When was Pope Paul V born?

Pope Paul V was born on 17 September 1552 in Rome.

What positions has Pope Paul V held?

Positions held by Pope Paul V include: Pope (1605–1621); Roman Catholic Bishop of Iesi (1597–1599); Cardinal Vicar.

Where did Pope Paul V study?

Pope Paul V was educated at University of Padua, University of Bologna, University of Perugia.

Attributed to Caravaggio · Public domain

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Pope Paul V

233rd pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1605 to 1621

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Pope Paul V (Latin: Paulus PP. V; Italian: Paolo V) (17 September 1550/1552 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death, in January 1621. In 1611, he made Galileo Galilei a member of the papal Accademia dei Lincei. In 1616, Pope Paul V instructed Cardinal Robert Bellarmine to inform Galileo that the Copernican theory could not be taught as fact, but Bellarmine's certificate allowed Galileo to continue his studies in search for evidence and use the geocentric model as a theoretical device. That same year Paul V assured Galileo that he was safe from persecution so long as he, the Pope, should live. Bellarmine's certificate was used by Galileo for his defense at the trial of 1633.

Quick facts

Born: 17 September 1552 wd
Place of birth: Rome wd
Died: 28 January 1621 wd
Place of death: Rome wd
Citizenship: Papal States wd
Occupation: Latin Catholic priest, Catholic bishop wd
Education: University of Padua, University of Bologna, University of Perugia wd

Positions held wd

Pope (16 May 1605 – 28 January 1621)
Roman Catholic Bishop of Iesi (14 April 1597 – 2 August 1599)
Cardinal Vicar

About

Trained in jurisprudence, Borghese was made Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Eusebio and the Cardinal Vicar of Rome by Pope Clement VIII. He was elected as Pope in 1605, following the death of Pope Leo XI. Pope Paul V was known for being stern and unyielding, defending the privileges of the Church. He met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 and was involved in the controversy over heliocentrism. He canonized and beatified several individuals during his papacy and created 60 cardinals in ten consistories.

His insistence on ecclesiastical jurisdiction led to conflicts with secular governments, notably with Venice, which resulted in an interdict on the city in 1606. This disagreement was eventually mediated by France and Spain in 1607. Pope Paul V's diplomacy also strained relations with England, as his actions were perceived as undermining moderate Catholics in the country.

In Rome, he financed the completion of St. Peter's Basilica, improved the Vatican Library, and restored the ancient Roman aqueduct Aqua Traiana. Pope Paul V established the Banco di Santo Spirito in 1605 and is also known for fostering the rise of…

Questions

When was Pope Paul V born?: Pope Paul V was born on 17 September 1552 in Rome.
What positions has Pope Paul V held?: Positions held by Pope Paul V include: Pope (1605–1621); Roman Catholic Bishop of Iesi (1597–1599); Cardinal Vicar.
Where did Pope Paul V study?: Pope Paul V was educated at University of Padua, University of Bologna, University of Perugia.

Sources

Last updated 3 November 2026 · facts checked 5 November 2026

Cite this page

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

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Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Paul V, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pope Paul V.jpg — Attributed to Caravaggio, Public domain.

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