Paul IV founded the Theatines, a Catholic religious order properly called the Clerics Regular.
Pope Paul IV was born on this day in 1555 as Gian Pietro Carafa. His family was a powerful force on the territory of the Kingdom of Naples and produced 16 cardinals. Gian Pietro Carafa was born in the town of Capriglia Irpina, some 40 km east of Naples (near Mount Vesuvius). It was the time when the Italian renaissance was in full swing.
As Pope Paul IV, he founded the Theatines, a Catholic religious order properly called the Clerics Regular. As papal nuncio (envoy), he travelled around Europe much, meeting the famous Erasmus of Rotterdam and visiting the court of Henry VIII in England.
Carafa became the Archbishop of Naples and the head of the Inquisition. He was elected pope in 1555, at the age of 78. The first Index of Prohibited Books was made during his pontificate. He lived until 1559, dying at the age of 83. He led a relatively ascetic lifestyle.
