Medici Popes

The Medici Popes were members of the influential Medici family who became leaders of the Catholic Church, serving as popes during the Renaissance period. Notably, they used their religious authority to expand their political influence and patronage of the arts. The most famous Medici Pope was Leo X, whose papacy supported artists like Michelangelo and Raphael. Their leadership reflects the close ties between powerful families and the Vatican, blending spiritual authority with political and cultural ambitions, significantly shaping European history, art, and religion during the 15th and 16th centuries.