Editing Pope Sixtus V (section)

==Early life==
Felice Piergentile was born on 13 December 1521 at [[Grottammare]], in the [[Papal States]],<ref>Richard P. McBrien, ''Lives of the Pope'', (HarperCollins, 2000), 292.</ref><ref>{{cite linked authority file|id=n80-49584|text=Name and date|access-date=20 August 2009}}</ref> to Francesco Piergentile (also known as Peretto di Montalto, from the city of origin [[Montalto delle Marche]]), and Mariana da Frontillo. His father had taken refuge in Grottammare to escape the oppression of the [[duke of Urbino]], finding there a job as a gardener. Sixtus was the last pope from such a poor background until [[Pius X]] was elected [[1903 papal conclave|in 1903]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Rhodes|first=Anthony Richard Ewart |title=The Power of Rome in the Twentieth century: The Vatican in the Age of Liberal Democracies, 1870–1922|year=1983 |publisher=[[Sidgwick and Jackson]]|location=[[London]]|isbn=9780283990038 |page=179|chapter=Pius X – Signs of Conciliation}}</ref>

Felice later adopted ''Peretti'' as his family name in 1551, and as a [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] was known as "Cardinal Montalto" (to reflect his affection for his homeland).<ref name="Peretti">{{cite web|title=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church – Biographical Dictionary – Consistory of 17 May 1570|url=http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1570.htm#Peretti}}</ref>

===Franciscan===
At the age of 9 years, Felice returned to [[Montalto delle Marche|Montalto]] to join his uncle in the [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] Convent of San Francesco delle Fratte. At the age of 12, he was initiated as a novice of the [[Franciscan Order]], assuming the name of Fra Felice (Friar Felix) in 1535, maintaining his birth name. From this year, he started philosophical and theological studies, moving between different convents of the Order. He finally completed his studies in the Franciscan Magna Domus of [[Bologna]] on September 1544. Three years earlier he had been ordained as a deacon.

About 1552 he was noticed by Cardinal [[Rodolfo Pio da Carpi]], Protector of the [[Franciscan order]], Cardinal Ghislieri (later [[Pope Pius V]]) and Cardinal Caraffa (later [[Pope Paul IV]]), and from that time his advancement was assured. He was sent to [[Venice]] as [[Inquisition|inquisitor general]] of the [[Venetian Holy Inquisition]],<ref name="EB1911" /> but was so severe and conducted matters in such a high-handed manner that he became embroiled in quarrels. In 1560, the Venetian government asked for his recall.

After a brief term as [[Procurator (Catholic canon law)|procurator]] of his order, he was attached in 1565 to the papal legation to [[Habsburg Spain|Spain]] headed by Cardinal Ugo Boncampagni (later [[Pope Gregory XIII]]) which was sent to investigate a charge of [[heresy]] levelled against [[Bartolomé Carranza]], [[Archbishop of Toledo]]. The violent dislike which Peretti conceived for Boncampagni had a marked influence on his subsequent actions. He hurried back to Rome upon the accession of Pius V, who made him [[apostolic vicar]] of his order and then, in 1570, [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]].<ref name=EB1911/>

===Cardinal===
During the pontificate of his political enemy Gregory XIII (1572–1585), Cardinal Montalto, as he was generally called, lived in enforced retirement, occupied with the care of his property,<ref name=EB1911/> the Villa Montalto, erected by [[Domenico Fontana]] close to the cardinal's church on the [[Esquiline Hill]], overlooking the ancient [[Baths of Diocletian]]. The first phase (1576–1580) of the building was enlarged after Peretti became pope and was able to [[Urban renewal|clear buildings to open four new streets]] in 1585–86. The villa contained two residences, the ''Palazzo Sistino'' or "Palazzo di Termini"<ref group="note">"Termini" was the name given to that district, derived in turn from the ruins of the immense [[Baths of Diocletian]] (in [[Latin language|Latin]], ''[[thermae]]'')</ref> and the casino, called the ''Palazzetto Montalto e Felice''.

This clearance programme was an undoubted gain in the relief it brought to the congestion of the crowded medieval city. Clearly, however, Romans displaced by it were furious, and resentment was still felt centuries later until the decision was taken to build [[Roma Termini railway station]], inaugurated by [[Pope Pius IX]] in 1863, on the site of the Villa, which became doomed to destruction.

Cardinal Montalto's other occupation at this period was with his studies, one of the fruits of which was an edition of the works of [[Ambrose]].<ref name=EB1911/> As pope he would personally supervise the printing of an improved edition of Jerome's [[Vulgate]].