24. A Steady Rise Through the Church’s Ranks
Pietro Barbo was born into a wealthy family in Venice. Like many Venetians of his class, it was anticipated that he would pursue a career in business. However, those plans changed when his uncle was elected as Pope Eugenius IV in 1431, and Pietro switched from a merchant career to a spiritual one. In quick succession, His pope uncle made Pietro Barbo an archdeacon, then a bishop, and in 1440, the pope made his 23-year-old nephew a cardinal.
He continued his ascent through the Church hierarchy after his uncle’s death. In 1464, he got himself elected pope by promising reformers in the College of Cardinals that he would implement an 18-point reform program. He took the regnal name Paul II, and no sooner did he get elected than he reneged on his promises, and declared that the listed reforms were only advisory, not binding. He then drew up an alternate reform program and forced the Cardinals to sign it under the threat of ex-communication.
