# Pope Urban VII

_Pope of the Catholic Church in September 1590_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-vii
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Urban VII (Latin: Urbanus VII; Italian: Urbano VII; 4 August 1521 – 27 September 1590), born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was head of the Catholic Church, and leader of the Papal States from 15 to 27 September 1590. His papacy is the shortest recognized in history.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 4 August 1521 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P19))
- **Died:** 27 September 1590 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P20))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; transitional deacon; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P106))
- **Education:** University of Perugia; University of Bologna; University of Padua ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (15 September 1590 – 27 September 1590); apostolic Nuncio to Spain (1565–1572); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Rossano (4 April 1553 – 23 January 1573) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337#P39))

## About

Castagna, born in Rome in 1521, was a highly educated man who held various positions within the Catholic Church and the structures of the Papal States of his day. He served as Governor of Fano, Perugia, and Umbria and, as the Archbishop of Rossano, participated in the Council of Trent. Later, he was appointed as the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and Venice and served as the Papal legate to Flanders and to Cologne. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1583 by Pope Gregory XIII.

Upon the death of Pope Sixtus V, Castagna was elected as pope on 15 September 1590, taking the name Urban VII. He was known for his charity, public works projects, and strict opposition to nepotism. His papacy was short-lived as he died of malaria on 27 September 1590, after just 12 days in office. Urban VII is remembered for instituting the world's first known public smoking ban, threatening excommunication for those using tobacco in or near a church.

## Questions

**When was Pope Urban VII born?**  
Pope Urban VII was born on 4 August 1521 in Rome.

**What positions has Pope Urban VII held?**  
Positions held by Pope Urban VII include: Pope (1590–1590); apostolic Nuncio to Spain (1565–1572); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Rossano (1553–1573).

**Where did Pope Urban VII study?**  
Pope Urban VII was educated at University of Perugia, University of Bologna, University of Padua.

## 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 Innocent X](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-x)
- [Pope Clement IX](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-ix)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Urban VII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Urban_VII) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q134337](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134337) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Portrait of Pope Urban VII Castagna (Jacopo del Conte, Vatican Museums).jpg by Jacopino del Conte (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Pope_Urban_VII_Castagna_(Jacopo_del_Conte,_Vatican_Museums).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Urban VII, 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 Urban VII Castagna (Jacopo del Conte, Vatican Museums).jpg — Jacopino del Conte, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Urban VII". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-vii. Retrieved 5 November 2026.