Pope Paul III
Alessandro Farnese entered the world on the 29th of February 1468 in Canino, Latium. His family background carried a heavy shadow of scandal that followed him into the highest offices of the Church. Alessandro's sister Giulia was rumored to be a mistress of Pope Alexander VI during her brother's early career. This connection led some contemporaries to mock Alessandro as the "Borgia brother-in-law" or even use crude nicknames like "Cardinal Pussy." The Venetian nobleman Soriano recorded these rumors in 1535, noting how deeply the gossip had penetrated public discourse.
Before his rise to power, Alessandro lived a notably dissolute life as a young cleric. He took a mistress named Silvia Ruffini between 1500 and 1510. She bore him at least four children: Costanza, Pier Luigi, Paolo, and Ranuccio. In July 1505, Pope Julius II legitimated the two eldest sons so they could inherit the Farnese family estates. A second legitimation came from Pope Leo X on the 23rd of June 1513 for Pier Luigi and Ranuccio.
His ecclesiastical career began slowly despite his connections. Alessandro became Bishop of Parma on the 28th of March 1509 but did not receive priestly ordination until the 26th of June 1519. He only received episcopal consecration on the 2nd of July 1519. Under Pope Clement VII he eventually rose to become Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and Dean of the College of Cardinals.
The death of Clement VII in 1534 left the Catholic Church in a state of uncertainty following the Sack of Rome in 1527. Alessandro was elected Pope Paul III on the 13th of October 1534. The cardinals viewed him as an ideal choice because his poor health suggested a short papacy that would give them time to select a proper candidate later. On the 3rd of November, Paul III was formally crowned by protodeacon Innocenzo Cybo.
Paul III quickly moved to address the Protestant Reformation with active reform measures. On the 2nd of June 1536, he summoned a general council to meet at Mantua in May of the following year. Opposition from Protestant princes and Duke Federico II Gonzaga frustrated this initial project. Paul deferred for a year before discarding the entire plan.
In 1536, the pope invited nine eminent prelates to report on church reformation. They produced the celebrated Consilium de emendenda ecclesia exposing gross abuses in Roman Curia administration and public worship. Martin Luther published an edition of this report in 1538 prefaced with a vignette showing cardinals cleaning the Augean stable with foxtails instead of brooms. No results followed from the committee's recommendations despite wide printing.
The Council of Trent finally convoked on the 15th of March 1545 under the bull Laetare Hierusalem after years of political maneuvering. Emperor Charles V insisted on a larger council following the fruitless Regensburg Conference. The emperor concluded a covenant of joint action with papal legate Cardinal Alessandro Farnese agreeing to aid war against German Protestant princes.
On the 27th of September 1540, Paul III formally approved the establishment of the Society of Jesus through the papal bull Regimini militantis Ecclesiae. Originally he restricted the fledgling order to 60 members in the bull Iniunctum nobis but lifted that restriction upon seeing their effectiveness. In 1548 he permitted Saint Ignatius of Loyola to print his Spiritual Exercises.
Paul also approved the Rule of the Somaschi Fathers in 1540 and the Rule for the Ursulines on the 9th of June 1544 through the bull Regimini Universalis. These new religious orders formed the backbone of the Counter-Reformation response to Protestant challenges across Europe.
Political complications arose as Paul prioritized family interests over Church unity. He forcibly wrested the Duchy of Camerino from the duke of Urbino in 1540 to vest it upon his grandson Ottavio Farnese. This decision incurred virtual war with his own subjects and vassals through burdensome taxes.
Perugia renounced its obedience and was besieged by Paul's son Pier Luigi before forfeiting its freedom entirely. The burghers of Colonna were vanquished while Ascanio was banished in 1541. The pope planned to acquire Parma and Piacenza duchies for his son Pier Luigi despite these territories belonging to the Papal States.
Relations with Emperor Charles V cooled when Ferrante Gonzaga, imperial vice-regent, forcibly expelled Pier Luigi. In 1547 the pope's son was assassinated at Piacenza. Paul III placed some blame on the emperor during this violent period. The situation led to a total rupture between papal and imperial forces that would shape European politics for decades.
In May, June 1537, Paul issued the bull Sublimis Deus declaring indigenous peoples human beings who should not be robbed of their freedom or possessions. Prein described this document as the "Magna Carta" for human rights of indigenous peoples in the Americas. The implementing document Pastorale officium declared automatic excommunication for anyone failing to abide by the new ruling.
Strong opposition from the Council of the West Indies and the Spanish Crown declared it violated their patronato rights. The pope annulled the orders the following year with the document Non Indecens Videtur. Despite annulment, the original bull continued circulating and being quoted by las Casas and others supporting Indian rights.
Falkowski noted Sublimis Deus had the effect of revoking Alexander VI's Inter caetera while leaving colonizers the duty of converting native people. Father Gustavo Gutierrez called it the most important papal document relating to native Indians addressed to all Christians. Maxwell argued the bull did not change traditional teaching that enslavement was permissible if considered enemies of Christendom through just war.
Michelangelo painted the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel under Paul III's supervision despite initial commissioning by Pope Clement VII. Paul renewed the commission following his predecessor's death in 1534 and oversaw its completion in 1541. As a cardinal Alessandro had begun construction of Palazzo Farnese in central Rome before election to papacy.
The palace received architectural refinement from Michelangelo after Antonio da Sangallo the Younger designed it initially. Giacomo della Porta completed the building which proclaimed family power and wealth like Alessandro's Villa Farnese at Caprarola. In 1546 Paul appointed elderly Michelangelo to supervise St. Peter's Basilica construction after Sangallo's death.
Titian painted a portrait of the pope in 1543 followed by a well-known portrait of Paul III with grandsons Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and Ottavio Farnese Duke of Parma in 1546. Both portraits now reside in Naples' Capodimonte Museum. Michelangelo also moved ancient bronze Emperor Marcus Aurelius to Capitoline Hill where it became centerpiece to Piazza del Campidoglio.
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Common questions
When was Pope Paul III born and where did he enter the world?
Alessandro Farnese entered the world on the 29th of February 1468 in Canino, Latium. His family background carried a heavy shadow of scandal that followed him into the highest offices of the Church.
Who were the children of Alessandro Farnese before his election as pope?
Alessandro Farnese took a mistress named Silvia Ruffini between 1500 and 1510 who bore him at least four children: Costanza, Pier Luigi, Paolo, and Ranuccio. Pope Julius II legitimated the two eldest sons in July 1505 so they could inherit the Farnese family estates.
What date did Pope Paul III convene the Council of Trent?
The Council of Trent finally convoked on the 15th of March 1545 under the bull Laetare Hierusalem after years of political maneuvering. Emperor Charles V insisted on a larger council following the fruitless Regensburg Conference to address Protestant challenges across Europe.
Which papal bull did Pope Paul III issue regarding indigenous peoples in 1537?
Paul issued the bull Sublimis Deus in May and June 1537 declaring indigenous peoples human beings who should not be robbed of their freedom or possessions. The implementing document Pastorale officium declared automatic excommunication for anyone failing to abide by the new ruling despite later annulment.
When was Michelangelo's Last Judgement completed under the supervision of Pope Paul III?
Michelangelo oversaw the completion of the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel in 1541 following his renewal of the commission after Pope Clement VII died in 1534. Paul also appointed elderly Michelangelo to supervise St. Peter's Basilica construction in 1546 after Sangallo's death.