Who was Pope Clement VII? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Italian Celebrities Born In May

Also Known As: Giulio de' Medici

Died At Age: 56

Family:

father: Giuliano de' Medici

mother: Fioretta Gorini

children: Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence

Born Country: Italy

Italian Men Italian Spiritual & Religious Leaders

Died on: September 25, 1534

place of death: Rome, Italy

City: Florence, Italy

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1

When was Pope Clement VII elected as Pope?

Pope Clement VII was elected as Pope on November 19, 1523.
2

What was the main conflict during the papacy of Pope Clement VII?

The main conflict during the papacy of Pope Clement VII was the Sack of Rome in 1527.
3

What was the outcome of the Sack of Rome during Pope Clement VII's reign?

The outcome of the Sack of Rome during Pope Clement VII's reign was the widespread destruction of the city and the capture of the Pope himself.
4

How did Pope Clement VII handle the Protestant Reformation?

Pope Clement VII struggled to effectively handle the Protestant Reformation, leading to further division within the Catholic Church.
5

What was the significance of Pope Clement VII's decision to refuse King Henry VIII's divorce request?

Pope Clement VII's refusal of King Henry VIII's divorce request ultimately led to the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England.

Childhood & Early Life

On May 26, 1478, Pope Clement VII was born as Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, in Florence, Republic of Florence. He was the illegitimate son of Giuliano de Medici, the co-ruler of Florence, and the nephew of the great statesman Lorenzo de' Medici (popularly known as Lorenzo the Magnificent).

Clement VII grew up under the supervision of Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, the Italian Renaissance architect who was also his Godfather. After spending seven years with him, Clement VII returned home and was put under his uncle’s guidance.

He grew up along with his cousins Piero, Giuliano, and Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici who later became Pope Leo X.

Despite desiring to, Clement VII couldn’t pursue the top positions in the church due to his illegitimate birth and was forced to join the military. He later became the Grand Prior of Capua but after the death of his uncle, Lorenzo the Magnificent, he joined the church.

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Under Pope Leo X

Clement VII’s cousin Giovanni de' Medici was elected as Pope Leo X in 1513. Clement VII became the Archbishop of Florence the same year, and a papal dispensation cleared all the constraints due to his birth illegitimacy. This cleared the way for Pope Leo X to make Clement VII the leading Bishop, ‘the Cardinal’, in September 1513, and later the Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria in Dominica.

King Henry VIII of England appointed him the cardinal protector of England in January 1514, and Clement VII’s diplomatic journey began. Within a year, he was appointed the Archbishop of Narbonne and eventually the cardinal protector of France by King Francis I of France.

Gran Maestro of Florence

King Francis I and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V engaged in a war which began the difficult times for Clement VII. King Francis I, who had appointed him as the cardinal protector of France, expected him to side with France. However, the king’s reputation of controlling the churches in France displeased Clement VII. He finally made an alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V against France.

After his cousin Lorenzo II de Medici died in 1519, Clement VII took charge of Florence. He successfully managed to control the civic bodies and the economy, restoring the city of Florence.

Campaigning for Pope Adrian VI & Becoming Pope

In 1521, Pope Leo X died and Clement was considered to be the prime candidate to become the next pope. However, he decided to support Pope Adrian VI in the election. Clement played an influential role in the papacy of Adrian VI.

Pope Adrian VI’s reign was short-lived as he passed away on September 14, 1523, within a year of him becoming the pope. Clement VII was favored as a candidate by Emperor Charles V. This helped him overcome the opposition from France and finally become the pope on November 19, 1523.

His very first attempt to unite France, Spain, England, and Italy in a bid to end the war in Italy failed. He tried to unite the Christian countries against the threats of the Turks but his delegation, led by the Archbishop of Capua, Nikolaus von Schönberg, couldn’t convince the emperors.

In the Battle of Pavia, Pope Clement VII lent his support to Emperor Charles V. King Francis I of France lost the battle and was imprisoned. In 1526, a year after the war, King Francis I was released after the Treaty of Madrid was signed.

When Charles III, Duke of Bourbon, died during a siege in the ongoing Sack of Rome, his troops went on a rampage in Rome. Rapes, loot, vandalism and murders marked the end of the ‘Renaissance Rome’. Pope Clement had to take refuge at the Castel Sant'Angelo and agreed to pay a sum of 400,000 ducati for his life.

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When King Henry VIII of England wanted to annul his marriage with Catherine of Aragon, the aunt of Emperor Charles V, Pope Clement VII couldn’t approve of it as he was a captive of the latter.

Death & Legacy

Towards the end of 1533, after returning to Rome from meeting with Francis I and Charles V, Pope Clement VII complained of severe stomach problems. He also suffered from occasional fevers. The doctors feared the worst, and on September 25, 1534, he died.

Pope Clement VII was known for his enthusiasm towards arts as well as science. He approved Nicolaus Copernicus’ theory that stated “the Earth revolves around the Sun,” a year before he died.

He also commissioned many popular artworks for various churches. Some of these are Michelangelo’s ‘The Last Judgment’ and ‘The Transfiguration’ by the legendary artist Raphael.

Facts About Pope Clement VII

Pope Clement VII had a keen interest in the arts and was a patron of many Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo and Raphael.

He was known for his diplomatic skills and played a key role in mediating conflicts between European powers during his papacy.

Pope Clement VII was the first pope to excommunicate King Henry VIII of England, leading to the English Reformation.

He was a lover of luxury and was known for hosting lavish banquets and events at the Vatican.

Pope Clement VII was a skilled linguist and was fluent in several languages, including Latin, Italian, and French.

Pope Clement VII Biography

You wanted to know

When was Pope Clement VII elected as Pope?

What was the main conflict during the papacy of Pope Clement VII?

What was the outcome of the Sack of Rome during Pope Clement VII's reign?

How did Pope Clement VII handle the Protestant Reformation?

What was the significance of Pope Clement VII's decision to refuse King Henry VIII's divorce request?