Editing Pope Leo XI (section)

=== Early life ===
Alessandro di Ottaviano de' Medici was born in [[Florence]]<ref name="catholic">{{cite CE1913|wstitle=Pope Leo XI}}</ref> as the son of [[Ottaviano de' Medici]] and Francesca [[Salviati family|Salviati]]. His family belonged to [[Princes of Ottajano|Medici di Ottajano]], a cadet branch of the [[House of Medici]]. Ottaviano died early in his son's life, and thereafter Alessandro was home schooled by a [[Order of Preachers|Dominican]] priest, Vincenzo Ercolano.<ref name="McBrien p.298">{{cite book |first=Richard P. |last=McBrien |title=Lives of the Popes |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2000 |page=298 |isbn=0-06-065304-3 }}</ref>

Alessandro felt the call to the priesthood, but his mother opposed this since he was the only male in the family. She sent him instead to the court of the [[Grand Duke of Tuscany]], who appointed him a [[Order of Saint Stephen|knight of San Stefano]]. In 1560 he travelled to [[Rome]] where he commenced a lifelong friendship and collaboration with [[Philip Neri]], the future saint. It was Philip who predicted that Alessandro would ascend to the pontificate. His mother died in 1566, at which point he resumed his studies to become a priest. His ordination took place on 22 July 1567.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pope Leo XI|publisher=Saints SQPN}}</ref>