Pope Innocent IX was a pontiff of the Catholic Church who served as the head of the Church from October 29, 1591 to December 30, 1591. He was the last pope to be elected by the College of Cardinals before the papal conclave system was established. His brief papacy was marked by a number of important events, including the excommunication of the King of France, the condemnation of the Spanish Inquisition, and the establishment of the Gregorian calendar.
Innocent IX was born Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti in 1519 in Como, Italy. He was the son of a lawyer and was educated at the University of Pavia. After completing his studies, he became a professor of law at the University of Bologna. He was also a canon lawyer and a member of the Roman Curia. In 1564, he was appointed Bishop of Nicastro and in 1576 he was appointed Bishop of Cremona.
In 1591, Innocent IX was elected pope by the College of Cardinals. He was the last pope to be elected by the College of Cardinals before the papal conclave system was established. His election was seen as a compromise between the two main factions in the Church at the time, the Spanish and the French.
Innocent IX's papacy was marked by a number of important events. In 1591, he excommunicated the King of France, Henry IV, for his refusal to accept the Catholic faith. He also condemned the Spanish Inquisition, which had been established by Pope Paul IV in 1542. He also established the Gregorian calendar, which is still in use today.
Innocent IX also issued a number of important decrees. He issued a bull condemning the practice of usury, which was the practice of charging interest on loans. He also issued a bull condemning the practice of simony, which was the practice of buying or selling ecclesiastical offices. He also issued a bull condemning the practice of nepotism, which was the practice of appointing relatives to positions of power.
Innocent IX's papacy was also marked by a number of controversies. He was accused of being too lenient towards the French and too harsh towards the Spanish. He was also accused of being too lenient towards the Protestants.
Innocent IX died on December 30, 1591, after a brief papacy of only two months. He was succeeded by Pope Clement VIII.
Innocent IX's brief papacy was marked by a number of important events and controversies. He was the last pope to be elected by the College of Cardinals before the papal conclave system was established. He excommunicated the King of France, condemned the Spanish Inquisition, and established the Gregorian calendar. He also issued a number of important decrees and was accused of being too lenient towards the French and too harsh towards the Spanish. His papacy was brief, but it was an important period in the history of the Catholic Church.