Pope Clement VII

Pope Clement VII, born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici in 1478, served as pope from 1523 to 1534. He is known for his tumultuous tenure during the Renaissance, marked by political intrigue and religious conflict. Notably, he faced the rise of Protestantism and struggled with King Henry VIII of England, who broke from the Catholic Church over marriage issues. Clement VII's papacy was also significant for the Sack of Rome in 1527, which underscored the vulnerability of the papacy. His reign reflects the complex interplay of faith, politics, and art during a transformative period in European history.