This is the portrait of pope Sixtus IV, whose years of his pontificate marked, in many ways, the history of Rome. As with all historical figures, even this pope, Francesco della Rovere, became the protagonist of acts and decisions, which to our eyes may seem good or completely wrong. But maybe good for us that a man like him lived here, in the Eternal City...
Sixtus IV was elected pontiff during the 1471 and he was able to win the election within the Conclave, thanks to the actions of his nephew Pietro Riario, who did not have scruples in bribing or buying, with prebends, and promises, the vows from various cardinals. A true market of the votes, would say, emphasizing the skills of this man to collect as many consents as possible. After all, a Conclave was often divided into factions, influenced in their turn by this or that noble family, by this or that kingdom. Nothing unusual for men of that age, regardless of their membership to the clergy. For a noble family, in addition, have a pope among its members, meant to hold the absolute power.
Before becoming pope, however, Francesco Della Rovere had already made a name in the environment of theological and clerical. Joined the franciscan order he openly challenged the Dominicans with his De Sanguine Christi, in which he took position in the so-called dispute of the Blood of Christ. Above all, the Dominicans thought that the blood of Christ touched the ground after the side was hit by the centurion Longinus. Being the blood of Jesus, it had special powers of salvation and healing. In total contrast to this idea there were the Franciscans, and the Della Rovere defended this vision. An important date for Sixtus IV, who as a true humanist man loved to surround themselves with artists of various genres, as a true patron of the arts, was the year of 1475, the date of the Jubilee (he for example determined that the Jubilee should be the official name of the Holy Year). On this occasion, Sixtus IV, which will bring forward a real renovatio urbis, modernising, as never before, the city of Rome.
He commissioned for example new routes roadways, such as the famous Ponte Sisto (the one with the round window) that he realized starting from a pre-existing roman. Sixtus IV promoted also the restorations or the building of new churches, as that one of Santa Maria della Pace (click here for further information). He also made laws with which they stared a few rules and architectural interest (a fixed distance between buildings, the destruction of the balconies are too tiny on the road), making straight the many paths that led and lead to the Ponte Sant'angelo, the one used by pilgrims to reach the St. Peter's Basilica. It was a way to bring a little order in which the abuse of the building were absolutely commons, in a city that also grew up in a disorderly way, re-using the monumental ruins of some roman buildings.
Moreover, in the context of an artistic embellishment, we have to remind realization of the Sistine Chapel, which was to become perhaps the most beautiful example of the Italian Renaissance in the world. Let's not forget how the pope of the XV century was a monarch, with a temporal power in Rome, but also on many other areas of the Italian peninsula. Between the shaky alliances, and attempts to overthrow the enemy, Sixtus IV will be the protagonist of several acts of foreign policy. For example he supported in many ways and extensively the so called Conspiracy of the Pazzi, at the end of 70's of the XV, which attempted to overthrow the power of the Medici over Florence. Sixtus IV was also famous for his outrageous nepotism, widespread practice in the Curia of the period, by electing to the title of cardinals, men without great virtues. Also this is Rome, a strange city, thanks to powerful men such as Sixtus IV, and today still exudes beauty. However, both lights and shadows for a pontiff who, in one way or another, left a mark in the history.