Pope Urban VII
Videos
Pope Urban VII, born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was head of the Catholic Church, and leader of the Papal States from 15 to 27 September 1590. His papacy is the shortest recognized in history.
Portrait by Jacopino del Conte, c. 1590
The reverse of a 1590 coin in honor of Urban VII, with a menorah and the legend SIC•LUCEAT•LUX•VESTRA (Let your light so shine – Matt. 5:16)
Pope Sixtus V
Videos
Pope Sixtus V, born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order, where
Pope Urban VII
…On 12 December 1583 Pope Gregory XIII made Castagna a cardinalate and he became Cardinal-Priest of San Marcello al Corso. After the death of Pope Sixtus V, a conclave was convoked to elect a successor. Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany had been appointed a cardinal at the age of thirteen but…
Portrait by Pietro Facchetti, c. 1590
Portrait of Sixtus V by Filippo Bellini, c. 1585-1590
A fragment of the Septizonium is shown in this engraving dating to 1582.
Pope's Cabinet at Stourhead, built for Sixtus V