Pope Julius II

Early life

He was a nephew of Sixtus IV. By his uncle, who took him under his special charge, he was educated among the Franciscans, and latterly sent to a convent in La Pérouse with the special purpose of obtaining a knowledge of the sciences. He does not appear, however, to have joined the order of St. Francis, but to have remained one of the secular clergy until his elevation in 1471 to be bishop of Carpentras, France, shortly after his uncle succeeded to the papal chair. In the same year he was promoted to be cardinal, taking the same title as that formerly held by his uncle, Cardinal of San Pietro ad Vincula. With his uncle he obtained very great influence, and in addition to the archbishopric of Avignon he held no fewer than eight bishoprics (e.g. Lausanne 1472-76). In the capacity of papal legate he was sent in 1480 to France, where he remained four years, and acquitted himself with such ability that he soon acquired a paramount influence in the College of Cardinals, an influence which rather increased than diminished during the pontificate of Innocent VIII.

Related Topics:
Sixtus IV - Franciscan - 1471 - Bishop - Carpentras - France - Avignon - Lausanne - 1472 - 76 - 1480 - College of Cardinals - Innocent VIII

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