# Pope Pius IV

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 1559 to 1565_

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

> Pope Pius IV (Italian: Pio IV; 31 March 1499 – 9 December 1565), born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1559 to his death, in December 1565.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 31 March 1499 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Milan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P19))
- **Died:** 9 December 1565 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P106))
- **Education:** University of Padua; University of Bologna ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (4 January 1560 – 9 December 1565); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Milan (20 July 1558 – 25 December 1559); Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1557–1558); Roman Catholic Bishop of Foligno (25 June 1556 – 7 May 1557); cardinal (since 8 April 1549); Catholic archbishop (since 20 April 1546); archbishop of Ragusa (since 14 December 1545) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983#P39))

## About

Pope Paul III appointed Medici Archbishop of Ragusa, and sent him on diplomatic missions to the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary. He presided over the final session of the Council of Trent. His nephew, Cardinal Charles Borromeo, was a close adviser. As pope, Pius IV initiated a number of building projects in Rome, including one to improve the water supply.

## Questions

**When was Pope Pius IV born?**  
Pope Pius IV was born on 31 March 1499 in Milan.

**What positions has Pope Pius IV held?**  
Positions held by Pope Pius IV include: Pope (1560–1565); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Milan (1558–1559); Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1557–1558); Roman Catholic Bishop of Foligno (1556–1557); cardinal (since 8 April 1549).

**Where did Pope Pius IV study?**  
Pope Pius IV was educated at University of Padua, University of Bologna.

## 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 Urban III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-iii)
- [Pope Paul VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-vi)
- [Pope Pius XI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-xi)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Innocent X](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-x)
- [Pope Innocent XI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-xi)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Pius IV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_IV) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q161983](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161983) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Portrait of Pope Pius IV, three-quarter-length, seated at a draped table (Circle of Scipione Pulzone).jpg by Circle of Scipione Pulzone (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Pope_Pius_IV,_three-quarter-length,_seated_at_a_draped_table_(Circle_of_Scipione_Pulzone).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Pius IV, 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 Pius IV, three-quarter-length, seated at a draped table (Circle of Scipione Pulzone).jpg — Circle of Scipione Pulzone, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Pius IV". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-iv. Retrieved 4 November 2026.