Pope Urban VII
Urban VII (
Giovanni Battista Castagna) (
August 4,
1521 -
September 27,
1590) was
pope for twelve days in September 1590, was of
Genoese origin, and was born in
Rome. He was chosen successor of
Sixtus V on
September 15, 1590, but died (September 27) before consecration, making his the
shortest papal reign in history.
He had previously served as governor of Bologna and as archbishop of Rossano, and was for many years nuncio to Spain; his election to the papacy was largely backed by the Spanish faction.
from various public domain encyclopedias