Pope Paul IV (1555-1559)

Born Gianpietro Caraffa to a wealthy and distinguished Neapolitan family in 1476, he succeeded his cardinal uncle as Bishop of Chieti. Leo X sent him on an embassy to England and retained him for some years as nuncio in Spain. His residence in Spain served to accentuate that detestation of Spanish rule in his native land which characterized his public policy during his pontificate. In 1524 he joined the Order of Clerics Regular founded by St. Gaetano Thiene. Caraffa became its first general, and the order became known as the Theatines. (Chieti is Theate in Latin, and Caraffa was known as Theatinus). In 1536 Caraffa was placed on the committee to outline the project of Church reform of the papal Court; and he was named a cardinal. Later he was made Archbishop of Naples. Caraffa was the head and front of every effort made by Paul III in the interest of reform. He reorganized the Inquisition in Italy on papal lines and for a generation was the terror of misbelievers. How so austere a person could be chosen pope was a mystery to everyone, especially to himself. “I have never conferred a favour on a human being”, he said. He could boast that no day passed without seeing a new decree of reform.
(Adapted from the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia)