# Pope Pius III

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 22 September to 18 October 1503_

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

> Pope Pius III (Italian: Pio III, Latin: Pius Tertius; 9 May 1439 – 18 October 1503), born Francesco Todeschini, then Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini, was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 22 September 1503 to his death. At just twenty-six days, he had one of the shortest pontificates in papal history.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 9 May 1439 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Sarteano ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P19))
- **Died:** 18 October 1503 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P106))
- **Education:** University of Perugia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (2 October 1503 – 18 October 1503); apostolic administrator (1496–1503); apostolic administrator (31 October 1495 – 14 March 1498); apostolic administrator (21 February 1485 – 26 May 1494); cardinal protodeacon (30 August 1471 – 22 September 1503); cardinal-deacon (26 March 1460 – 22 September 1503); cardinal (since 5 March 1460); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Siena (6 February 1460 – 22 September 1503); abbot (1460–1503) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030#P39))

## About

Francesco was the nephew of Pope Pius II, who granted him the use of the family name "Piccolomini", and appointed the twenty-one-year old Francesco as Archbishop of Siena. He served as papal legate in a number of places. In 1503, the now-frail Francesco, known as Cardinal Piccolomini, was elected pope as a compromise candidate between the Borgia and della Rovere factions. Although he announced plans for reforms, he died less than a month later.

## Questions

**When was Pope Pius III born?**  
Pope Pius III was born on 9 May 1439 in Sarteano.

**What positions has Pope Pius III held?**  
Positions held by Pope Pius III include: Pope (1503–1503); apostolic administrator (1496–1503); apostolic administrator (1495–1498); apostolic administrator (1485–1494); cardinal protodeacon (1471–1503).

**Where did Pope Pius III study?**  
Pope Pius III was educated at University of Perugia.

## Related

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- [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)
- [Pope Paul III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-iii)
- [Michael Dixon Bhasera](https://diginpl.com/people/michael-dixon-bhasera)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Pius III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_III) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q160030](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160030) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: PiusIII.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PiusIII.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Pius III, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: PiusIII.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

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