titular churches. In 1596 Pope Clement VIII sent Alessandro as a papal legate to France, where he remained until 1598, when he received word of his appointment as Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. Pontificate Papal election On 14 March 1605, eleven days after the death of Clement VIII, 62 cardinals entered the conclave. Prominent among the candidates for the papacy were the great historian Cesare Baronius and the famous Jesuit controversialist Robert Bellarmine, future saint. But Pietro Aldobrandini, the leader of the Italian party among the cardinals, allied with the French cardinals and brought about the election of Alessandro against the express wish of King Philip III of Spain. King Henry IV of France is said to have spent 300,000 écus in the promotion of Alessandro's candidacy. On 1 April 1605, Cardinal Alessandro de' Medici was elected as pope. He chose to be called Leo XI in honor of his uncle Pope Leo X. He was crowned on 10 April 1605 by the protodeacon, Cardinal Francesco Sforza and he took possession of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran on 17 April 1605. Death When he was elected, Leo XI was almost 70 years of age, and he died 27 days later. His death came as a result of fatigue and cold in the ceremony of taking possession of the Basilica of St John Lateran on 17 April; he started suffering from a fever the following day. See also List of popes List of popes from the Medici family List of popes by length of reign References External links Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Leo XI Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Medici Popes Italian popes Cardinal-bishops of Albano Cardinal-bishops of Palestrina Cardinal-bishops of Porto Cardinal-bishops of Sabina Apostolic Nuncios to France Roman Catholic archbishops of Florence Clergy from Florence 1535 births 1605 deaths 17th-century popes House of Medici Burials at St. Peter's Basilica