Editing Pope Paul II (section)

==Early life==
Pietro Barbo was born in [[Venice]], the son of Niccolò Barbo and wife [[Polissena Condulmer]].<ref name=Weber>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11578a.htm Weber, Nicholas. "Pope Paul II." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 15 May 2020. {{PD-notice}}</ref> His mother was the sister of [[Pope Eugene IV]] (1431–1447). Through his father he was a member of the noble [[Barbo family]]. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope. His consequent promotion was rapid. He became [[Archdeacon]] of [[Bologna]], and [[Bishop of Cervia]] and of [[Diocese of Vicenza|Vicenza]], and in 1440 became a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal-deacon]].<ref name=WeberAttribution/> While he was in Rome, Vicenza was administered by his brother, [[Paolo Barbo (1416–1462)|Paolo Barbo]].<ref>{{DBI |first=Silvio |last=Borsari |title=Barbo, Paolo |volume=6 |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/paolo-barbo_res-36504f48-87e7-11dc-8e9d-0016357eee51_(Dizionario-Biografico)}}</ref> Barbo gained popularity through his generosity. He might have boasted that if elected pope he would buy each cardinal a villa to escape the summer heat.<ref name="D'Elia">{{cite book|first=Anthony |last=D'Elia|title=A sudden terror: The plot to kill a renaissance pope|publisher=Harvard|year=2009}}</ref>{{page needed|date=February 2020}}

After having been [[lay abbot]] of [[Santa Maria in Sylvis]] since 1441, in 1445 he succeeded [[Giuliano Cesarini]] as archpriest of the [[Vatican Basilica]]. Barbo was very influential under Eugene IV, [[Pope Nicholas V|Nicholas V]], and [[Pope Calixtus III|Calixtus III]], but less so under [[Pope Pius II|Pius II]].<ref name=WeberAttribution/> Barbo had a marked propensity to enjoy dressing up in sumptuous ecclesiastical finery.