Author(s):
Muller, Gerhard
[German Version] (Alessandro Farnese, born Feb, 1468, probably in Canino; pope Oct 13, 1534 – Nov 10, 1549). Paul III initiated the reform of the Roman Catholic Church and the Counter-Reformation. Although made a cardinal at the age of 25 by Alexander VI, despite ties to Julius II and Leo X he was not elected pope until he was 66, being considered politically neutral and qualified to put an end to the vacillating policies of his predecessor, Clement VII. He endeavored to achieve an understanding between Charles V and France. He supported the call for a general council, although it was not convened until 1545 (Trent, Council of). In 1536 he had appointed a commission (include G. Aleander and G. Contarini) to propose church reforms; the proposals were submitted in 1537, but they were implemented only on a small scale. In 1538 Paul excommunicated Henry VIII of England. His pontificate was characterized by extreme nepotism: he had several illegitimate children, whom he promoted energetically, along with his grandsons. He made his son Pier Luigi duke of Parma and Piacenza, his grandson Ottavio duke of Urbino. Three other grandsons were made cardinals – thus securing not only his pontifical power but also making his family one of the major princely houses of Italy. At the same time, though, he also encouraged reforms in the traditional orders and the founding of new ones (Capuchins, Ursulines, etc.). His approval of the Jesuits in 1540 was to prove especially important. In 1542 he created the Holy Office to defend the faith against error (Inquisition). His efforts to assemble a more effective defense against the Turkish threat bore no perceptible fruit. During the last years of his life, the advantages he had gained for his children and grandchildren fell apart along with his ecclesiastical policies, which failed in part because he was unable to prevent the Council of Trent from moving to Bologna. During the Schmalkaldic War (1546/1547), he called back the troops that he had dispatched to support Charles V: the Farnese family’s fear of too much power concentrated in the hands of the emperor squa…