LEONE XI, POPE. — B. in Florence on 2 June 1535, d. in Rome on 27 April 1605. Alessandro, born to Ottaviano de’ Medici, of a collateral branch of the Florentine family, and Francesca Salviati, niece of Leone X, was sent by Cosimo I in 1569 as ambassador to the Curia, and remained there, to the satisfaction of the grand dukes and the popes, for almost fifteen years, during which he was appointed bishop of Pistoia (9 March 1573), archbishop of Florence (15 January 1574), and cardinal (12 December 1583).
Pious and zealous, closely associated from his youth with the Dominicans of S. Marco, and a friend and admirer of s. Filippo Neri, he endeavored to introduce the Tridentine reforms into his dioceses, and distinguished himself by his munificence in restoring Roman churches and, later, in acquiring Villa Medici on the Pincio. He worked to persuade Clement VIII to absolve Enrico IV and, after the latter’s reconciliation with the Church, was appointed legate a latere in France (3 April 1596), where he remained for more than two years. He did not succeed, nor could he have succeeded, in the principal aim of his legation, namely, restoring religious unity in France;
indeed, he recognized the necessity of an agreement with the Huguenots, from which the Edict of Nantes emerged. Nor did he obtain from Enrico IV the fulfillment of all his promises; but, through his frankness, prudence, and modesty, he won the sympathy of the King, secured some highly publicized conversions, and restored ecclesiastical discipline, which had been shaken by the wars of religion. He presided over the negotiations for the Peace of Vervins (2 May 1598) and exercised effective mediating action there. Already bishop of Albano (30 August 1600) and of Palestrina (17 June 1602), he was elected pope on 1 April 1605 with the support of France and despite the opposition of Spain. He was free of nepotism and won the gratitude of the people by abolishing onerous taxes; independent even in relation to the King of France; he sent substantial assistance to the Emperor against the Turks, convened a commission of cardinals to reform the voting system in the conclave, and settled (23 April 1605) a dispute between the clergy of Castile and León and the Jesuits, obliging the latter to contribute a share of their revenues.
He died after a very brief pontificate, deeply mourned; a monument by Algardi was erected to him in S. Pietro.
Giovanni Battista Picotti