Sede Vacante 1534: Cardinal Spinola and the Papal Transition

SEDE VACANTE 1534 September 25, 1534 — October 12, 1534 Stemma of Cardinal Spinola Agostino Spinola (ca. 1482-1537) was born at Savona in Liguria of a Genoese family, the nephew of Cardinal Pietro Riario and grand-nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. He became secretary to Pope Julius II (also a native of Savona and his cousin) in 1509. He was made Bishop of Perugia in the same year, and conducted a number of reforms in the Cathedral clergy. After twenty years as bishop, he resigned the see to the care of his brother Carlo in 1529; unfortunately Carlo predeceased him, in 1535. Agostino was the first of his family to become a cardinal, on May 3, 1527, with the title of S. Ciriaco. He became Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church in 1528, a position he held until his death in 1537. His work as Chamberlain was much admired by the people of Rome, for whom he saw to the abundand supply of grain and foodstuffs. He was also granted administration rights over the Church of Savona, to which Paul III (in 1535) added Alatri. He died in 1537 and his body was transferred to Savona for burial. The Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1534 was Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (February 29, 1468— November 10, 1549). He was born at Canino in Tuscany (or perhaps in Rome), the son of Pierluigi Rainuccio Farnese and Giovanella Caetani, a relative of the Dukes of Sermonetta. The Farnese were a propertied family in the neighborhood of Lake Bolsena and Viterbo, though they resided in Rome (Panvinio 398; Cardella, III 265; Novaes VII 3). Alessandro Farnese studied at Rome under Pomponio Leto, and in Florence and Pisa. His career began in 1491, when he was made a secretary (scrittore) and Protonotary Apostolic by Pope Innocent VIII. In the next year he was given the office of Treasurer of the Chamber by Pope Alexander VI, whose mistress was Alessandro's sister Giulia. He was made Cardinal Deacon of SS. Cosma e Damiano in 1493. In 1499 Alexander appointed him Bishop of Montefiascone, Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica, and Legate in Viterbo and the Marches (Cardella III, 265). Julius II made him Bishop of Parma in 1509. He participated in the Conclave of 1513, which elected Giovanni de' Medici as Pope Leo X. In the absence of the Cardinal Protodeacon Sanseverino, who was excommunicated, he crowned Pope Leo X on March 13, 1513. In 1516 he became Cardinal Protodeacon. He was ordained a priest on June 26, 1519 and consecrated a bishop on July 2, 1519. He was forty-one years of age. He opted for promotion to the rank of Cardinal Bishop as Suburbicarian Bishop of Frascati on July 15, 1519. He participated in the Conclave of 1519-1520, in which Adrian Florencz Dedel was elected Pope Adrian VI, and the Conclave of 1523, which elected Giulio de' Medici Pope Clement VII. In 1523 he was translated to the episcopal see of Palestrina, and in December of the same year to Santa Sabina. The following May he moved to Porto and Santa Rufina, and finally six months later he became Bishop of Ostia and Velletri and Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He had four illegitimate children, Costanza, Pierluigi, Paolo and Ranuccio. His daughter Costanza married Bosio Sforza, Duke of S. Fiora; their son was Guido Ascanio Sforza, whom Alessandro made a cardinal at the age of sixteen.. The Masters of Ceremonies were: Giovanni Francesco Firmano, Biagio Martinelli da Cesena, and Honuphrio Pontano [Gattico, 330]. Death of Pope Clement VII In September of 1533, Pope Clement VII (Giulio de' Medici) had travelled to Marseille by sea, for the purpose of arranging the marriage of his niece, Catherine, to Henri, the future King Henri II of France, which was solemnized on October 28. On November 7, in Marseille, he created four new cardinals, all four of them French. He also engaged in serious discussions with King François I and with the Emperor Charles V. Before his departure, he issued instructions that, should he die before his return to Rome, the Conclave should be held in whatever city he and the Curia happened to be when he died. After his return to Rome on December 10, Clement began to suffer with stomach problems resulting in fever. Others (Olduino) attributed his illness to treatments provided to the pope by his doctor, Matteo Corti, to prolong his life (Novaes, 258). Cardinal Agostino Trivulzio was keeping King Francis I of France informed about the Pope's condition; he wrote on August 10, 1534, of the serious illness of Clement VII causing the doctors to worry about the danger to his life. They were not certain he could recover, but were hopeful [Molini, Documenti di storia italiana II, no 398, p. 379]. Benvenuto Cellini visited the Pope on September 22, to present several medals that the pope had commissioned, including the famous "Moses striking the rock". But the Pope was unable to see the design clearly even after he had called for his spectacles. On the 23rd, he wrote a long farewell letter to Emperor Charles V (Gregorovius, 697-699). He died on the 25th of September, 1534, having lived 56 years and four months, and having reigned for 10 years, 10 months, and 7 days. The Bolognese Ambassador in Rome, Antonio Maria Papazzoni, described the death in a report to the Senate of Bologna on September 26 (Staffetti, 126): Il catarro soppravvenuto a Sua Santità... gli incomentiò soprabondare molto forte alle xvii hore et meggio, di sorte che non poteva dir altro se non cosi pian piano: Aitami, aitamil io muoio; et cosi seguitò tri ottavi de hora et spirò in presentia del Reverendissimo Santiquattro et de penitentieri che gli raccomandar l' anima, et vi erano li Rmi Cibo et Medici con tutta la famiglia di Su Santità. Passato che fu Sua Santita, li medici spararo il corpo et non trovaro altro di maculato che il pulmone, che era assai guasto. His temporary tomb in the Vatican Basilica was repeatedly desecrated with excrement, requiring the posting of a guard by his nephew, Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici. Eventually, the body was buried in a monument in the south wall of the Choir of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. The executors of his Last Will and Testament were Cardinals Innocenzo Cibo, Ippolito de' Medici, Nicolo Ridolfi, and Giovanni Salviati (Montor, 114). The Cardinals There were forty-six cardinals at the time of the pope's death. A list of the cardinals is given by Onuphrio Panvinio (pp. 398-417). He states (twice) that thirty-seven cardinals participated in the Conclave (He includes François de Clermont, Albrecht von Brandenburg, Claude de Longuy de Givry, and Bernhard von Claes). Gregorio Leti (p. 163) says that thirty-five cardinals entered conclave on the 11th of October, 1534. Giovanni Firmano, the Master of Ceremonies, states that Cardinal Grimani did not join in the opening ceremonies, being confined to bed. A list of thirty-six Cardinals who participated in the Conclave and Coronation of Paul III is given by the Master of Ceremonies Biagio da Cesena (Gattico I, 389), but without the name of Louis de Bourbon, and with the name of Niccolò Gaddi. Eubel III, p. 20 n. 1 (listing fifteen cardinals as absent, including: François de Clermont-Lodève; Bernhard von Cles; Claude de Longuy de Givry; and the Chamberlain Spinola—with whom Biagio da Cesena spoke on the day of the election in the presence of the new Pope: cf. Gattola I, p. 386). Eubel's lists for this Conclave are not accurate. Bernhard von Cles, for example, was certainly present, and was appointed to a Committee on October 11 to revise the Electoral Capitulations. Cardinals attending: 1. Alessandro Farnese (aged 66), Suburbicarian Bishop of Ostia e Velletri (died 1549). Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. 2. Giovanni Piccolomini (aged 59), Suburbicarian Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina (died 1537). "Senensis" "subprior hujus Collegii" [Gattico I, p. 326] 3. François Guillaume de Castelnau de Clermont-Ludève, (aged 54). Suburbicarian Bishop of Frascati (died 1541). Archbishop of Auch, Administrator of Agde [Biagio da Cesena lists him as present: Gattico I, 389; Panvinio states that he was present.] 4. Bonifacio Ferrero (aged 58), Suburbicarian Bishop of Palestrina (died 1543). "Hipporegiensis (Ivrea)" 5. Giovanni Domenico de Cupis (40), Suburbicarian Bishop of Sabina (died 1553) ."Tranensis" 6. Lorenzo Campeggio (aged 59), Suburbicarian Bishop of Albano (died 1539). 7. Matthew Lang von Wellenberg (aged 66), Cardinal Priest of S. Angelo in Pescheria (died 1540). Archbishop of Salzburg 8. Louis de Bourbon de Vendôme (aged 41), Cardinal Priest of S. Sabina (died 1557). Bishop of Laon, Administrator of Le Mans 9. Francesco Pisani (aged 40), Cardinal Priest of S. Marco (died 1570). Bishop of Padua, Administrator of Cittanova.Administrator of Treviso. 