Background
Pius V was born on January 17, 1504 in Bosco in the Duchy of Milan.
Pius V was born on January 17, 1504 in Bosco in the Duchy of Milan.
Pius V was ordained in the Dominicans (1528) and became celebrated for his austerity.
Paul IV made him cardinal (1557) and inquisitor general; under his direction the Roman Inquisition reached a new level of efficiency.
On his election he set about putting the decrees of the Council of Trent (see Trent, Council of) into effect; he thus occupies a key position in the Counter Reformation, for his activity in those years just after the council insured the permanence of its work.
He governed the Papal States with severity.
He united Venice and Spain with him against the Turks, an alliance that helped to bring the victory of Austria over the Turks at Lepanto (see Lepanto, battle of).
He has been much attacked as a persecutor of heresy, but he was certainly not privy to the massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day in France.
He was succeeded by Gregory XIII.
As a young man, Michele Ghislieri was eager to join the inquisition.