Pope from April 9, 1555 - May 1, 1555
Lived: May 6, 1501 - May 1, 1555
Who was this guy before he was pope?
Marcellus Cervini was born in 1501 near the town of Loreto. He initially began studies in Siena, but soon moved to Rome, where his piety and love of learning caught the eye of several high churchmen. Pope Paul III leaned on Marcellus heavily, most especially with the task of advising Cardinal Farnese, the pope’s young nephew. Marcellus was named a cardinal himself a week before Christmas in 1539, and served as one of the three first presidents of the Council of Trent, along with the eventual Pope Julius III. The remainder of his pre-papal days were spent as mediator to Emperor Charles V of Spain and King Francis I of France, and as chief of the Vatican Library.
Give me the scoop on Marcellus II.
Pope Marcellus II, the last pope to keep his baptismal name upon election, was chosen out of a desire to thwart secular influence and find a holy, reform-minded pope in the line of Pope Paul III. Marcellus was just the guy, having been elected and installed during Lent 1555. Sadly, he died of overexertion from the demands of Holy Week and Easter just 22 days into office, having suffered a stroke the night of April 30, 1555. His reign is currently sixth on the list of shortest-ever papacies.
Fun Fact: Marcellus II was the uncle of none other than St. Robert Bellarmine, an Italian Jesuit and cardinal who was easily one of the most important figures of the Counter-Reformation in the 16th and 17th Centuries.
Coming tomorrow...Pope Paul IV
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Lived: May 6, 1501 - May 1, 1555
Birth name: Marcellus Cervini degli Spannochi
Marcellus Cervini was born in 1501 near the town of Loreto. He initially began studies in Siena, but soon moved to Rome, where his piety and love of learning caught the eye of several high churchmen. Pope Paul III leaned on Marcellus heavily, most especially with the task of advising Cardinal Farnese, the pope’s young nephew. Marcellus was named a cardinal himself a week before Christmas in 1539, and served as one of the three first presidents of the Council of Trent, along with the eventual Pope Julius III. The remainder of his pre-papal days were spent as mediator to Emperor Charles V of Spain and King Francis I of France, and as chief of the Vatican Library.
Give me the scoop on Marcellus II.
Pope Marcellus II, the last pope to keep his baptismal name upon election, was chosen out of a desire to thwart secular influence and find a holy, reform-minded pope in the line of Pope Paul III. Marcellus was just the guy, having been elected and installed during Lent 1555. Sadly, he died of overexertion from the demands of Holy Week and Easter just 22 days into office, having suffered a stroke the night of April 30, 1555. His reign is currently sixth on the list of shortest-ever papacies.
Fun Fact: Marcellus II was the uncle of none other than St. Robert Bellarmine, an Italian Jesuit and cardinal who was easily one of the most important figures of the Counter-Reformation in the 16th and 17th Centuries.
Coming tomorrow...Pope Paul IV
SOURCES (and further reading)
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Pope Marcellus II - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09641a.htm
Pope Marcellus II - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Marcellus_II