10. Benedetto degli Accolti (aged 35), Cardinal Priest of S. Eusebio (died 1549). Archbishop of Ravenna, Administrator of Policastro, and Bovino. 11. Agostino Spinola (aged 52), Cardinal Priest of S. Apollinare (died 1537). Administrator of Savona, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. 12. Marino (Marco) Grimani (aged 45?), Cardinal Priest of SS. Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio e Protasio (died 1546). Administrator of Concordia, and Città di Castello. 13. Antonio Sanseverino (aged 57), Cardinal Priest of S. Maria in Trastevere (died 1543). Archbishop of Tarento. 14. Giovanni Vincenzo Carafa (aged 57), Cardinal Priest of S. Pudenziana (died 1541). Administrator of Anglona e Tursi. 15. Andrea (Antonio) Matteo Palmieri (aged 41), Cardinal Priest of S. Clemente (died 1537). .Administrator of Lucera. 16. Francisco Quiñones, OFM (aged 59), Cardinal Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme (died 1540) . 17. Francesco Cornaro (aged 56)), Cardinal Priest of S. Ciriaco alle Terme Diocleziane (died 1543). 18. Ippolito de' Medici (aged 23), Cardinal Priest of S. Lorenzo in Damaso (died 1535). Archbishop of Avignon, Administrator of Monreale. Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church. 19. François de Tournon (aged 45), Cardinal Priest of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro (died 1562). Archbishop of Bourges 20. Bernardus [Bernhard von Cles] (aged 49), Cardinal Priest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio (died 1539). Bishop of Trent [Panvinio states that he was present, though 21. 22. 23. 24. he calls him Bernardus Madruccius; the Master of Ceremonies, Biagio de Martinelli, states that Rms. Tridentinus received Holy Communion on Monday, October 11, from the hands of Cardinal Farnese: Gattico I, p. 336; he also lists him as in attendance on p. 389. Bernardus was also mentioned by Joannes Firmano, the other ceremoniere: Gattico I, 330. Gregory Casale and the German agent Sanchez make special note of his presence. Salvador Miranda is in error, probably misled by Eubel.] Antonio Pucci (aged 50), Cardinal Priest of SS. Quattro Coronati (died 1544). Bishop of Pistoia, Bishop of Vannes. Major Penitentiary. Esteban Gabriel Merino (aged 62?), Cardinal Priest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo (died 1535). Patriarch of the West Indies, Bishop of Jaén "Giennensis" "Barensis" Jean Le Veneur (aged ?), Cardinal Priest of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (died 1543). Bishop of Lisieux "Boloniensis" Philippe de la Chambre, OSB (aged 44?), Cardinal Priest of S. Martino ai Monti (died 1550). 25. Innocenzo Cibo (aged 43), Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Domnica (died 1550). Archbishop of Genoa, Administrator of Turin (1516-1517). 26. Paolo Emilio Cesi (aged 53), son of Angelo Cesi, Conte di Manzano, a consistorial advocate and Apostolic secretary, and Francesca Cardoli of Narni. Cardinal Deacon of S. Nicolo fra Immagine (1517-1534), then of S. Eustachio. Protonotary Apostolic. Administrator of the Diocese of Lund (15201521). He was one of three cardinals appointed by Adrian VI to examine the case of Cardinal Soderini Administrator of Orte and Civita Castellana (15251537). Archpriest of the Liberian Basilica Prefect of the Segnatura di Giustizia e di grazia (died 1537) He was buried in the Cesi Chapel at S. Maria Maggiore. 27. Alessandro Cesarini, Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Via Lata (died 1542). Administrator of Pamplona, Administrator of Otranto, Administrator of Gerace. 28. Giovanni Salviati (aged 44), Cardinal Deacon of Ss. Cosma e Damiano (died 1553). Administrator of Ferrara, Teano, and Santa Severina.. 29. Nicolò Ridolfi (aged 22), Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin (died 1550). Bishop of Vicenza, Administrator of Imola, and Salerno. 30. Agostino Trivulzio (aged 49), Cardinal Deacon of S. Adriano al Foro (died 1548). Administrator of Toulon. Administrator of Bayeux. 31. Jean de Lorraine (aged 36), Cardinal Deacon of S. Onofrio (died 1550). Bishop of Metz, Administrator of Boulogne, Narbonne, Verdun, Reims 32. Ercole Gonzaga (aged 28), Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria Nuova (died 1563). Bishop of Mantua. 33. Girolamo Grimaldi, Cardinal Deacon of S. Giorgio in Velabro (died 1543). Administrator of Bari (1530-1540), Brugnato, and Venafro. 