MARCELLUS II

original name Marcello Cervini born May 6, 1501, Montepulciano, Tuscany died May 1, 1555, Rome pope from April 9/10 to May 1, 1555. He was made cardinal in December 1539 by Pope Paul III, for whom he served in numerous politico-ecclesiastical missions. With Cardinal Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte (later Pope Julius III) and Cardinal Reginald Pole, he presided at the Council of Trent in 1545. A leader in church reform, he died less than a month after being elected pope.