Pope's Shortest Reign: Just 13 Days

In September 1590, Giovanni Battista Castagna ascended to the papacy, taking the name Urban VII. His reign, however, was tragically cut short, lasting a mere thirteen days before his untimely death. This incredibly brief pontificate is the shortest in the history of the Catholic Church.

The cause of Pope Urban VII’s death was malaria, a disease that was a significant threat in 16th-century Italy, particularly in Rome and its surrounding marshy regions like the Tiber river valley and the Pontine Marshes. This parasitic infection, spread by mosquitoes, was a common and often fatal ailment during this era, impacting populations across Europe. Despite being elected in good health and known for his charitable nature and opposition to nepotism, Urban VII quickly succumbed to the pervasive illness.

Remarkably, during his fleeting time as pontiff, Urban VII issued the world's first known public smoking ban. Tobacco had only recently been introduced to Europe from the Americas in the early 16th century, rapidly gaining popularity, sometimes even being used in and around sacred spaces. Pope Urban VII's decree threatened excommunication for anyone caught using tobacco, whether by chewing, smoking, or sniffing, within the portico or interior of a church. This early prohibition highlights the swift spread of tobacco use and the immediate concerns it raised in society, centuries before its health risks were fully understood. The ban remained in effect until it was repealed by Pope Benedict XIII in the 18th century.