Pope Urban VIII

Who was Pope Urban VIII?

Pope Urban VIII, was the head of the Catholic Church from 6 August 1623 to his death in 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions. However, the massive debts incurred during his papacy greatly weakened his successors, who were unable to maintain the papacy's longstanding political and military influence in Europe. He was also involved in a controversy with Galileo and his theory on heliocentrism during his reign.

He is the most recent Pope to date to take the name "Urban" upon being elected as Pope.