Pope Pius III
Pius III | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 22 September 1503 |
| Papacy ended | 18 October 1503 |
| Predecessor | Alexander VI |
| Successor | Julius II |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 30 September 1503 by Giuliano della Rovere |
| Consecration | 1 October 1503 by Giuliano della Rovere |
| Created cardinal | 5 March 1460 by Pius II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini 9 May 1439 |
| Died | 18 October 1503 (aged 64) Rome, Papal States |
| Buried | St. Peter's Basilica, later moved to Sant'Andrea della Valle |
| Coat of arms | |
| Other popes named Pius | |
| Papal styles of Pope Pius III | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
Pope Pius III (Italian: Pio III, Latin: Pius Tertius; 9 May 1439 – 18 October 1503), born Francesco Todeschini, then Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 September 1503 to his death. At just twenty-six days, he had one of the shortest pontificates in papal history.
Francesco was the nephew of Pope Pius II, who granted him the use of the family name "Piccolomini", and appointed the twenty-one-year old Francesco as Archbishop of Siena. He served as papal legate in a number of places. In 1503, the now-frail Francesco, known as Cardinal Piccolomini, was elected pope as a compromise candidate between the Borgia and della Rovere factions. Although he announced plans for reforms, he died less than a month later.