousin Marcantonio Gozzadini as cardinals; he also elevated the noted Armand Jean Richelieu as a cardinal.

Canonizations and beatifications

On 12 March 1622, the pope canonized several saints: Francis Xavier, Ignatius of Loyola,[1] Isidore the Laborer, Philip Neri and Teresa of Ávila.

Gregory XV also beatified three individuals during his pontificate:

Peter of Alcantara
.

Death and burial

(c. 1709–1714)

He had been suffering from

Extreme Unction on 6 July, before succumbing to his illness two days later.[4]

Pope Gregory XV died in the

Sant'Ignazio
where more than 80 years later, the Jesuits erected a magnificent monument following the wish of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, who was also honoured in this monument.

Gregory XV was succeeded by Pope Urban VIII.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The dispute eventually led to the War of the Mantuan Succession, which lasted 1628–31.
  1. ^ a b c d e f Baynes 1878, pp. 178–179.
  2. ^ "UPI Almanac for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020". United Press International. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020. …Pope Gregory XV in 1554
  3. ^ a b c d e Ott 1910.
  4. ^ "Sede Vacante 1623". 27 September 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2019.

References

Attribution:

Further reading

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Archbishop of Bologna

12 March 1612 – 9 February 1621
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Traspontina

3 December 1618 – 9 February 1621
Preceded by Pope
9 February 1621 – 8 July 1623
Succeeded by