Innocent IX

Innocent IX (Bologna, July 20, 1519-Rome, December 30, 1591) was the 230th pope of the Catholic Church in 1591.

Origins and formation

Born Gian Antonio Facchinetti de Nuce into a modest family of workers in Cravegna, in the diocese of Novara in northern Italy, he studied jurisprudence, graduating in 1544 from the University of Bologna.

Ecclesiastical career

After graduation, he became secretary to Cardinal Nicolás Ardinghelli and later entered the service of Cardinal Alejandro Farnese who, as the nephew of Pope Paul III and as the brother of the Duke of Parma, was one of the most influential figures of his time.

Cardinal Farnese, who was Archbishop of Avignon, sent Fachinetti to the old papal seat as his ecclesiastical representative and later, between 1556 and 1558, entrusted him with the management of his private affairs in Parma, for which he appointed him Governor.

In 1560 he was named Bishop of Nicastro in Calabria, and with said dignity he participated in the Council of Trent in 1562. In 1566 he acted as Pope Pius V's nuncio in Venice, managing to seal the alliance between Spain and Venice against the Turks that led, in 1571, to the victory at Lepanto.

After renouncing his episcopal seat, he was named cardinal-priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1572 and, when Pope Gregory XIV was elected, who suffered from attacks of malaria, he took over the papal administration.

Papacy

Before the death of Gregory XIV, the two factions into which the College of Cardinals was divided began movements to designate the successor of the ailing pontiff.

Philip II had a decisive influence on the Spanish cardinals to, as had happened with the previous election that had seated Gregory XIV on the pontifical throne, ensure that the new pontiff was favorable to him.

The quick conclave concluded with the appointment of Fachinetti who, aware of the Spanish support in his election, supported during his two months of pontificate the cause of Felipe II and the Catholic League against Henry IV of France in the religious wars.

The brevity of his pontificate, barely two months, did not allow him to stand out for any relevant fact.

The prophecies of Saint Malachy refer to this pope as Pia civitas in bello (The pious town at war), a quote that refers to the fact that he was born in Bologna during the battles for control of the Papal states.