English: Portrait of Pope Leo X .
Italian: Papa Leone X.
Artist: Raphael (1483–1520).
Date: 1518.
Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project (2002)
10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM),
distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.
Born into the prominent political and banking Medici family of Florence, Giovanni was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, Ruler of The Florentine Republic, and was elevated to The Cardinalate in 1489.
Following the death of Pope Julius II, Giovanni was elected Pope after securing the backing of the younger members of The Sacred College. Early on in his Rule, he oversaw the closing sessions of The Fifth Council Of The Lateran, but struggled to implement the Reforms agreed. In 1517, he led a costly War that succeeded in securing his nephew as Duke of Urbino, but which reduced Papal Finances.
In Protestant circles, Pope Leo X is associated with granting Indulgences to those who donated to reconstruct Saint Peter's Basilica, a practice that was soon challenged by Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. Pope Leo X refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the demands of what would become The Protestant Reformation, and his Papal Bull of 1520, “Exsurge Domine”, condemned Martin Luther's condemnatory stance, rendering ongoing communication difficult.
He borrowed and spent money without circumspection and was a significant Patron of The Arts. Under his Reign, progress was made on the rebuilding of Saint Peter's Basilica and Artists, such as Raphael, decorated the Vatican rooms.
Pope Leo X also reorganised The Roman University, and promoted the study of literature, poetry and antiquities. He died in 1521 and is buried in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome. He is the last Pope not to have been in Priestly Orders at the time of his Election to The Papacy.
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