15. A Slimy Pedophile Pope
Pope Julius III (1487 – 1555) began his career as a diplomat, and eventually became Holy Father from 1550 until his death five years later. As pope, he took some half-hearted stabs at reforming what had become a notoriously corrupt Catholic Church. However, he much preferred to spend his time in the pursuit of pleasure. In his case, pleasure meant pedophilia with adolescent boys, and his notorious pedophilic pursuits tarnished his reputation and that of the Church. Born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, he was a nephew of an influential archbishop and cardinal, who helped him ascend the church hierarchy. He became a cardinal in 1536, and a papal legate who undertook various diplomatic missions on behalf of the Holy Father.
In 1550, he was elected pope as a compromise candidate, after the College of Cardinals deadlocked between rival French and German candidates. He assumed the name Julius III. Once on the papal throne, he exhibited little interest in papal affairs. Instead, he looted the Church treasury to renovate his mansion in Rome, splurging on the best, including Michelangelo, to transform his residence into a magnificent palace. That was not the most scandalous thing about his pontificate, or what made him such an exceptionally slimy figure. That distinction goes to his love of young boys and proclivity for sex with kids, which was abundantly clear to all who set foot in the papal residence. Julius’ mansion was full of statues and frescos of boys having sex with each other, as the pope flaunted his perverted passion for children.