Pope Innocent VIII

Pope of the Catholic Church, 1484–1492

Pope Innocent VIII (Latin: Innocentius Octavus; 1432 – July 25, 1492), born Giovanni Battista Cibo, was an Italian cleric of the Roman Catholic Church and the 214th Pope from 29 August 1484 to his death, in July 1492.[2]


Innocent VIII
Bishop of Rome
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began29 August 1484
Papacy ended25 July 1492
PredecessorSixtus IV
SuccessorAlexander VI
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordinationc. 1450
Consecration28 January 1467
Created cardinal7 May 1473
by Sixtus IV
Personal details
Born
Giovanni Battista Cybo (or Cibo)

5 November[1] 1432
Died25 July 1492(1492-07-25) (aged 59–60)
Rome, Papal States
Coat of armsInnocent VIII's coat of arms
Other popes named Innocent
Papal styles of
Pope Innocent VIII
Reference styleHis Holiness
Spoken styleYour Holiness
Religious styleHoly Father
Posthumous styleNone

Early years

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In 1432, Giovanni Battista Cybo was born in Genoa, the son of Arano Cybo and wife Teodorina de Mari. His father was from an old Genoese family of Greek ancestry,[3] a viceroy of Naples and then a senator in Rome under Pope Calixtus III. Giovanni Battista's early years were spent at the Neapolitan court. While in Naples he was appointed a Canon of the Cathedral of Capua, and was given the Priory of Santa Maria d'Arba in Genoa.[4] After the death of King Alfonso (1458), friction between Giovanni Battista and the Archbishop of Genoa induced him to resign his canonry, and to go to Padua and then to Rome for his education.

Early career

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In Rome he became a priest in the retinue of Cardinal Calandrini, half-brother to Pope Nicholas V (1447–55). In 1467, he was made Bishop of Savona by Pope Paul II, but exchanged this see in 1472 for that of Molfetta in south-eastern Italy. In 1473, with the support of Giuliano Della Rovere, later Pope Julius II, he was made cardinal by Pope Sixtus IV, whom he succeeded on 29 August 1484 as Pope Innocent VIII.[5]'

Bishop

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Pope Paul II made Cibo the Bishop of Savona in 1467. He was made Bishop of Molfetta in 1472.[6]

Cardinal

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In 1473, Pope Sixtus IV raised Cibo to the rank of cardinal.[6]

Cardinal Cibo was elected pope on August 29, 1484;[6] and he chose to be called Innocent VIII.

Pope Innocent was involved in Italian and European political disputes.[6]

Papal actions

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References

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  1. "Papa Innocenzo VIII" (in Italian). Il Commiato. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  2. "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-29.
  3. Bizzocchi 1995, p. 76.
  4. Francesco Serdonati (1829). Vita e fatti d'Innocenzo VIII., papa CCXVI. Milan: Tip. di V. Ferrario. p. 10.
  5.   "Pope Innocent VIII" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1910.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Pope Innocent VII", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-29.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Chisholm, Hugh (1910). The Encyclopedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information. Encyclopedia Britannica Company. pp. 581–582.

Other websites

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  Media related to Innocentius VIII at Wikimedia Commons

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Giovanni Arcimboldi
Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
1484
Succeeded by
Giovanni Michiel
Preceded by
Sixtus IV
Pope
29 August 1484 – 25 July 1492
Succeeded by
Alexander VI