Editing Pope Gregory XIV (section)

== Papacy ==

Gregory XIV's brief pontificate was marked by vigorous intervention in favour of the Catholic party in the [[French Wars of Religion]]. Instigated by the king of Spain and the [[Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne|duke of Mayenne]], he excommunicated [[Henry IV of France]] on 1 March 1591, reiterating the 1585 declaration of [[Pope Sixtus V]] that as a [[Christian heresy|heretic]] (Protestant) Henry was ineligible to succeed to the throne of Catholic France and ordered the clergy, nobles, judicial functionaries, and the Third Estate of France to renounce him.<ref name=Ott/>

Gregory XIV levied an army for the invasion of France, and dispatched his nephew Ercole Sfondrati to France at its head. He also sent a monthly subsidy of 15,000 ''[[Italian scudo|scudi]]'' to [[Paris]] to reinforce the [[Catholic League (French)|Catholic League]]. By coming down solidly on the side of Spanish interests, in part because Gregory XIV was elected due to the influence of the Spanish cardinals, the recent Papal policy of trying to maintain a balance between Spain and France was abandoned.

Gregory XIV created five cardinals in two consistories, among whom was his nephew [[Paolo Emilio Sfondrati]], his [[Cardinal Secretary of State|Secretary of State]]. He attempted to convince [[Philip Neri]], a long-time friend, to accept the post of Cardinal,<ref name="Ott"/> but Neri refused, saying that there were many more deserving of the honour than him.

In a decree dated 18 April 1591 (Bulla Cum Sicuti), Gregory XIV ordered reparations to be made by Catholics in the [[History of the Philippines (1565–1898)|Philippines]] to the natives, who had been forced into slavery by Europeans, and he commanded under pain of excommunication of the owners that all native slaves in the islands be set free.<ref name="Ott"/>

The biographers mention that Pope Gregory XIV had a nervous tendency to laughter, which occasionally became irresistible and even manifested itself at his [[Papal coronation|coronation]]. Gregory XIV, who was in poor health before his election to the papacy, died due to a large [[gallstone]] and was succeeded by [[Pope Innocent IX|Innocent IX]].