Pope Innocent IX facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pope Innocent IX |
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| Bishop of Rome | |
Portrait engraving by Agostino Carracci, 1591
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 29 October 1591 |
| Papacy ended | 30 December 1591 |
| Predecessor | Gregory XIV |
| Successor | Clement VIII |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 11 March 1544 |
| Consecration | 1560 |
| Created Cardinal | 12 December 1583 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti |
| Born | 20 July 1519 Bologna, Papal States |
| Died | 30 December 1591 (aged 72) Rome, Papal States |
| Previous post |
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| Education | University of Bologna |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Other Popes named Innocent | |
Pope Innocent IX (born Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti) was the leader of the Catholic Church. He was also the ruler of the Papal States. He served as Pope for a very short time, from October 29 to December 30, 1591.
Before becoming Pope, he was a church lawyer. He also worked as a diplomat and a top administrator. This was during the time of Pope Gregory XIV, who ruled just before him.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti was born in Bologna, Italy, on July 20, 1519. His family came from a town called Crodo in northern Italy. His parents were Antonio Facchinetti and Francesca Cini.
He went to the University of Bologna, which was famous for law. In 1544, he earned a degree in both civil and church law. He became a priest on March 11, 1544. Later, in 1547, he was made a canon at a church in Domodossola.
Working for Cardinals
Giovanni Antonio moved to Rome and became a secretary to Cardinal Nicolò Ardinghelli. After that, he worked for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. Cardinal Farnese was the brother of the Duke of Parma and the grandson of Pope Paul III. He was a very important supporter of arts and learning at the time.
Cardinal Farnese sent Giovanni Antonio to Avignon as his church representative. Later, he called him back to Parma to manage his affairs. Giovanni Antonio served as the acting governor of Parma from 1556 to 1558. In 1559, he also became a Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura, a high court in the Catholic Church.
Becoming a Bishop and Cardinal
In 1560, Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti was named the Bishop of Nicastro. This city is in Calabria, Italy. He was the first bishop in 30 years to actually live in that area. In 1562, he attended the important Council of Trent.
Pope Pius V sent him as a special representative, called a papal nuncio, to Venice in 1566. His job was to help create an alliance between the Pope, Spain, and Venice. This alliance was formed to fight against the Turks. This effort led to a big victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
He returned from Venice in 1572. He then became the Titular Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. This was an important title, even though he didn't live in Jerusalem. He held this position until he became a cardinal.
Pope Gregory XIII made him a cardinal on December 12, 1583. He was given the title of Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati. He received his red hat and official title on January 9, 1584. Later, Pope Gregory XIV made him the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura in 1591.
Papacy
| Papal styles of Pope Innocent IX |
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| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
Even before Pope Gregory XIV passed away, different groups were already trying to choose the next Pope. These groups included those who supported Spain and those who did not. Philip II of Spain had tried to control the previous papal election. This time, the Spanish party in the College of Cardinals still had a majority.
After a quick meeting, called a conclave, they chose Facchinetti to be the next Pope. He became Pope Innocent IX. It took three votes to elect him. On October 29, he received enough votes to win. Facchinetti chose the name Innocent IX to honor Pope Innocent III.
Cardinal Andreas von Austria crowned Innocent IX as Pope on November 3, 1591. During his short time as Pope, he appointed two new cardinals. This happened on December 18, 1591.
Pope Innocent IX remembered who helped him become Pope. So, during his two months as leader, he supported Philip II of Spain. He also supported the Catholic League against Henry IV of France. This was during the French Wars of Religion. The Pope even sent an army to help. However, his death stopped his plans from being fully carried out.
His grandnephew, Giovanni Antonio Cardinal Facchinetti de Nuce, Jr., was one of the cardinals he appointed. Another family member, Cesare Facchinetti, became a cardinal much later in 1643.
Death
On December 18, Pope Innocent IX went on a pilgrimage to Rome's seven churches. He was already sick, and he caught a cold during this trip. This cold turned into a bad cough and a fever. He passed away shortly after receiving the Extreme Unction, a special religious rite for the sick.
Innocent IX died early in the morning on December 30, 1591. He was buried in a simple tomb in the Vatican grottoes.
See also
In Spanish: Inocencio IX para niños
- Cardinals created by Innocent IX
- Popes named Innocent
Images for kids
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The tomb of Innocent IX.
