Pope Leo X(originally Giovanni de Medici) was born in 1475. He was
the son of the leader of the Florentine Republic, Lorenzo the Magnificent.
After recieving his education at the court of his father and the University
of Pisa, Leo became involved with the Catholic Church and in 1492 he
became a cardinal. Leo's power within the church rose and in 1513, at
the age of thirty-eight, he was elected pope. Throughout his time as
pope Leo furthered the extravagance of the church by accelerating the
construction of St. Peter's Basilica and by enlarging the Vatican Library.
Although the church already had a tradition of extravagence, Leo created
great animosity between the church and the reformers, such as Martin
Luther.
Leo was not active theologically and did not encourage reforms necessary
to the church at the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. He fought
hard to control Italy by placing many of his family and friends in positions
of power. He also became involved in the struggle for the position of Holy
Roman emperor.
His estravagence made money collecting an important role within the
church. The church's and Leo's extravagence is what Martin Luther,
the leader of the Protestant Reformation, wrote his 95 articles for
discussion that are credited with starting of the Reformation. His
lack of ability to reform the church from within created a climate
into which the Reformation could grow. In 1521 Leo X
excommunicated Martin Luther which only accelerated the split
within the church. He died on December 1, 1591, just short of his
forty-sixth birthday.
