Nicholas V Elected Pope

1447

Tommaso Parentucelli, a humanist scholar, became pope and began systematically rebuilding Rome as a Renaissance capital. He founded what would become the Vatican Library, commissioned Latin translations of Greek classics, and began restoration work on Saint Peter's. The papacy committed itself to cultural patronage as an instrument of authority. His dream of transforming Rome into a monumental capital was only partly realized, but successors built on his vision for two centuries.