Pope Pius V

Pontificate

Before Ghislieri could return to his episcopate, Pius IV died, and on January 7, 1566, he was elected to the papal chair with duly attendant prodigies, his coronation taking place on his birthday, ten days later. Fully alive to the necessity of restoring discipline and morality at Rome to ensure success without, he at once proceeded to reduce the cost of the papal court after the manner of the Benedictine Order to which he belonged, compel residence among the clergy, regulate inns, expel prostitutes, and assert the importance of the ceremonial in general and the liturgy of the Mass in particular. In his wider policy, which was characterized throughout by an effective stringency, the maintenance and increase of the efficacy of the Inquisition and the enforcement of the canons and decrees of the Council of Trent had precedence over other considerations. The prudence of Comniendone saved him at the commencement of his pontificate from trouble with Germany, as in the general diet of the empire at Augsburg (March 26, 1566). Pius recognized attacks on papal supremacy in the Catholic Church and was desirous of limiting their advancement. In France, where his influence was stronger, he directed the dismissal of Cardinal Odet de Coligny and seven bishops, nullified the royal edict tolerating the extra-mural services of the Reformers, introduced the Roman catechism, restored papal discipline, and strenuously opposed all compromise with heretics among the nobility, whose practice of confiscating Church properties and imposing the Protestant religion on their subjects unfortunately culminated in the spontaneous uprising in France known as the massacre of St. Bartholomew.

Related Topics:
January 7 - Canons - Council of Trent - Comniendone - Germany - Diet - Augsburg - March 26 - 1566 - France - Cardinal Odet de Coligny - Catechism - Massacre of St. Bartholomew

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In the list of more important bulls issued by him the famous bull In Coena Domini (1568) takes a leading place; but amongst others throwing light on his character and policy there may be mentioned his prohibition of quaestuary (February 1567 and January 1570); the condemnation of Michael Baius, the heretical professor of Leuven (1567); the reform of the breviary (July 1568); the denunciation of the dirum nefas (August 1568); the banishment of the Jews from the ecclesiastical dominions except Rome and Ancona (1569); the injunction of the use of the reformed missal (July 1570); the confirmation of the privileges of the Society of Crusaders for the protection of the Inquisition (October 1570); the dogmatic certainty of the miraculous conception (November 1570); the suppression of the Fratres Humiliati for profligacy (February 1571); the approbation of the new office of the Blessed Virgin (March 1571); the enforcement of the daily recitation of the canonical hours (September 1571); and the purchase of assistance against the Turks by offers of plenary pardon (March 1572). His response to the abuses under Elizabeth I was shown, not only in the countenance lent by him to Mary Stuart and those who sought in her name to deliver England "ex turpissima muliebris libidinis servitute", but in the publication of a bull, Regnans in Excelsis, dated April 27, 1570, declaring Elizabeth a heretic and releasing her subjects from their allegiance to her.

Related Topics:
Bulls - 1568 - Quaestuary - 1567 - 1570 - Michael Baius - Leuven - Breviary - Jew - Ecclesiastical dominions - Ancona - 1569 - Missal - Society of Crusaders - Fratres Humiliati - 1571 - Blessed Virgin - Turks - 1572 - Elizabeth I - Mary Stuart - England - Regnans in Excelsis - April 27

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He persistently and successfully attempted to form a general league against the Turks, as the result of which the Battle of Lepanto (October 7, 1571) was won by the combined fleet under Colonna. Three national synods were held during his pontificate - at Naples under Cardinal Alfonso Caraffa (whose family had, after inquiry, been reinstated by Pius V), at Milan under Carlo Borromeo, and at Machim.

Related Topics:
Battle of Lepanto - October 7 - 1571 - Colonna - Synod - Naples - Alfonso Caraffa - Milan - Carlo Borromeo - Machim

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After his election to the papacy, Pius V continued to wear white, the color of his Dominican habit. Every pope since has also worn white clothing. Prior to Pius V, popes, like cardinals, wore red. This is why some papal accessories, such as the papal shoes, camauro, mozetta, and cappello romano, are red.

Related Topics:
Papal shoes - Camauro - Mozetta - Cappello romano

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He died on May 1, 1572, and he was canonized by Clement XI on May 24, 1712. He was succeeded by Gregory XIII.

Related Topics:
Canonized - Clement XI - May 24 - 1712 - Gregory XIII

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