Roman Catholic Pope. Born Nicoló Sfondrato at Somma, near Milan, Italy, the son of a Milanese senator. He studied in Perugia and Padua, and was ordained a priest. He was appointed bishop of Cremona in the duchy of Milan in 1560, and took part in the Council of Trent. He was created Cardinal of Santa Cecilia by Pope Gregory XIII in December 1583, he was, however, plagued by ill health, curtailing his pursuit of his duties. Upon the death of Pope Urban VII, a prolonged conclave of more than two months, finally resulted in Sfondrato's election as Pope; he took the name of Gregory XIV. He issued a Papal Bull in 1591, in which he ordered reparation to be made to the native people of the Philippines by their conquerors, and commanded under threat of excommunication, that all native slaves in the islands should be set free. Another Bull forbade, under threat of excommunication, all wagering on the election of a pope, or the creation of new cardinals. His foray into active politics, however was disastrous. Completely under the political thumb of Phillip II of Spain, he lent energetic support to the French League in their goal of barring the legal heir, Henry of Navarre, a Protestant, the throne of France. He rather pointlessly excommunicated Henry, then threatened his adherents with excommunication; but the effect of his intervention was to rally moderate Catholics to Henry's support. He sent papal troops to Paris under the direction of his nephew in support of the League. Meanwhile, his overt nepotism angered the cardinals while the Roman people resented the food shortages and lawlessness that prevailed in their city. In the midst of all this, Gregory XIV died. His pontificate was only 10 months and 10 days in duration.