Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 6: Marcellus II

Unlike Silverius, Marcellus II was well-suited to becoming pope. His father was friends with Clement VII, which got a pre-papal Marcellus a job at the Vatican, and he would later become secretary to Paul III. While in that role he was also made a cardinal, served as nuncio to Spain, and was one of the three presidents of the Council of Trent.

Marcellus was seen as a potential successor to Paul III, but the disfavor of the Holy Roman Emperor and a bout of malaria took him out of the running. When Paul's successor, Julius III, died in 1555, Marcellus was elected after four days of wrangling between factions supporting the French and the HRE. He opted to keep his birth name, and is the last pope to have done so.

Marcellus was keen to implement reforms, but quickly took ill due to the combined strains of Holy Week duties, the conclave, and the coronation ceremonies. He did manage to address the ambassadors of France and Spain on maintaining peace, and implemented some cost-saving measures to help the Vatican finances. But 22 days into his reign he suffered a stroke and died.