Editing Pope Gregory XV

{{Short description|Head of the Catholic Church from 1621 to 1623}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Pope
| honorific-prefix = [[List of popes|Pope]]
| name = Gregory XV
| title = [[Bishop of Rome]]
| image = Gregorius XV, by Guercino, 1622.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Portrait by [[Guercino]], 1622<br>(oil on canvas, [[Getty Center]], [[Los Angeles]])
| birth_name = Alessandro Ludovisi
| church = [[Catholic Church]]
| term_start = 9 February 1621
| term_end = 8 July 1623
| predecessor = [[Paul V]]
| successor = [[Urban VIII]]
| ordination = 
| ordinated_by = 
| consecration = 1 May 1612
| consecrated_by = [[Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese|Scipione Cardinal Caffarelli-Borghese]]
| cardinal = 19 September 1616
| created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Paul V|Paul V]]
| birth_date = 9 January 1554
| birth_place = [[Bologna]], [[Papal States]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1623|7|8|1554|1|9|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Rome]], Papal States
| coat_of_arms = C o a Gregorius XV.svg
| signature = Signature of Pope Gregory XV.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| previous_post = {{Indented plainlist|
* [[Apostolic Signatura|Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura]] (1593–1596)
* [[Vicegerent|Vicegerent of Rome]] (1597–1598)
* [[Sacred Roman Rota|Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota]] (1599–1612)
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bologna|Archbishop of Bologna]] (1612–1621)
* [[Santa Maria in Traspontina|Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Traspontina]] (1616–1621)
}}
| other = Gregory
| alma_mater = [[University of Bologna]]
}}

'''Pope Gregory XV''' ({{langx|la|Gregorius XV}}; {{langx|it|Gregorio XV}}; 9 January 1554 – 8 July 1623), born '''Alessandro Ludovisi''', was the head of the [[Catholic Church]] and ruler of the [[Papal States]] from 9 February 1621 until his death in 1623. He is notable for founding the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, an organization tasked with overseeing the spread of Catholicism and [[missionary work]]. Gregory XV was also responsible for the canonization of Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Ávila, and Philip Neri, which solidified his commitment to the Counter-Reformation.{{sfn|Baynes|1878|pp=178–179}}

==Biography==
{{Infobox popestyles|
|image      = C o a Gregorius XV.svg
|dipstyle   = His Holiness
|offstyle   = Your Holiness
|relstyle   = Holy Father
|deathstyle = None
}}

===Early life===
Alessandro Ludovisi was born in [[Bologna]] on 9 January 1554<ref>{{cite news |title=UPI Almanac for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2020/01/09/UPI-Almanac-for-Thursday-Jan-9-2020/6871578415895/ |url-status=live |quote=…Pope Gregory XV in 1554 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=9 January 2020 |access-date=16 January 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200115192229/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2020/01/09/UPI-Almanac-for-Thursday-Jan-9-2020/6871578415895/ |archive-date=15 January 2020}}</ref> to Pompeo Ludovisi, [[Count]] of [[Samoggia]] (now [[Savigno]] in the [[Province of Bologna]]) and Camilla Bianchini. He was the third of seven children.

He was educated at the [[Collegio Romano|Roman College]] run by the [[Society of Jesus]] in Rome, and also at the [[German College]] in Rome.{{sfn|Ott|1910}} He later attended the [[University of Bologna]] to obtain degrees in [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|canon]] and [[Roman law]], which he received on 4 June 1575. His early career was as a papal jurist in Rome, and there is no evidence that he had been [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the [[priesthood]].

He returned to Rome in 1575 and he served as the Referendary of the [[Apostolic Signatura]] from 1593 to 1596 and was appointed as the [[Vicegerent]] of Rome in 1597, a position he maintained until 1598. He also served as the Auditor of the [[Sacred Roman Rota]] from 1599 to 1612.

On 12 March 1612, [[Pope Paul V]] appointed him as the [[Archdiocese of Bologna|Archbishop of Bologna]], for which he was presumably ordained to the priesthood and then he was [[consecrated]] a [[bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]] on 1 May of that year in the church of [[Sant'Andrea al Quirinale]] in Rome.

