The Resume

(August 2, 1760-February 10, 1829)
Born in Genga, Italy
Birth name was Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiorre Girolamo Nicola della Genga
252nd Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (September 28, 1823-February 10, 1829)

Why he might be annoying:

He was rumored to have fathered three children out of wedlock while serving as a papal nuncio in Germany.
He was rumored to have killed a peasant during an argument about hunting.
He tried to avoid becoming pope by telling the cardinals that they would be electing ‘a dead man’ and lifting his robes to show his swollen and ulcerated legs.
This actually gained him support, as the two main factions in the conclave, unable to get their own candidates elected, decided that a short-lived compromise candidate would be acceptable.
He banned Jews in the Papal States from owning property.
He decreed that dressmakers who sold dresses that were too low-cut or used transparent material would be automatically excommunicated.
He died of complications from hemorrhoid surgery.

Why he might not be annoying:

The rumors about the illegitimate kids and dead peasant were never confirmed.
He was credited with bearing the pain of his illnesses stoically.
He revived the tradition of Jubilee years, with over half a million pilgrims visiting Rome during the Jubilee of 1825.
He cut taxes in the Papal States.
He has been falsely accused of condemning vaccinations.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Born on Dr. Seuss Day [March 2nd] (Ranked: 1810)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 78]
• I Have Hemorrhoids
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Popes
• Profiles 47251-47500 (Ranked: 47297)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 100 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 22 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying