Marcellus II

It wasn’t until the end of Marcellus II’s reign, in May 1555, that choosing a regnal name became de rigueur.

After Marcellus II. who reigned but twenty-one days, John Peter Caraffa, was elected pope, who took the name of Paul VI.:

The interior contains some good pictures by Umbrian artists, a fine episcopal throne in carved wood, and a fine Flemish cope given by Pope Marcellus II.

“The more opportunity,” so writes the poetess to Cardinal Cervino, afterwards Pope Marcellus II.,

Cardinal Cervino, afterward Pope Marcellus II, a prelate of blameless life, was animated by those ideas of ecclesiastical reform of which Pope Paul had encouraged the open expression; but he was more especially eager for the extirpation of heresy, and not over-scrupulous in the choice of means for reaching his ends.