Roman Catholic Pope. Giovanni Pietro Caraffa was born near Benevento, Italy into one of the most illustrious of the noble families of Naples. He was related to Cardinal Oliviero Caraffa who trained him and brought him into the Papal Court. At age 18, he became the See of Chieti (in Latin, "Theate") thus gaining the nickname, "Theatinus." Pope Leo X sent him as a papal ambassador to England and papal nuncio to Spain. Under Pope Clement VII, he resigned his office, at age 48, to enter a monastic order founded by St. Cajetan, but would be later called "Theatines," after Caraffa, who became their first general. Pope Paul III, who wanted to reform the clergy, made Caraffa a cardinal in 1536 where he reorganized the Inquisition of Italy. After the death of Pope Marcellus II, and despite the objection of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the aged cardinal was elected Pope Paul VI on May 23, 1555 just short of his 79th birthday. His four-year pontificate was very disappointing. He further alienated England by his refusal to accept Queen Elizabeth. The strengthening of the Inquisition continued under Paul IV where even Cardinals he disliked could be imprisoned. In 1555, he issued an order restricting all of Rome's Jews to live in a secluded area of Rome. This would lead to ghettos being created in most Italian towns. He elevated a number of relatives to high positions like cardinals but later banished them. After his death at age 83, Paul IV was buried in St. Peter's Basilica, but was later transferred to St. Maria sopra Minerva.
Roman Catholic Pope. Giovanni Pietro Caraffa was born near Benevento, Italy into one of the most illustrious of the noble families of Naples. He was related to Cardinal Oliviero Caraffa who trained him and brought him into the Papal Court. At age 18, he became the See of Chieti (in Latin, "Theate") thus gaining the nickname, "Theatinus." Pope Leo X sent him as a papal ambassador to England and papal nuncio to Spain. Under Pope Clement VII, he resigned his office, at age 48, to enter a monastic order founded by St. Cajetan, but would be later called "Theatines," after Caraffa, who became their first general. Pope Paul III, who wanted to reform the clergy, made Caraffa a cardinal in 1536 where he reorganized the Inquisition of Italy. After the death of Pope Marcellus II, and despite the objection of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the aged cardinal was elected Pope Paul VI on May 23, 1555 just short of his 79th birthday. His four-year pontificate was very disappointing. He further alienated England by his refusal to accept Queen Elizabeth. The strengthening of the Inquisition continued under Paul IV where even Cardinals he disliked could be imprisoned. In 1555, he issued an order restricting all of Rome's Jews to live in a secluded area of Rome. This would lead to ghettos being created in most Italian towns. He elevated a number of relatives to high positions like cardinals but later banished them. After his death at age 83, Paul IV was buried in St. Peter's Basilica, but was later transferred to St. Maria sopra Minerva.
Bio by: Frank McGady
Inscription
JESV . CHRISTO . SPEI . ET . VITAE . FIDELIVM .
PAVLO . IV . CARRAFAE . PONTIFICI . MAXIMO .
ELOQVENTIA . DOCTRINA . SINGOLARI .
INNOCENTIA . LIBERALITATE . ANIMI . MAGNITVDINE . PRAESTANTE .
SCELERVM . VINDICI . INTEGERRIMO .
CATHOLICAE . IDEI . ACERRIMO . PROPVGNATORI .
PIVS . V . PONTIFEX . MAXIMVS .
GRATI . ET . PII . ANIMI . MONVMENTVM .
POSVIT .
VIXIT . SNNOD . LXXXII . MENSES . I . DIES . XX . OBIIT . MDLIX .
XVIIII . KAL . SEPT . PONT . SVI . ANNO . V.
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