Pope Nicholas III

Who was Pope Nicholas III?

Pope Nicholas III, born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, was the head of the Catholic Church from 25 November 1277 to his death in 1280. He was a Roman nobleman who had served under eight popes, been made cardinal-deacon of St. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano by Pope Innocent IV, protector of the Franciscans by Pope Alexander IV, inquisitor-general by Pope Urban IV, and succeeded Pope John XXI after a six-month vacancy in the Holy See resolved in the papal election of 1277, largely through family influence.