Gregory XIV: Another short papacy from another friend of St. Philip Neri.

In this episode of Habemus Papam, Fr. Conrad discusses Gregory XIV, who succeeded Pope Urban VII, an educated nobleman and canon lawyer. You can listen to the podcast about him here.

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Gregory XIV, born Niccolo Sfondrato, or Sfondrati on February 11, 1535 in Somma Lombardo in the Duchy of Milan. After his mother died when he was three, his father Francesco Sfondrati entered in the ecclesistic state and Pope Paul III created him cardinal-priest in 1544.

Niccolo studied law at Perugia. On March 13, 1560 Pope Pius IV appointed Niccolo Bishop. He participated in the sessions of the Council of Trent.

Pope Urban VII died on September 27, 1590. On December 5, 1590 the papal conclave elected Niccolo pope and he took the name Gregory XIV.

As Pope, he intervened in favour of the Catholic party in the French wars of religion. He also created five cardinals and one was his nephew Paolo Emilio Sfondrati, his secretary of state. The Pope also attempted to convince Philip Neri to become cardinal, but he refused.

He suffered from kidney stones and died on October 16, 1591.