Leo XI's papacy is one of the shortest in history, but the path that led to it was long. A member of the powerful Medici family, he served Florence and Rome as a churchman for decades. As papal envoy to France he helped reconcile the Holy See with Henry IV after the king's conversion to Catholicism. That work made him a favourite of the French at the conclave of 1605. He was already about 69 when elected. He fell ill within weeks and died before he could shape the Church.
Key Milestones
1574: Becomes Archbishop of Florence
1583: Made a cardinal
1605: Elected pope, dying weeks later
Pope Leo XI (Italian: Leone XI; 2 June 1535 – 27 April 1605), born Alessandro di Ottaviano de' Medici, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1 April 1605 to his death, on 27 April 1605. His pontificate is one of the briefest in history, lasting under a month.