In August 1616, the pope sent him as [[papal nuncio|Apostolic Nuncio]] to the [[Duchy of Savoy]], to mediate between [[Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy]] and [[Philip III of Spain]] in their dispute concerning the [[House of Gonzaga|Gonzaga]] [[Duchy of Montferrat]].{{sfn|Ott|1910}}{{efn|The dispute eventually led to the [[War of the Mantuan Succession]], which lasted 1628–31.}}

On 19 September 1616, Pope Paul V elevated him to the rank of cardinal and appointed him as a [[Cardinal Priest]] with the [[titular church]] of [[Santa Maria in Traspontina]].

==Papacy==
[[File:Bust of Pope Gregory XV by Bernini 1621.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|''[[Bust of Pope Gregory XV]]'', 1621 by [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini]]]]
===Papal conclave===
{{main|1621 papal conclave}}
Ludovisi remained in his [[episcopal see]] in Bologna until he went to Rome after the death of [[Pope Paul V]] to take part in the conclave at which he was chosen as pope and he selected the pontifical name of "Gregory XV". He was [[Papal coronation|crowned]] on 14 February 1621 by the [[protodeacon]], Cardinal [[Andrea Baroni Peretti Montalto]], and assumed possession of the [[Basilica of Saint John Lateran]] on 14 May 1621.

At the moment of his election, chiefly through the influence of Cardinal [[Scipione Borghese]], at his advanced age (he was 67) and with his weak state of health he saw at once that he would need an energetic man, in whom he could place implicit confidence, to assist him in the government of the Church. His nephew [[Ludovico Ludovisi]], a young man of 25 years, seemed to him to be the right person and, at the risk of being charged with [[nepotism]], he created him cardinal on the third day of his pontificate. On the same day, his youngest brother [[Orazio Ludovisi|Orazio]] was appointed [[Captain General of the Church]] at the head of the Papal army.{{sfn|Ott|1910}}
[[File:Ludovico Ludovisi with Gregory XV.jpg|thumb|150px|Pope Gregory XV with his [[cardinal-nephew]] of unprecedented income and authority, [[Ludovico Ludovisi]], known as ''il cardinale padrone'']]

The future revealed that Gregory XV was not disappointed in his nephew. The ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' allows that "Ludovico, it is true, advanced the interests of his family in every possible way, but he also used his brilliant talents and his great influence for the welfare of the Church, and was sincerely devoted to the pope".{{sfn|Ott|1910}} Gregory secured for the Ludovisi two dukedoms, one for his brother Orazio, made a ''Nobile Romano'' and [[Duke]] of [[Fiano Romano]], 1621, and the other, the [[Duchy]] of [[Zagarolo]], purchased from the [[Colonna family|Colonna]] family by his nephew [[Ludovico Ludovisi]] in 1622. A second nephew, [[Niccolò Ludovisi|Niccolò]], was made reigning [[Principality of Piombino|Prince of Piombino]] and Lord of the Isola d'[[Elba]] in 1634, having married the heiress, 30 March 1632.

===Actions===
Gregory XV interfered little in European politics, beyond assisting [[Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor]], and the [[Catholic League (German)|Catholic League]] against the [[Protestants]],{{sfn|Baynes|1878|pp=178–179}} to the tune of a million gold [[ducat]]s,{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} and [[Sigismund III Vasa]], King of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], against the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{sfn|Baynes|1878|pp=178–179}} His ''Declaration against Magicians and Witches'' (''Omnipotentis Dei'', 20 March 1623) was the last papal ordinance against [[witchcraft]]. Former punishments were lessened, and the death penalty was limited to those who were "proved to have entered into a [[deal with the Devil|compact with the devil]], and to have committed homicide with his assistance".{{sfn|Ott|1910}}

He was a learned theologian and manifested a reforming spirit.{{sfn|Baynes|1878|pp=178–179}} As an example, his [[papal bull]] of 15 November 1621, ''[[Aeterni Patris Filius]]'', regulated papal elections, which henceforth were to be by secret ballot; three methods of election were allowed: by scrutiny, compromise and [[Acclamation (in Papal Elections)|quasi-inspiration]]. Whereas Popes [[Pope Gregory XIII|Gregory XIII]] and [[Pope Clement VIII|Clement VIII]] had previously established temporary congregations of cardinals to look after the interest of particular foreign missions, Gregory XV established a permanent congregation, the [[Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith]], on 6 January 1622, to operate as the missionary arm of the [[Holy See]].{{sfn|Ott|1910}}

He was influential in bringing the Bolognese artist [[Guercino]] to Rome, a landmark in the development of the High [[Baroque]] style. He sat for his portrait busts, [[Bust of Pope Gregory XV|one of which]] was by [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini]] and by [[Alessandro Algardi]], whose restrained bust in a ''[[tondo (art)|tondo]]'' is in the Church of [[Santa Maria in Vallicella]].

