The year 1513 was a turning point in the history of the Catholic Church and broader European religious politics. During this year, Pope Julius II, a giant of the early 16th century, passed away. His death opened the doors for a new era in the papacy led by Guiliano de' Medici, who was elected pope with the regnal name of Pope Leo X.

Pope Julius II, who was born Giuliano della Rovere, was one of the most dynamic popes of the Renaissance. A zealous enthusiasm for reform of the church, acquisition of territory, and patronage of the arts characterized his reign. Nicknamed "The Warrior Pope," Julius II was a politically and militarily powerful pope who was a key unifier of the Papal States. He worked tirelessly to uphold and extend the temporal power of the papacy, even leading troops into battle to regain lost territory. In addition to his military escapades, Julius II was also a patron of the arts. He commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which is now one of the most renowned masterpieces of Renaissance art.

When Julius II passed away in February of 1513, the College of Cardinals convened to select his replacement. The conclave elected Guiliano de' Medici, a member of the great and influential Medici family of Florence. Guiliano de' Medici was born in 1475 as the younger son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, perhaps the greatest of the Renaissance art and culture patrons. His papal election was the culmination of Medici dominance of the Catholic Church.

As Pope Leo X, Guiliano de' Medici was elected as pope number 217 of the Catholic Church. During his reign, there was a period of cultural renaissance and religious conflict. Leo X was a learned man, highly educated in arts, literature, and classical studies. He upped the trend of patronage set by his predecessors by ordering different art and architectural pieces. He supervised the construction of significant buildings in Rome, including the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica.

But Pope Leo X's reign also coincided with the start of the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther's groundbreaking Ninety-Five Theses were published during Leo X's reign, creating the philosophical divide between Catholics and Protestants that would reshape Europe. Leo's response to Luther's criticism was initially flippant, underestimating the power that would ultimately be unleashed by the Reformation on the Church.

Briefly, the transfer of papacy from Pope Julius II to Pope Leo X in 1513 was a turning point in Church history. As Julius II handed over his legacy of political and artistic triumph, Leo X's pontificate would be characterized by patronage of culture as well as the brewing storm of religious reform that would forever change the course of Christianity.