The Medici Popes: Leo X & Leo XI

THE MEDICI POPES

SEAL OF LEO X

leaden with red and yellow silky thread

The Medici of Florence, one of the most legendary and influential families in the history of Europe, achieved its position through meticulous and strategic planning that passed down the generations.

In 1397, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici founded the Medici Bank and provided the foundation for the Medici legacy. Other than running its family business, the Medicis worked to great lengths to solidify its power by being involved in local politics and through securing influences on the Roman Curia (also known as the Roman Court, the adminstrative body of the Roman Catholic Church), which ultimately ruled over Florence.

From the 15th to the 17th century, there were three Medici popes and two queens of France, all holders of the most supreme power in their realms and who would secure the standing and longevity of the Medici family.

76 LEO X (1475-1521) The indulgent pope who brought on Reformation

Pope Leo X, was born Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici, the second son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, known as “Lorenzo the Magnificent.” His father understood well the importance of obtaining power in the Roman Curia. Despite Giovanni’s lack of religious interest, his father paved his path towards an exceptional ecclesiastical career. So much so that Giovanni Giovanni was chosen as a cardinal-deacon at age 13, the youngest at the time. In 1513, Giovanni was elected as Pope Leo X, the first Medici pope who ascended the pontificate for political reasons.

Born into the wealthiest and most powerful family in Florence, Giovanni received a humanistic education and grew up to become a gentleman with pleasant manners and refined tastes. After he was elected as Pope Leone X, he did not exchange luxury for modesty as his father had advised. Rather as Pope Leo X, he pursued grand architecture for the churches and commissioned legendary works of art such as those by Raphael and Michelangelo, which still remain in the Vatican today.

Leo X enjoyed leisure activities such as hunting and gambling. To much criticism, he was complacent in his attitude towards papal duties. During his pontificate, he squandered the papal treasury. To balance the debt resulted from the renovation of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Church had to sell indulgences (i.e. (papers sold in order to bring remission of punishment due to sins), which precipitated the Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther and went on to change the history of Europe forever. However, Leo X was not without merit. He lowered the tax on salt and increased the power of the three Roman magistrates who were responsible for the financial management and security of the city. In 1515, he commissioned Raphael to devise a conservation plan for Rome, preventing the destruction of many Roman monuments. He sent the papal army to recover the Medici’s control over Florence, which had been lost by his older brother Piero the Unfortunate. This effort restored the prestige of the Medici and led Florence back to the glory that it had once enjoyed under his father’s reign. Lastly, Leo X expanded the Medici’s influence outside of Italy through arranging the political marriage between his great niece Catherine de Medici with King Henry II of France.

PORTRAIT POPE LEO X

with Cardinals Luigi De Rossi and Giulio de’ Medici by Raphael Sanzio, 1517-1518 Uffizi Gallery, Florence

78 LEO XI (1535-1605) The good and pious pope of 27 days

The last Medici pope and great nephew of Leo X, Leo XI was born Alessandro Ottaviano de’ Medici, to father Ottaviano de’ Medici and mother Francesca Salviati, also of Medici descent. Despite feeling the call from God at a young age, Alessandro was prevented from joining the church by his mother as he was the only male in the family. Alessandro only began his career as a priest after her death.

As a cardinal, Alessandro was humble and well-respected. While serving as the papal legate to France, he helped to orchestrate the Peace Treaty of Vervins between France and Spain. He also restored the Catholic faith, which had been weakened by the Reformation, and forced France to allow the expelled Jesuits to return home and to sign an act of reconciliation with the Roman Church in 1596. As an avid art collector, Leo XI built an impressive collection of statues and commissioned many artworks for churches in Rome.

Alessandro was elected pope at age 70, after the death of Pope Clement VIII. He chose to be called Leo XI in honor of his great uncle Leo X. However, Leo XI caught a cold at his coronation, and died just 27 days later, making his papacy the shortest one in history. The floral carvings on his tomb served as an allusion to the brevity of his time in office.

These two Medici popes lived in a time when God was almighty and its representative, the pope, held immense political power. However, Leo X and Leo XI could not have been more different in character. Pope Leo X was a refined prince of the Renaissance, whereas Leo XI was a conservative who defended the Catholic Church against the Reformation. Although Leo XI had great respect for Leo X, he rejected his great uncle’s path in church where corruption and nepotism prevailed. At his deathbed, Leo XI refused to appoint any Medici family members as cardinals. His modesty and principled approach were praised by posterity and his kindness and generosity were forever remembered through the monumental statue at St. Peter’s Basilica. An old print of Leo XI’s monument is currently hung in the room.

A DRAWING OF THE FUNERARY MONUMENT OF POPE LEO XI

sculpted by Alessandro Algardi, 1644-1680. The drawing is likely to have been done by one of the Dutch artists living in Rome at the time