John XV, Pope : The Greedy Pontiff Who Made First Papal Canonization

A circular engraved bust portrait from 1870 of Pope John XV from the 10th century AD looking left, the papal arms included below.

Pope John XV was the controversial head of the Catholic Church from 985 to 996 AD. Though he made the first papal canonization in history, his reputation suffered due to greed, nepotism, and his domination by the Roman Crescentii family. His political maneuvering led to conflict, though his canonization of Bishop Ulrich was a landmark […]

Urban VIII, Pope | Power and Patronage

Urban-VIII-bust-by-Bernini

Pope Urban VIII, born Maffeo Barberini (1568-1644), held the papacy during the politically tumultuous decades of the Thirty Years’ War. Seeking to raise the temporal power of the papacy, Urban pursued sometimes divisive political policies while also actively supporting advancement in the arts and sciences. His reign witnessed both towering achievements and sharp controversies. Ascent […]