===Consistories===
{{main|Cardinals created by Gregory XV}}
The pope created eleven cardinals in four consistories that saw him elevate his nephew Ludovico and his cousin [[Marcantonio Gozzadini]] as cardinals; he also elevated the noted [[Cardinal Richelieu|Armand Jean Richelieu]] as a cardinal.

===Canonizations and beatifications===
On 12 March 1622, the pope canonized several saints: [[Francis Xavier]], [[Ignatius of Loyola]],{{sfn|Baynes|1878|pp=178–179}} [[Isidore the Laborer]], [[Philip Neri]] and [[Teresa of Ávila]].

Gregory XV also beatified three individuals during his pontificate: [[Ambrose Sansedoni of Siena]], [[Albert the Great]], and [[Peter of Alcantara]].

===Death and burial===
[[File:Pierre legros, monumento a gregorio XV e al cardinale ludovico ludovisi, 1709-1717, 02.jpg|thumb|''Monument to Pope Gregory XV<br>and Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi'' in [[Sant'Ignazio]], by [[Pierre Le Gros the Younger]] (c. 1709–1714)]]
He had been suffering from [[Kidney stone disease|kidney stones]] for some time and was bedridden from 16 June to 1 July 1623, having been suffering from [[diarrhea]] and a [[stomach disorder]] that caused him great discomfort. His condition worsened on 4 July, as a [[fever]] greatly weakened him, leading to his receiving the [[Viaticum]] on 5 July and the [[Extreme Unction]] on 6 July, before succumbing to his illness two days later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sede Vacante 1623|access-date=20 January 2019|url=http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/SV1623.html|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Pope Gregory XV died in the [[Quirinal Palace]] on 8 July 1623. He was buried in the Church of [[Sant'Ignazio]] where more than 80 years later, the Jesuits erected a magnificent monument following the wish of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, who was also honoured in this monument.

Gregory XV was succeeded by [[Pope Urban VIII]].{{sfn|Baynes|1878|pp=178–179}}

==See also==
*[[Cardinals created by Gregory XV]]
*[[Ludovisi (family)|Ludovisi]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite web |url=http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1616.htm |work=Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church |title=Alessandro Ludovisi}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.sardimpex.com/files/LUDOVISI%20E%20MONTERENZI.htm |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20060510112128/http://www.sardimpex.com/files/LUDOVISI%20E%20MONTERENZI.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 May 2006 |work=Genealogy of the Ludovisi |title=Alessandro Ludovisi, no. F3 }}

'''Attribution:'''
*{{EB9|wstitle=Gregory XV.|volume=1|pages=178–179}}
*{{CE1913 |last=Ott |first=Michael |wstitle=Pope Gregory XV |volume=7}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category|Gregorius XV}}
* {{cite book |first1=Günther |last1=Wassilowsky |first2=Hubert |last2=Wolf |title=Päpstliches Zeremoniell in der Frühen Neuzeit – Das Diarium des Zeremonienmeisters Paolo Alaleone de Branca während des Pontifikats Gregors XV. (1621–1623) |publisher=Rhema-Verlag |location= Münster |year=2007 |isbn=978-3-930454-80-8 |language=de}}<!-- why have a German book in further reading see [[WP:NONENGEL]] -->
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Gregory (Popes)/Gregory XV |display=Gregory XV|volume=12|page=575|first=Theodore Freylinghuysen|last=Collier}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|ca}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Scipione Borghese]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Archbishop of Bologna]]|years=12 March 1612{{snd}}9 February 1621}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ludovico Ludovisi]]|rows=2}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Erminio Valenti]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Cardinal-Priest]] of [[Santa Maria in Traspontina]]|years=3 December 1618{{snd}} 9 February 1621}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pope Paul V|Paul V]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Pope]]|years=9 February 1621{{snd}}8 July 1623}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pope Urban VIII|Urban VIII]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Popes}}
{{Catholicism}}
{{History of the Catholic Church}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregory 15}}

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[[Category:Pope Gregory XV| ]]
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[[Category:Clergy from Bologna]]
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[[Category:16th-century Italian jurists]]
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[[Category:Burials at Sant'Ignazio, Rome]]
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[[Category:17th-century popes]]