St Pius V

Pope. Anthony Ghislieri was born in 1504 in Piedmont, Italy. He joined the Dominicans in 1518, was ordained in 1540 and then taught philosophy and theology for 16 years before becoming bishop of Suiri in 1556. He was made a cardinal in 1557 and elected Pope in 1565.

His first task was to begin implementing the sweeping reforms called for by the Council. He ordered the founding of seminaries and published a new missal, a new breviary, and a new catechism as well as establishing the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes for the young.

Pius built hospitals, provided food for the hungry and gave money customarily used for the papal banquets to poor Roman converts. His decision to keep wearing his Dominican habit led to the custom of the pope wearing a white cassock.

In striving to reform both Church and state, Pius encountered strong opposition from England's Queen Elizabeth and the Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Problems in France and in the Netherlands also hindered Pius's hopes for a Europe united against the Ottoman Turks.

Only at the last minute was he able to organize a fleet which won a decisive victory in the Gulf of Lepanto, off Greece, on October 7, 1571.

Pius spent long hours in prayer, fasted rigorously, deprived himself of many customary papal luxuries and faithfully observed the Dominican Rule. He died in 1572 and was canonised in 1712.