# Pope Urban VIII

_235 pope of the Catholic Church from 1623 to 1644 (1568–1644)_

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

> Pope Urban VIII (Latin: Urbanus VIII; Italian: Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death, in July 1644. As pope, he expanded the papal territory by force of arms and advantageous politicking, and was also a prominent patron of the arts, commissioning works from artists like Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and a reformer of Church missions. His papacy also covered 21 years of the Thirty Years' War.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 5 April 1568 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Florence ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P19))
- **Died:** 29 July 1644 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P20))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; patron of the arts; writer; Catholic bishop; jurist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P106))
- **Education:** University of Pisa; Pontifical Gregorian University; College of Saint John the Evangelist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (6 August 1623 – 29 July 1644); Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (since 1623); diocesan bishop (27 October 1608 – 17 July 1617); Apostolic Nuncio to France (4 December 1604 – 20 September 1607); titular archbishop (since 20 October 1604) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579#P39))

## About

The massive debts incurred during his pontificate greatly weakened his successors, who were unable to maintain the papacy's longstanding political and military influence in Europe. He was also an opponent of Copernicanism and was involved in the Galileo affair, which saw the astronomer tried for heresy. He is the last pope to date to take the papal name Urban.

## Questions

**When was Pope Urban VIII born?**  
Pope Urban VIII was born on 5 April 1568 in Florence.

**What positions has Pope Urban VIII held?**  
Positions held by Pope Urban VIII include: Pope (1623–1644); Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (since 1623); diocesan bishop (1608–1617); Apostolic Nuncio to France (1604–1607); titular archbishop (since 20 October 1604).

**Where did Pope Urban VIII study?**  
Pope Urban VIII was educated at University of Pisa, Pontifical Gregorian University, College of Saint John the Evangelist.

## 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 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)
- [Pope Marcellus II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-marcellus-ii)
- [Pope Paul II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-ii)
- [Pope Benedict XII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xii)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Urban VIII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Urban_VIII) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q131579](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131579) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Pietro da Cortona - Portrait of Urban VIII (ca. 1624-1627) - Google Art Project - edited.jpg by Pietro da Cortona (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pietro_da_Cortona_-_Portrait_of_Urban_VIII_(ca._1624-1627)_-_Google_Art_Project_-_edited.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Urban VIII, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pietro da Cortona - Portrait of Urban VIII (ca. 1624-1627) - Google Art Project - edited.jpg — Pietro da Cortona, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Urban VIII". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-viii. Retrieved 4 November 2026.