Pope Sixtus V

Pope Sixtus V, born Felice Piergentile and living from 13 December 1521 to 27 August 1590, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 until his death. As a young man he joined the Franciscan order, where he became known as a scholar and preacher and won the patronage of Pope Pius V, who made him a cardinal; as a cardinal he was known as Cardinal Montalto. As pope he moved energetically against corruption and lawlessness in Rome and launched a far reaching rebuilding program that still provokes controversy, since it involved the destruction of ancient monuments, and he funded these works through heavy taxation that caused widespread suffering. His foreign policy was regarded as overambitious: he excommunicated King Henry IV of France and renewed the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth I of England. He is recognized as a major figure of the Counter Reformation, and remains the most recent pope to take the name Sixtus.