Pope Gregory XV

Gregory XV. ( Born January 9, 1554 Bologna, † July 8, 1623 in Rome), born Alessandro Ludovisi, as was 1621 to 1623 Pope of the Catholic Church.

Life

Alessandro Ludovisi, was the son of Count Pompeo Ludovisi. He studied philosophy and theology in Rome with the Jesuits. In 1571 he joined the law school to Bologna. His studies he finished in Bologna awarded the degree of Dr. jur. in 1575th

After ordination, he was appointed by the originating also from Bologna Pope Gregory XIII. put into service. 1612 he was appointed under Pope Paul V. Archbishop of Bologna. Pope Paul V appointed him cardinal in 1616.

Pontificate

The Conclave elected him on February 9, 1621 the new pope. His Pope names he chose in memory of Pope Gregory XIII.

Gregory XV. was, like many of his predecessors, against the temptations of nepotism not immune: On February 15, 1621, he appointed his nephew Ludovico Ludovisi to Kardinalnepoten.

Since Gregory XV. had argued that the Duke Maximilian of Bavaria received the Elector Palatine dignity, the Duke gave him the Heidelberg University Library, the Bibliotheca Palatina.

On January 6, 1622, he established the Congregation de Propaganda Fide briefly referred to as the propaganda as the central authority for all aspects of the missionary. With the bull Aeterni Patris Filius of 15 November 1621 the belonging Caeremoniale from March 12, 1622 he reformed the papal election. The most important change to the meticulous regulations was the introduction of the secret ballot by means of ballot papers.

On March 12, 1622 he said Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, the founder of the Jesuits, the mystic Teresa of Avila, and Philip Neri, and Isidore of Madrid holy and on September 15, 1622 the German Albertus Magnus saved.

He died on July 8, 1623 in Rome and was buried in the church of St Ignatius of Loyola in Campo Marzio.