13. Julius III had a long term illicit relationship with an adopted nephew
Pope Julius III reigned as pope for just over five years, during which time his papacy racked up an impressive list of scandals. Innocenzo Del Monte was a beggar in his teens when he was hired by the future pope’s brother as a servant. When Julius ascended to the papacy in 1550, his brother adopted Innocenzo, and the new pope adopted him as cardinal-nephew, despite the boy having no education and being for all intents illiterate. Julius provided the boy with income from several abbeys and kept him at his side despite the warnings of several other cardinals. Julius spent most of his time residing in the luxurious Villa Giulia, which he had built for himself, accompanied by Innocenzo.
The scandalous nature of their relationship was an open secret in Rome and in the capitals of Europe, hampering Julius’s ability to enact reform, and damaging the restoration of Catholicism in England under Queen Mary. After Julius died in 1555, the church took steps to hide Innocenzo and thus quell the wagging tongues. After the young man was insulted by two men he killed them both, leading to his banishment from the Vatican. Innocenzo tried to use his cardinal’s hat as the means to being restored to good favor, but was denied. As cardinal-nephew, Innocenzo had been responsible for affairs of state in the Vatican, and his inability to perform his duties had led to the creation of the office of Papal Secretary of State, which eventually became the most important Vatican official.