Conclave September 1503

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Pope Alexander VI, after a painting by Cristoforo dell'Altissimo ( Uffizi Gallery , Florence )
Pope Pius III

The conclave of September 1503 was the electoral assembly of the cardinals after the death of Pope Alexander VI. († August 18, 1503) and lasted from September 16, 1503 to September 22, 1503. His choice fell on Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, who himself as Pope Pius III. called.

history

The college of cardinals had 45 members at the beginning of the conclave . Eight cardinals were not in Rome at the time of the conclave , so that the conclave numbered 37 participants.

The cardinals of the conclave were created by the following five popes:

Attendees

Absent cardinals

course

When Alexander VI. died, Cesare Borgia , his son, was governor of Rome and thus ruled the city. He could count on the support of 14 Spanish cardinals. Cesare Borgia was seriously ill and was unable to carry out his intention to usurp the papal state. When the conclave began on September 16, 1503, murder, pillage, and violent confrontation were the order of the day in Rome, and pressure was exerted on the assembled cardinals. The 37 cardinals were almost equally divided between three national parties (Spanish, French and Italian). This balance initially prevented an agreement on a candidate. It was only the French Cardinal Georges d'Amboise that drew the groups' attention to a candidate. On September 22, 1503, Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini was elected Pope with 35 votes.

Piccolomini came from Sarteano near Siena , he was a nephew of Pope Pius II. When he was elected, he was already 64 years old and seriously ill with gout , so he was considered a transitional pope from the outset. In memory of his uncle he called himself Pius III. His coronation on October 8, 1503 ended a sedis vacancy of 51 days.

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