The Medici Pope Who Ignited the Reformation

On March 11, 1513, Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici became Pope Leo X, a ruler who would shape the Renaissance papacy with grandeur, patronage, and controversy. A lover of art and luxury, Leo transformed Rome into a cultural powerhouse, supporting artists like Raphael. But his extravagant spending led him to promote the sale of indulgences—a move that angered a certain monk named Martin Luther and helped ignite the Protestant Reformation.

How did Leo X’s decisions change history? Did he see the Reformation coming, or was he too focused on wealth and power? And what was his ironic connection to Henry VIII?

Join me as we unravel the fascinating legacy of Pope Leo X—one of the most influential and controversial popes in history? What do you think of Leo X?

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