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- Pope Leo X was born Giovanni di Lorenzo deMedici on the 11th of December 1475 in the Republic of Florence, Italy. Giovanni deMedici was the second born of Lorenzo the Magnificent, who was the ruler of the Florentine republic and was destined for a career in the Church from a very early age. When he was eight years old, deMedici received the tonsure (which is a ceremony that involves the cutting of hair from the head, marking the change of his status from layman to a cleric). On 8th March 1489, when he was 13 years old, his father convinced his relative Innocent VIII to name him cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Dominica. He studied theology and canon law at the University of Pisa between 1489 and 1491 and in 1492, he became a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals and took up residence in Rome.
In 1492, deMedici participated in the conclave election of a new pope following the death of Innocent VIII. He opposed the election of Cardinal Borgia (who was elected as Pope Alexander VI), unsuccessfully. After the election he returned to Florence where he lived together with his brother until November 1494 when he was exiled together with the other members of the Medici family from Florence on the grounds of claims that the family had betrayed the republic. Between 1494 and 1500, Cardinal deMedici travelled throughout northern Europe until 1500 when he returned to Italy and finally settled in Rome.
In 1503 he participated in the conclaves that elected the Pope Pius III. Cardinal deMedici was then named papal legate to Bologna and Romagna in 1511 where he supervised the reestablishment of Medici control of the republic of Florence.
Following the death of Julius II on 21st February 1513 the Sacred College of Cardinals was summoned to elect a new pope. There was need to elect a peace-loving successor to the war-loving Julius II. His election was greatly supported by youthful and noble members of the Sacred College of Cardinals. His major rival was Raffaele Riario, who received support of the older group of the College. Cardinal deMedici was elected as the new pope on 15th March 1513. He took the title of Leo X, he was ordained as a priest on the 15th of March and was then consecrated as the bishop of Rome on the 17th of March of the same year. His papal coronation then took place on the 19th of March 1513, at the age of 37. Pope Leo X was the last non-priest who was elected to be a Pope.
Pope Leo X was a lavish pope who spent not only the churchs money but also his own. Through his many enterprises he reinstated Rome as the cultural centre of Europe. During his reign as pope the construction of St. Peters Basilica, which was initiated under Julius II, was greatly accelerated. In addition the holdings of the Vatican Library were greatly increased and the arts flourished. Pope Leo X also spent many funds on charity.
Pope Leo X reigned in turbulent times for the Catholic Church. His Papacy was confronted by the Protestant reformation as well as other schisms and rebellions. Pope Leo X was also involved with the War of Urbino which lasted between February and September 1517. The war led to a crisis between pope and cardinals. Pope Leo X died on the 1st of December 1521 when he was 45 years old and was buried in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome.
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1475 - 1521 (45 years)
