CLEMENT VII: (1478-1534) Pope of the Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1523-34. Extremely rare L.S. ...

CLEMENT VII: (1478-1534) Pope of the Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1523-34. Extremely rare L.S., `V.[este]r F.[rate]r Vicecancell.[arius], one page, 4to, Florence, 17th July 1521, to Venerable Canonicis, capitulo canonico plebis Sancti Geminiani, in Italian. Clement, in his capacity as Archbishop of Florence, states in part `We receive with great satisfaction your letter from the 16th, regarding the offer of the first vacancy of a canonical post..´, further saying `We thank you very much for it, and because it is convenient for M. Bastiano Guarguagli, from your countryside, to whom this dignity has to be conferred..´ With address leaf, bearing a paper seal affixed in fine condition. The address leaf states J(ulianus) tt.(tituli) S(anc)ti Lau(rentii) in Damaso - Pbr.(Presbiter) Car.(dinal) de Med(icis) S.(anctae) R.(omanae) E.(cclesiae) - J.(ulianus).. Vicecancell(arius). Paper with watermark. Very small overall age wear, with slightly uneven edges, otherwise G Clement VII, born Giulio di Giuliano de `Medici, former Gran Maestro of Florence, was considered a reputed and experienced statesman. He attempted to liberate Italy from foreign occupation, but his Papacy coincided with political, military and religious struggles, including Martin Luther´s Protest Reformation, power struggle between Roman Emperor Charles V and Francis I of France, King Henry VIII of England´s divorce with England´s breaking away from Catholic Church, and Turkish invasions. Clement VII was imprisoned during the Sack of Rome. Nonetheless Clement VII left a significant cultural legacy, commissioning iconic artworks by Raphael and Michelangelo, including the latter's The Last Judgment in the Sistine Capel. Clement VII is also is best remembered for approving, in 1533 Nicolaus Copernicus´ theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun, a hundred years before Galileo Galilei´s heresy trial.