Pope Clement IX

Giulio Rospigliosi came from nobility, studied at Pisa, and moved through church ranks as both diplomat and man of letters — writing poetry and drama while serving as nuncio to Spain. Elevated to cardinal, he was elected Pope Clement IX in 1667 and spent his brief pontificate mediating European wars while refusing to enrich his own family, earning unusual affection in Rome. He canonized three saints, created a dozen cardinals, and commissioned Bernini while patronizing the arts with the fervor of a former playwright. His efforts to rally European powers against the Ottoman siege of Crete faile…