34. Girolamo Doria (aged 39), Cardinal Deacon of S. Tommaso in Parione (died 1558). Administrator of Noli, and Tarragona "De Aurea" 35. Odet de Coligny de Châtillon (aged 17), Cardinal Deacon of Ss. Sergio e Bacco (died 1571). Administrator of Toulouse Cardinals not attending: 1. Alfonso de Portugal (aged 25), Cardinal Deacon of S. Lucia in Septisolio (died 1540). Archbishop of Lisbon Son of the King of Portugal. 2. Albrecht von Brandenburg (aged 44), Cardinal Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli (died 1545). Archbishop of Mainz, Administrator of Halberstadt [Panvinio states that he was present.] 3. Eberhard von der Mark (aged 62), Cardinal Priest of S. Crisogono (died 1538). Archbishop of Valencia 4. Niccolò Gaddi (aged 35), Cardinal Deacon of S. Teodoro (died 1552). Bishop of Fermo, Administrator of Cosenza, and of Sarlat [Listed as present by Biagio da Cesena, Master of Ceremonies, in Gattico I, 389] 5. Antoine du Prat (aged 71), Cardinal Priest of S. Anastasia (died 1535). Archbishop of Sens, Administrator of Albi, and of Meaux 6. Louis de Gorrevod (de Challant) (aged 61?), Cardinal Priest of S. Cesareo in Palatio (died 1535). Bishop of Saint-Jean de Maurienne 7. Juan García de Loaysa y Mendoza, OP (aged 56), Cardinal Priest of S. Susanna (died 1546). Bishop of Sigüenza 8. Íñigo López de Mendoza y Zúñiga (aged 45), Cardinal Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere (died 1537). Bishop of Burgos 9. Alfonso de Manriquez (aged 63?), Cardinal Priest of Ss. XII Apostoli (died 1538). Archbishop of Seville 10. Juan Pardo de Tavera (aged 62), Cardinal Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta Latina (died 1545). Archbishop of Toledo 11. Claude de Longuy de Givry (aged 53), Cardinal Priest of S. Agnese in Agone (died 1561). Bishop of Poitiers, Bishop of Langres (1528-1561). (Panvinio states that he was present) Preliminaries There were a total of forty-six cardinals at the time of Clement's death. They were divided into two camps, the French and the Imperialists, but inside the camps there were several leaders, each with his followers, his preferences and his demands. The most powerful factio was led by Cardinal Farnese, the Dean of the Sacred College, who was supported by Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici and the Florentine cardinals created by Leo X and Clement VII. King Henry VIII of England had chosen Farnese as his candidate as early as 1529, over the objections of Wolsey and Campeggio (Petruccelli, 5: Gregory Casale to Thomas Cromwell), though Henry's influence at this conclave was nil. He constituted a serious problem that needed to be addressed, not someone whose views needed to be considered. On October 10, the Bishop of Aosta, Pietro Gazino, wrote to the Duke of Savoy that the French factio, led by the Cardinal Jean de Lorraine, numbered between ten and twelve, and that they intended to vote for the Legate of France, François de Tournon (who had negotiated the marriage of Catherine de' Medicis: Cardella, IV 114-117), or, failing him, for Cardinal Antonio Sanseverino (Bishop of Tarento and Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem). The leader of the Italians who favored the French interest was Cardinal Agostino Trivulzio of Milan, the Protector of France before the Holy See, whose uncles were marshals of France (Cardella IV, 66). Though Trivulzio had his own ambitions to be pope, he knew that he had no chance in this conclave. But the election of Farnese would put on the papal throne the oldest of the cardinals, who would soon be gone, in time for Trivulzio to succeed in the next conclave (or so Petruccelli has it, 6). So Trivulzio, too, supported Farnese. Those who had been closest to Trivulzio in the Conclave of 1523, Cardinals Colonna, Cesi, della Valle, Orsini and Trani (de Cupis), had actually voted for Farnese at that time, on the motion of Cardinal Cesarini, and they would likely do so again (according to Petruccelli, 6). Pompeo Colonna had died, however, in 1532, and Franciotto Orsini in January, 1534, easing the situation somewhat, considering their mutual hatred. Matthew Lang (Salzburg) and Bernhard von Cles (Trent) arrived on October 8 (Petruccelli, 4 quoting from a dispatch of the Bishop of Aosta), but without specific voting instructions from Charles V. The absence of an indication of an imperial candidate increased the confusion