INNOCENT VIII

(Giovanni Battista Cibô)

Popefrom 1484 to 1492, generally classed as one of the worldly popes who tolerated corruption in the church and neglected spiritual matters and church reform in their pursuit of wealth and power. As a patron of the arts, he is remembered for the construction of the Villa Belvedere at Rome, a building inspired by Roman architecture and decorated by paintings byBernardo PinturicchioandAndrea Mantegna. He is also notorious as the first pope who openly acknowledged his own illegitimate sons and daughters (begotten before his ordination to the priesthood) and used his authority to advance their careers.