Pope Pius IV

(Giovanni Angelo Medici).

B. 31 March, 1499, at Milan; elected 26 December, 1559; d. in Rome 9 Dec.,

1565. The Medici of Milan lived in humble circumstances and the proud

Florentine house of the same name claimed no kindred with them until Cardinal

Medici was seated on the papal throne. His father Bernardino had settled in

Milan and gained his livelihood by farming the taxes. Bernardino had two

enterprising sons, both able to rise in the world by different roads. The oldest,

Giangiacomo, became a soldier of fortune and after an adventurous career

received from the emperor the title of Marchese di Marignano. He commanded

the imperial troops who conquered Siena. Giovanni Angelo was as successful

with his books as his brother with his sword. He made his studies first at Pavia,

then at Bologna, devoting himself to philosophy, medicine, and law, in the last

mentioned branch taking the degree of doctor. He gained some reputation as a

jurist. In his twenty-eighth year he determined to embrace the ecclesiastical

state and seek his fortune in Rome. He arrived in the Eternal City, 26 Dec., 1527,

just thirty-two years to a day before his election to the papacy. From Clement VII

he obtained the office of prothonotary, and by his intelligence, industry, and

trustworthiness commended himself to Paul III who entertained the greatest

confidence in his integrity and ability and employed him in the governorship of

many cities of the papal states. In the last year of Paul III's reign, Medici, whose

brother had married an Orsini, sister to the pope's daughter- in-law, was created

cardinal-priest with the title of S. Pudenziana. Julius III made him legate in

Romagna and commander of the papal troops. The antipathy of Paul IV was

rather to his advantage than otherwise; for in the reaction which followed the

death of that morose pontiff all eyes finally settled on the man who in every

respect was Paul's opposite. The conclave dragged along for over three months,

when it was obvious that neither the French nor the Spanish-Austrian faction

could win the election. Then, mainly through the exertions of Cardinal Farnese,

the conclave by acclamation pronounced in favour of Medici. He was crowned 6

Jan., 1560, and took the name of Pius IV.

His first official act was to grant an amnesty to those who had outraged the

memory of his predecessor, Paul IV; but he refused clemency to Pompeio

Colonna, who had murdered his mother-in-law. "God forbid", he said, "that I

should begin my pontificate with condoning a parricide." The enmity of Spain and

the popular detestation of the Caraffas caused him to open a process against the

relatives of Paul IV, as a result of which Cardinal Carlo Caraffa and his brother, to

whom Paul had given the Duchy of Paliano, were condemned and executed. The

sentence was afterwards declared unjust by St. Pius V and the memory of the

victims vindicated and their estates restored. Cardinal Morone and other

dignitaries whom Paul had imprisoned for suspicion of heresy were released.

Pius IV now devoted his undivided attention to the completion of the labours of

the Council of Trent. He was luckier than his predecessors in the youth whom he

created cardinal-nephew. This was St. Charles Borromeo, the glory of Milan and

of the Universal Church in the sixteenth century. Pius had the satisfaction of

seeing the close of the long-continued council and the triumph of the papacy over

the antipapal tendencies which at times asserted themselves. His name is

immortally connected with the "Profession of Faith", which must be sworn to by

everyone holding an ecclesiastical office. The few years which remained to him

after the close of the council were devoted to much needed improvements in

Rome and the papal states. Unfortunately for his popularity, these works could

not be perfected without the imposition of additional taxes. Amid the numerous

embellishments with which his name is connected, one of the most useful was

the founding of the pontifical printing-office for the issuing of books in all

languages. He procured the necessary type and placed the institution under the

able superintendence of Paul Minutius. In addition to the heavy expenses

incurred in the fortification and embellishment of Rome, Pius was under

obligation to contribute many hundred thousands of scudi to the support of the

war against the Turks in Hungary.

The mildness of Pius IV in dealing with suspects of heresy, so different from the

rigour of his predecessor, made many suspect his own orthodoxy. A fanatic

named Benedetto Ascolti, "inspired by his guardian angel", made an attempt

upon his life. A more formidable foe, the Roman fever, carried him off 9 Dec.,

1565, with St. Philip Neri and St. Charles Borromeo at his pillow. He was buried

first in St. Peter's, but 4 June, 1583, his remains were transferred to

Michelangelo's great church of S. Maria degli Angeli, one of Pius's most

magnificent structures. "Pius IV", says the fearless Muratori, "had faults (who is

without them?); but they are as nothing compared with his many virtues. His

memory shall ever remain in benediction for having brought to a glorious

termination the Council of Trent; for having reformed all the Roman tribunals; for

having maintained order and plenty in his dominion; for having promoted to the

cardinalate men of great merit and rare literary ability; finally, for having avoided

excess of love for his kindred, and enriched Rome by the building of so many fine

edifices."

RANKE, History of the Popes in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries; MURATORI, Annali

d'Italia; VON REUMONT, Geschichte der Stadt Rom; ARTAND DE MONTOR, History of the Popes

(New York, 1867).

JAMES F. LOUGHLIN

Transcribed by Herman F. Holbrook

Peter, I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. Luke 22.32

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII

Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor

Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York