Pope Paul IV

Who was Pope Paul IV?

Pope Paul IV, C.R., né Gian Pietro Carafa, was the head of the Catholic Church from 23 May 1555 to his death in 1559. He was instrumental in setting up the Roman Inquisition, and was opposed to any dialogue with the emerging Protestant party in Europe. His anti-Spanish outlook coloured his papacy, and confronted the Papal States with serious military defeat. The appointment of Carlo Carafa as Cardinal Nephew damaged the papacy further when Paul was forced to remove him from office following a scandal.