Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 2: Leo XI

Part of the surprise over John Paul I's short run as pope came from the length of time between his papacy and the most recent one to last less than a year. For that you have to go all the way back to 1605, when Leo XI was on the throne for all of 26 days.

Leo was born Alessandro de'Medici, and as you might expect from that last name he was related to other popes (most notably Leo X, who was his grand-uncle). As you might also expect, his election involved significant politicking, as the Italian and French cardinals allied to vote for him over the objection of Spain's King Philip III. 

Similar to William Henry Harrison a couple of centuries later, Leo got sick after spending a significant amount of time outside while being installed into office. In this case, it was the ceremony marking his taking possession of the Basilica of St. John Lateran (which is the seat of the Bishop of Rome, one of the pope's many titles). Leo spiked a fever the following day, and never recovered.