Deeply involved in the Thirty Years' War, working for greater temporal power for the papacy.
Last pope to increase the size of the Papal States.
Established an arsenal in the Vatican.
Brought Galileo to Rome in 1633 to recant.
Supported the artists Poussin and Claude Lorrain.
Guilty of widespread nepotism, bringing large numbers of his family to Rome.
Wrote Latin verse and hymns.
![[]](pope0235.jpg "41kb jpg detail from the painting 'Pope Urban VIII', by Gian Lorenzo BERNINI, 1632, oil on canvas, 67 x 50 cm, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome, Italy; if you have information about this image, please email me; please do not write to ask about the image")