The title of the shortest-reigning pope goes to Pope Urban VII. He chose the name Urban so that this name, which in Latin signifies "kind", might be a continuous reminder to him to show kindness towards all his subjects. Following the death of Sixtus V in 1590, Cardinal Castagna was elected as Pope Urban VII by the conclave.
Urban VII, born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was not only a man of the cloth but also a scholar. He studied at universities across Italy and obtained a doctorate in civil law and canon law from the University of Bologna. His intellectual prowess led him to serve as a constitutional lawyer and he entered the Roman Curia during the pontificate of Pope Julius III as the Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura. With a stellar reputation for prudence, decency, and piety, the people held high hopes for his pontificate. These expectations were not misplaced, as Urban VII promptly began charitable acts by providing for the impoverished in Rome, assisting financially strained cardinals, and issuing a directive for all Roman bakers to sell larger loaves at reduced prices, covering the additional costs himself.
Before his brief papacy, Urban VII held various positions within the Catholic Church. He served as the Archbishop of Rossano, Governor of Fano, Perugia, and Umbria, and participated in the Council of Trent. Later, he was appointed as the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and Venice and served as the Papal Legate to Flanders and Cologne. His diverse roles within the Church showcased his dedication and service to his faith.
He is also notable for introducing the world's first "smoking ban," threatening ex-communication for anyone who smoked or chewed tobacco within church premises. Tragically, after just 12 exceptionally productive days, he succumbed and died to malaria, never even reaching his papal coronation.
He is said to have had a strong stance against nepotism, which was quite rampant in the Church during that period. He was elected as a compromise candidate after a conclave that had difficulty agreeing on a new Pope following the death of Pope Sixtus V. His papacy was so short that he didn’t issue any papal bulls, which are formal documents sealed with the papal seal. Despite the brief papacy, his legacy lived on through the work of his successor, Pope Gregory XIV, who retained many of the cardinals and advisors that Urban VII had chosen.
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