“Since God has given us the papacy, let us enjoy it.” Oh and a guy named Martin Luther and the Protestant Revolution. In this episode of Habemus Papam, Fr. Conrad Murphy discusses the busy papacy of Pope Leo X.
Birth
Born Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici on December 11, 1475 into the prominent political and banking family, the Medicis of Florence. Pope Innocent VIII, a relative, named Giovanni cardinal of Santa Maria in Domnica on March 8, 1488 at only 13 years old. Late, the Sacred College of Cardinals admitted him into the College of Cardinals on March 23, 1492.
After Piero de’ Medici died in 1503, Giovanni became head of the Medici family, the same year Julius the II became pope. Julius II sent Giovanni as the papal legate to venture against the French. The French captured Giovanni.
Election
On March 9, 1513, Giovanni became pope. He was the last pope elected who was not already a priest. On March 15, 1513, Giovanni received Holy Orders and became a bishop on March 17, 1513. Finally, the Church crowned the Pope on March 19th at 37 years old. Pope Leo X engaged in war and politics, which distracted him from the theological disputes that emerged in Germany.
In Germany, Martin Luther wrote is Ninety-five Theses about his concerns on the misconduct of indulgences in 1517. This pamphlet spread Luther’s theses throughout Germany and Europe. War and politics distracted Pope Leo X and he did not comprehend Luther’s impact. Pope Leo’s response Exsurge Domine, in 1520 came too late. Later, Pope Leo exommunicated Luther by the bull Decet Romanum Pontificem on January 3, 1521.
Death
On December 1, 1521, Pope Leo X caught bronchopneumonia and died. He died so suddenly that last rites could not be administered. They buried him in Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Pope Adrian VI succeeded him.