and weakness in the Imperial faction. Opening of the Conclave On Sunday, October 10, the Mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Domenico de Cupis, after which the Oration de pontifice eligendo was pronounced by the Bishop of Viterbo, Giovanni Pietro Grassis. There followed a procession into the Conclave, led by Msgr. Giovanni Francesco Firmano, the Master of Ceremonies, and thirty-two cardinals [Gattico I, 325]. After the singing of the Veni Creator and the recitation of the Pater Noster, led by Cardinal Farnese, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the cardinals dispersed. Late that afternoon, the Ambassadors and other prelates who would participate in the Conclave swore their oaths. The Bishop of Todi, Federigo de Cesis [or the Bishop of Tortona, Uberto Gambara], who was Custodian of the Apostolic Palace, and the Captain of the Swiss Guards, were instructed to inspect all of the rooms in the Conclave area. Subsequently, the Camerlengo and several designated cardinals inspected the area and ejected those persons who were not on the list of Conclavists. The doors were closed. The Conclave opened on October 11, 1534, with between thirty-three and thirty-seven cardinals in attendance, out of a total of forty-six (Panvinio, 398; Leti 163). Biagio de Martinelli da Cesena, one of the Masters of Ceremonies, however, states in his Diary that there were thirty-two cardinals present at the opening ceremonies. Giovanni Firmano notes that Cardinal Grimaldi (Barensis) was not present due to illness. Cardinal Farnese celebrated early Mass in the small chapel (Chapel of S. Nicholas)—at which at least eight cardinals (named by Biagio Martinelli, Gattico I, p. 325) received Holy Communion; later the Sacristan Bishop Alfonso, celebrated the solemn Mass of the Holy Spirit. After Mass, there was a Congregation, at which the Bull of Julius II against Simony was read. The Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena, then read the various instructions concerning the election of a pope. Finally each of the Cardinals swore an oath to observe all of the requirements of the Bull of Julius II. At the request of Giovanni Francesco Firmano, Master of Ceremonies, it was decided that when voting began on the next day, voting would be viva voce, and there would be an accessio. In the late afternoon there was a Congregation, and the Cardinals requested Firmano to read out the Electoral Capitulations which had been prepared at the Conclave of 1513. The Cardinals voted to accept them as their own Capitulations. A Committee was appointed to work out the new distribution of territorial Legateships (which had been itemized in the Capitulations): Giovanni Piccolomini, Louis de Bourbon de Vendôme, Antonio Sanseverino, Francisco Quiñones, Bernhard von Cles, and Paolo Emilio Cesi. Next day, October 12, before he knew of what was happening inside the Conclave, Sanchez wrote to Ferdinand, King of the Romans (Wahrmund, 255): fieri etiam potest, ut is quem minime cogitamus fieret papa, circa quod nihil est a nobis praetermissum, quod aut utilitatem aut honorem et extimationem Cardinalis Tridentini attineret, licet ipse clare ostenderit, se non habere ambitionem. Oratori Cesareo ac nobis aliisque fidis visum est, oportere valde, ut dictus orator deputaret et nominaret aliquot cardinales, qui ex parte Majestatum Vestrarum loquerentur ceteris ea quae secundum occurrentias conclavi necessaria forent ad dirigendum bonum et evitandum malum reipublicae Christianae, et ita fuerunt ad hoc nominati quinque isti: Tridentinus (Bernhard von Cles), Salzburgensis (Matthew Lang), Barrensis, Cesarinus, Mantua (Ercole Gonzaga). The Prince-Bishop of Trent was to be the candidate, and four others were to work in his interest. Whether this was a plan, or a last-moment improvisation, is unclear. But In either case it was too late for such maneuvers. Balloting Shortly after sunset on October 11 (in Roman time, it was officially the 12th), many cardinals, cum essent uniores ac concordes (since they were united and in agreement) sent two representatives, Ippolito de' Medici and Jean de Lorraine, to confer with Cardinal Farnese. They told him that they had chosen him to be the next pope. They informed him that he should come to the small Chapel. As they were proceeding along, various cardinals dropped to their knees and kissed Farnese's feet. Finally they arrived at the Chapel, where all the