Sixtus V
Felice Peretti · 1585 – 1590
A forceful reformer who rebuilt Rome's infrastructure, reorganized the Curia, and funded his projects by ruthlessly managing papal finances.
Felice Peretti was the son of a poor gardener who entered the Franciscans and rose through sheer ability. Elected pope in 1585, he transformed Rome in five years. He completed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, erected obelisks at major intersections, built new aqueducts, and redesigned Rome's street plan. He reorganized the Roman Curia into fifteen congregations, a structure that persisted until the twentieth century. He fixed the number of cardinals at seventy. He fought banditry in the Papal States with extreme severity, executing thousands. He also produced an edition of the Vulgate Bible that was so riddled with errors it had to be recalled after his death. His energy was extraordinary, his methods often brutal, and his results lasting.
Rome Rebuilt
The Rome tourists visit today is largely Sixtus V's creation. He moved obelisks, cut roads, and finished the dome of St. Peter's in twenty-two months. He did it all in five years. The man had no patience and unlimited ambition. The results speak for themselves.
The Curia Reformed
Sixtus organized the Vatican bureaucracy into specialized departments, each with clear responsibilities. It was the most significant administrative reform since the medieval period. The modern Vatican still operates on a version of his framework.