Pope Paul IV, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetPope Paul IV
pope of catholic church 1555-1559
Date of Birth: 28-Jun-1476
Place of Birth: Capriglia Irpina, Campania, Italy
Date of Death: 18-Aug-1559
Profession: diplomat, Catholic priest
Zodiac Sign: Cancer 
About Pope Paul IV
- Pope Paul IV, C.R.
- (Latin: Paulus IV; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559), born Gian Pietro Carafa, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death in 1559.
- While serving as papal nuncio in Spain, he developed an anti-Spanish outlook that later coloured his papacy.
- A part of the Papal States was invaded by Spain during his papacy and in response to this, he called for a French military intervention.
- To avoid a conflict at the same time of the Italian War of 1551–1559, the Papacy and Spain reached a compromise with the Treaty of Cave: French and Spanish forces left the Papal States and the Pope adopted a neutral stance between France and Spain.Carafa was appointed bishop of Chieti, but resigned in 1524 in order to found with St.
- Cajetan the Congregation of Clerics Regular (Theatines).
- Recalled to Rome, and made Archbishop of Naples, he was instrumental in setting up the Roman Inquisition, and was opposed to any dialogue with the emerging Protestant party in Europe.
- Carafa was elected pope in 1555 through the influence of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese in the face of opposition from Emperor Charles V.
- His papacy was characterized by strong nationalism in reaction to the influence of Philip II of Spain and the Habsburgs.
- He compelled the Jews of Rome to wear distinctive clothing and confine themselves to a ghetto.
- The appointment of Carlo Carafa as Cardinal Nephew damaged the papacy further when Paul was forced to remove him from office following a scandal.
- He curbed many clerical abuses in Rome, but his methods were seen as harsh.
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