Giovanni de' Medici (Pope Leo X)

Giovanni de' Medici, who became Pope Leo X in 1513, was a prominent Italian noble from the influential Medici family. As pope, he was a significant patron of the arts and scholar of Renaissance culture, supporting figures like Michelangelo and Raphael. His papacy was marked by lavish spending and efforts to strengthen the church’s finances, which contributed to growing unrest leading to the Reformation. Despite his cultural contributions, his administration faced criticism for corruption and indulgence, ultimately impacting the unity of the Catholic Church.