Marcellus II
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Pope Marcellus II |
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| Bishop of Rome | |
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| Papacy began | 9 April 1555 |
| Papacy ended | 1 May 1555 |
| Predecessor | Julius III |
| Successor | Paul IV |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1535 |
| Consecration | 10 April 1555 by Gian Pietro Carafa |
| Created Cardinal | 19 December 1539 by Paul III |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Marcello Cervini degli Spannochi |
| Born |
6 May 1501 Montefano, Marche, Papal States |
| Died | 1 May 1555 (aged 53) Rome, Papal States |
| Previous post |
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| Coat of arms |  |
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Papal styles of Pope Marcellus II |
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| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
Pope Marcellus II (6 May 1501 – 1 May 1555), born Marcello Cervini degli Spannochi, was pope of the Catholic Church from 9 April 1555 until his death 22 days later on 1 May 1555.
He succeeded Pope Julius III. Before his accession as pope he had been Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. He is the most recent pope to choose to retain his birth name as his regnal name upon his accession, as well as only the second and most recent pope to date to take the name "Marcellus" upon being elected. After his death, it would be 423 years before another pope would choose a name with an ordinal number less than IV (John Paul I).
A native of Montefano, a small village near Macerata and Loreto he was the son of Ricardo Cervini who was the Apostolic Treasurer in Ancona. The family originated in Tuscany, in the town of Montepulciano, which had once been subject to Siena, but later was under the control of Florence. Marcello had two half-brothers, Alexander and Romulus. One of his sisters, Cinzia Cervini, married Vincenzo Bellarmino, and was the mother of Saint Robert Bellarmino.
Marcello was educated locally, and at Siena and Florence, where he became proficient in writing Latin, Greek, and Italian. He also received instruction in jurisprudence, philosophy, and mathematics. His father had an interest in astrology and upon discovering that his son's horoscope presaged high ecclesiastical honours, Riccardo set the young Cervini on a path to the priesthood.
After his period of study at Siena, Cervini traveled to Rome in the company of the Delegation sent by Florence to congratulate the new Pope on his election. His father and Pope Clement VII were personal friends, and Marcello was made Scrittore Apostolico. He was set to work on astronomical and calendar studies, a project which was intended to bring the year back into synchronization with the seasons. In 1527, he fled home after the Sack of Rome, but eventually returned and was taken into the household of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese senior. Cervini was ordained a priest in 1535.
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