POPE LEO X, 1513-1521

Giovanni de' Lorenzo de’ Medici was the second son of the great Lorenzo de’ Medici, ruler of Florence, and his wife Clarice Orsini. Born 11 December 1475, he was destined for an ecclesiastical career from the start. Giovanni received the tonsure at only 7, indicating he was marked for the religious life. He also received in short order certain benefices, which made him fairly rich. His father was concerned about the boy’s character, warning him to avoid vice and luxury as a youth.

Being related to Pope Innocent VIII, Lorenzo de’ Medici urged his kinsman to name the boy cardinal of Santa Maria in Domenica, at the age of 13. Being too young for the responsibility, Innocent allowed it, but without wearing any insignia nor joining deliberations of the college of cardinals for three years. The boy went to Pisa to study theology and canon law for three years.

In March, 1492, Giovanni was formally admitted to the cardinal ranks, and moved to Rome. When his father died the next month, he went home and returned in time to attend the conclave of August after Pope Innocent died. Giovanni opposed the Borgia who became Pope Alexander VI, so he moved back home to live with his brother, Piero. The invasion of France uprooted them as they were expelled from Florence, on the charge of betraying the republic. Giovanni traveled through western Europe for three years. Within a few more years, Giuliano, his younger brother became head of the Florentine republic, with Giovanni actually controlling.

The wars with France and smaller city-states continued throughout the reign of Pope Julius. In 1511, Giovanni was named papal legate for Bologna and Romagna. Julius sent Giovanni with an army to fight the French invasion, but he was caught and imprisoned for some time.

Giovanni was elected 3 March 1513 as pope. He was not a priest. So, he was ordained 15 March, consecrated 17 March and crowned 19 March. He was only 37. He took the name Leo.

PAPACY

The Fifth Lateran Council began under Pope Julius in 1512 and continued on until 1517. Some of the concerns addressed were political problems and reforming the papacy, the cardinals and the curia. But by the fifth year, most of the members of the Council seemed disheartened and lackadaisical about following through. This ended up being quite a mistake.

This time saw peace between France, Spain, Venice and the Hapsburg monarchy, the closest to Christians united against the Turks in centuries. A crusade was needed. Leo received money from Henry VIII but ended up paying him back by joining England and Spain against France. A war raged from February to September 1517. Much of it was in central Italy.  Anarchy was rampant in that area. The war ruined the papal treasury to the tune of 100,000 ducats. But, his nephew, Lorenzo, was the new duke of Urbino. And the papal treasury was out of money. Selling of indulgences became a popular fund-raiser.

Now that the war was over, Leo planned the crusade, with himself as arbiter of disputes and the emperor and the king of France leading the army. Diplomacy failed. Cardinal Wolsey decided that England should be the arbiter between France and the Empire. And much of the money collected was spent on other things. Leo had a little money to send to Hungary, which continued to fight mostly on its own, and stop the Turks from advancing.

THE REFORMATION

In 1517, with Leo’s hands full of war and crusades, Martin Luther wrote his 95 Theses on Indulgences.  The printed pamphlet spread these ideas throughout Germany and Scandinavia very quickly. Leo did not respond quickly or strongly enough. Months later he ordered the vicar-general of the Augustinian order to silence the monks. So, Luther sent an explanation to Leo. And he would not meet up with Leo. Negotiations were useless while the Lutheran ideas spread. In 1520, Leo wrote a bull condemning half of the propositions and six months later excommunicated the man. The Danish king ended his country’s churches relationship with Rome by the time the ink dried on the bull.

Leo was a pious, charitable man who loved entertainment, music, art and literature. But he avoided difficult situations. He was engrossed in amusements. He made Rome a center of Christian culture, accented antiquities and allowed printing in Greek and Hebrew.

But he ignored the Council and handled the Luther problem poorly. He is considered one of the worst popes.