Person
Pope Urban VII
head of the Catholic Church
Pope Urban VII (4 August 1521 – 27 September 1590), born Giovanni Battista Castagna, is Pope for thirteen days in September 1590.
He is of Genoese origin, although born in Rome.
He is created Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcello in 1584.
He is chosen successor of Pope Sixtus V (1585–90) on 15 September 1590, but died of malaria (27 September 1590) before coronation, making his the shortest papal reign in history.