Pope Clement VII

Bishop of Rome

Portrait by Sebastiano del Piombo. Source.

Pope Clement VII (26 May 1478 – ) has been head of the Catholic Church since 1523.

The story so far…

Week 1: Across the Narrow Sea / Paternity

Henry VIII requires the pope’s permission to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Cromwell and Wolsey discuss sending Stephen Gardiner to Rome to petition Clement. And the cardinal suggests sending Cromwell, who could offer the pope a loan. Clement is in need of money to defend the Papal States.

Week 3: An Occult History of Britain (Part 1)

In 1527, the imperial army of Charles V sacks Rome and the pope finds himself at the mercy of the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles is Queen Katherine’s nephew and there will be no annulment of her marriage to Henry while he has influence over Pope Clement.