Nicholas V (1447-55)

Nicholas V, born Tommaso Parentucelli, was a pope of the Catholic Church from 1447 to 1455. He was a key figure in the Renaissance, and his papacy was marked by a number of important reforms and initiatives. He was a patron of the arts, a reformer of the Church, and a promoter of education and scholarship.

Nicholas V was born in 1397 in Sarzana, Italy. He was the son of a physician and was educated at the University of Bologna. He was ordained a priest in 1418 and was appointed Bishop of Bologna in 1422. He was made a cardinal in 1444 and was elected pope in 1447.

As pope, Nicholas V was a great patron of the arts. He commissioned the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica and the construction of the Vatican Library. He also commissioned the painting of the Sistine Chapel and the rebuilding of the Lateran Palace. He was a great admirer of classical antiquity and encouraged the study of ancient Greek and Latin. He also commissioned the translation of ancient Greek and Latin texts into Italian.

Nicholas V was also a reformer of the Church. He sought to strengthen the papacy and to reform the Church's administration. He established the Congregation of the Index, which was responsible for censoring books, and he issued a number of papal bulls that sought to reform the Church's finances and administration. He also sought to strengthen the Church's authority in Europe by establishing the Papal States.

Nicholas V was also a great promoter of education and scholarship. He established the University of Rome and encouraged the study of philosophy, theology, and the sciences. He also established the Vatican Library, which was a great repository of books and manuscripts. He also encouraged the study of classical antiquity and commissioned the translation of ancient Greek and Latin texts into Italian.

Nicholas V was a great patron of the arts, a reformer of the Church, and a promoter of education and scholarship. He was a key figure in the Renaissance and his papacy was marked by a number of important reforms and initiatives. He was a great admirer of classical antiquity and encouraged the study of ancient Greek and Latin. He also commissioned the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica and the construction of the Vatican Library. He established the University of Rome and encouraged the study of philosophy, theology, and the sciences. He also established the Congregation of the Index and issued a number of papal bulls that sought to reform the Church's finances and administration. He also sought to strengthen the Church's authority in Europe by establishing the Papal States. His papacy was a great success and his legacy is still felt today.