Pope Marcellus II
Pope Marcellus II (Italian: Marcello II; 6 May 1501 – 1 May 1555), born Marcello Cervini degli Spannocchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 10 April 1555 to his death, 22 days later.
Marcellus II | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
Portrait by an anonymous artist, 16th-century, Vatican Museums | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 9 April 1555 |
| Papacy ended | 1 May 1555 |
| Predecessor | Julius III |
| Successor | Paul IV |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1535 |
| Consecration | 10 April 1555 by Gian Pietro Carafa |
| Created cardinal | 19 December 1539 by Paul III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marcello Cervini degli Spannocchi 6 May 1501 |
| Died | 1 May 1555 (aged 53) Rome, Papal States |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Coat of arms | |
| Other popes named Marcellus | |
| Papal styles of Pope Marcellus II | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
| Papal styles of Pope Marcellus II | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
He succeeded Pope Julius III. Before his accession as pope he had been Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. He is the most recent pope to choose to retain his birth name as his regnal name upon his accession, and the most recent pope to date with the regnal name "Marcellus".
Cervini was the maternal uncle of Robert Bellarmine. His father, Ricardo Cervini, and Pope Clement VII were personal friends. Cervini served in the household of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. When Farnese became Pope Paul III, Cervini served as his secretary and was employed on a number of diplomatic missions. On 10 April, 1555, he was elected to succeed Pope Julius III. He died of a stroke twenty-two days later.