Pope Pius III

<p>Pope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini, then Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini, was head of the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholic Church</a> and ruler of the <a href="/facts/Papal_States/536PqTjo">Papal States</a> from 22 September 1503 to his death. At just twenty-six days, he had one of the shortest pontificates in papal history.
</p><p>Francesco was the nephew of <a href="/facts/Pope_Pius_II/9szSgFPQ">Pope Pius II</a>, who granted him the use of the family name "<a href="/facts/Piccolomini/Lh7RoPSb">Piccolomini</a>", and appointed the twenty-one-year old Francesco as <a href="/facts/Archbishop_of_Siena/7pgI7Yhw">Archbishop of Siena</a>. He served as papal legate in a number of places. In 1503, the now-frail Francesco, known as Cardinal Piccolomini, was elected pope as a compromise candidate between the <a href="/facts/House_of_Borgia/HbfJdzy6">Borgia</a> and <a href="/facts/Della_Rovere/NmUqsMTq">della Rovere</a> factions. Although he announced plans for reforms, he died less than a month later.
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Pope Pius III open-in-new

Pope Pius III