Pope of the Catholic Church, 1471–1484 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pope Sixtus IV (Latin: Xystus Quartus; 21 July 1414 - 12 August 1484),[1] originally Francesco della Rovere, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 213th Pope from 1471 until his death in 1484.[2]
Sixtus IV | |
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Papacy began | 9 August 1471 |
Papacy ended | 12 August 1484 |
Predecessor | Pope Paul II |
Successor | Pope Innocent VIII |
Personal details | |
Birth name | Francesco della Rovere |
Born | 21 July 1414 Celle Ligure |
Died | 12 August 1484 Rome, Italy |
Other popes named Sixtus |
He is known for beginning construction of the Sistine Chapel.[3]
Della Rovere was born in Celle Ligure, a town near Savona in Liguria.[3] His family was important.[4]
As a young man, he joined the Franciscan Order. He rose in the order to head of the Franciscans in Liguria.[3]
Della Rovere studied philosophy and theology at the University of Pavia; and he lectured at Padua, Bologna, Pavia, Siena, and Florence.[3]
In 1467, Pope Paul II raised della Rovere to the rank of Cardinal.[3]
He was elected pope on August 9, 1471.[5] He took the name Sixtus because the first day of the conclave which elected him pope was the Feast Day of St. Sixtus.[6]
Pope Sixtus was involved in Italian and European political disputes.[7]
Sixtus ordered the building of the Ponte Sisto (Sistine Bridge) across the Tiber River.[3]
The Vatican Library was enlarged during the reign of Sixtus; and the number of manuscripts grew ten times larger—from 360 during the reign of Pope Nicholas V to 3650.[8]
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