# Pope Paul III

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 1534 to 1549 (1468–1549)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-iii
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Paul III (Latin: Paulus III; Italian: Paolo III; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 29 February 1468 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Latium ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P19))
- **Died:** 10 November 1549 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P106))
- **Education:** University of Pisa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (13 October 1534 – 10 November 1549); apostolic administrator (24 January 1530 – 17 May 1532); Dean of the College of Cardinals (1524–1534); Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina (1523–1523); diocesan bishop (since 2 July 1519); Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (15 June 1519 – 9 December 1523); Roman Catholic Bishop of Parma (since 28 March 1509); apostolic administrator (18 February 1508 – 5 June 1510); Roman Catholic Bishop of Montefiascone (since 28 April 1501); protonotary apostolic; archbishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001#P39))

## About

Paul III came to the papal throne in the time following the sack of Rome in 1527, which was rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church as the Protestant Reformation progressed and the Ottoman Empire threatened Christian frontiers. He called the Holy League of 1538 to relieve the Republic of Venice from Ottoman expansionism, recruiting Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Despite highly ambitious outlooks, the League fell into infighting and disbanded without much success.

His pontificate also initiated the Catholic Reformation with the Council of Trent in 1545, and witnessed wars of religion in which Charles V launched military campaigns against the Protestants in Germany. He recognized new Catholic religious orders and societies such as the Jesuits, the Barnabites, and the Congregation of the Oratory. His efforts were distracted by nepotism to advance the power and fortunes of his family, including his illegitimate son Pier Luigi Farnese.

Paul III was a significant patron of artists, including Michelangelo, and Nicolaus Copernicus dedicated his heliocentric treatise to him.

## Questions

**When was Pope Paul III born?**  
Pope Paul III was born on 29 February 1468 in Latium.

**What positions has Pope Paul III held?**  
Positions held by Pope Paul III include: Pope (1534–1549); apostolic administrator (1530–1532); Dean of the College of Cardinals (1524–1534); Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina (1523–1523); diocesan bishop (since 2 July 1519).

**Where did Pope Paul III study?**  
Pope Paul III was educated at University of Pisa.

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Paul II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-ii)
- [Pope Pius II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-ii)
- [Pope Alexander VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-vi)
- [Michael Dixon Bhasera](https://diginpl.com/people/michael-dixon-bhasera)
- [Pope Pius III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-iii)
- [Pope Paul IV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-iv)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Paul III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Paul_III) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q133001](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133001) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Portrait of Pope Paul III Farnese (by Titian) - National Museum of Capodimonte.jpg by Titian (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Pope_Paul_III_Farnese_(by_Titian)_-_National_Museum_of_Capodimonte.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Paul III, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Portrait of Pope Paul III Farnese (by Titian) - National Museum of Capodimonte.jpg — Titian, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Paul III". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-iii. Retrieved 5 November 2026.