cardinals gathered around Farnese. Cardinal Piccolomini, in the name of all the Cardinals, pronounced him Pope, and all the Cardinals confirmed his announcement in the presence of the three Masters of Ceremonies, who acted as witnesses. Farnese then retired to his cell for a brief nap, and then he had dinner. Election On Tuesday, October 12, 1534, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese was elected officially [Gattico, p. 331, gives the date as Die Martis 23. octobris, but this is probably a typographical error: Tuesday was the 12th, the 13th was a Wednesday, and the 23rd was a Saturday]. Mass was celebrated by the Sacristan. Farnese was seated in his regular place as a cardinal. The cardinals all cast their votes per cedulam according to custom, though Farnese himself did not cast a vote. The votes were read out by Cardinal Cibò, the Protodeacon, and they were handed to the Master of Ceremonies, Giovanni Francesco Firmano. Farnese was then conducted to the Sacristy, where he removed his cardinalatial robes and donned the papal vestments. Meanwhile Cardinal Cibò had a window opened and made the official announcement of the election to the people. The doors of the Conclave were opened. The Bishop of Aosta, Amadeus Berrutus, wrote immediately to the Duke of Savoy (Petruccelli, 7): Today, the 12th of October, at this hour, two in the evening, Farnese was elected and immediately confirmed by all of the cardinals. I asked Ivrea [Bonifacio Ferrero] to tell him that he had the order from your Excellency to give him his vote. I don't know if he did so, for the cardinals are remaining in conclave tonight. The pope was made without a ballot, by the Holy Spirit. [The date given in the body of this letter is most important. It proves that Paul III was elected on the 12th, as Firmano's diary indicates, not on the 13th, as Biagio Martinelli's diary claims (Gattico I, 325). Martinelli's dates are all wrong by one day.] Gregory Casale, writing to Thomas Cromwell (Petruccelli, 8) says that the acclamation did not include Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio. It was led by Cardinal de' Medici, followed by Jean de Lorraine. Even two Germans, Trent and Salzburg, joined in. The Bolognese ambassador, Papazzoni wrote immediately to the Senate (Staffetti 130 n.2): Hiersera [October 11] s' era pubblicato alla porta del conclave dove si mettevano entro la vivande, che il Reverendissimo di Farnese era fatto papa et che i Reverendissimi Cibo e Cesarini l' havevano detto di lore bocca, ... questa mattina [October 12] sono concorsse tutte le religgioni e tutta Roma a palazzo et si è posto fuori la croce et pubblicato per il Reverendissimo Cibo esso Reverendissimo Farnese esser Papa et haver nome Paulo terzo. Coronation On October 22, the Masters of Ceremonies were told by the Master of the Pontifical Household (Ascanius Parisanus, the Bishop of Rimini) that the new Pope had not yet decided on the date of his coronation. Eventually they heard a rumor that the Pope would be crowned on November 3, and that he intended to participate in the religious ceremonies of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). This caused a strong reaction among the ceremoniere, who pointed out to the Pope that it was contrary to custom for the Pope to carry out pontifical acts before his Coronation. It might bring into question whether the Cornonation was a necessary act, or merely an expensive ceremony. The Pope consulted Cardinal Piccolomini, whose judgment was that the Pope could participate in ceremonies before his Coronation. Cardinal Cibo thought otherwise (He was, of course, protecting his own interests as Cardinal Protodeacon, the person who crowned the Pope). Cardinal Ferrario supported the Pope, while Cardinal Cesi thought that he should not participate. The Pope finally decided not to participate. He was crowned Pope Paul III on November 3, 1534 in the Vatican Basilica by Cardinal Innocenzo Cibò, the Protodeacon. He took formal possession of the Lateran Basilica on April 11, 1535 (Diary of Biagio Martinelli da Cesena, in Gattico I, 386-389). 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Carlo Capasso, La politica di Papa Paolo III e l' Italia Volume I (Camerino: Savini 1901), 1-12. On Cardinal Cibo: Luigi Staffetti, Il cardinale Innocenzo Cybo (Firenze: Le Monnier 1894). G. Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica Volume 51 (Venezia 1851) 124-125.