Pope John XXI also known as Pedro Giuliano-Rebulo was an honored Pope in Lisbon, Portugal. This Roman Catholic dignitary was born between 1210 and 1220 in Lisbon. He was the son of Julianus and was baptized as Peter, thus deriving the name Petrus Juliani or Petrus Hispanus. He adopted the name Pedro Giuliano-Rebulo ever since he officially assumed the position of Roman Catholic Pope on the 8th of September 1276 up to the 20th of May 1277. Pope John became archdeacon and finally the Archbishop of Braga. He was devotee of secular science, and his attractions for monks developed the suspicion of the group of clergy. After his accidental death on 20-May-1277 in Viterbo, Italy, he was succeeded by Nicholas III.
Biography of Pope John XXI
During the 14th century, John XXI has been a recognized Portuguese physician and philosopher. He has also authored several medical books, the most celebrated one being the Liber de oculo. It was translated into German and edited by A.M. Berger. This book was later made into a popular textbook of logic, titled the Summulae logicales. John XXI is often referred to as a magician. After his elementary studies at the cathedral school in Lisbon, he went for his higher education at the University of Paris. He showed special interest in the lectures on logic, dialectics and on Aristotelean physics and metaphysics.
He finally pursued the study of medicine along with that of theology under the guidance of the Minorite Magister, John of Parma. After the completion of his studies, he was invited as professor of medicine to the University of Siena in 1247. "Summulæ logicales" was his creation, during his stay at this university. While his stay at Siena, he
also collected a rare archive of medical prescriptions.
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In 1261 John XXI became a strong follower of Cardinal Ottoboni Fieschi. Eventually he was made the deacon of the Church of Lisbon. He later exchanged this office for the archidiaconate of Vermuy in the Diocese of Braga. During this period he came in acquaintance with Teobaldo Visconti. In 1272, Teobaldo, after being elected as to the papacy of Gregory X, he came to Viterbo and appointed John XXI as his physician. During this period, he wrote his "Thesaurus pauperum". This book contains remedies for nearly all diseases of every part of the human body. Due to his popularity he was made the Archbishop of Braga in 1273. Very soon, Gregory X selected him as the Cardinal-Bishop of Tusculum in June, 1273. However John XXI continued to administer Braga until 1275, when the pope chose another archbishop. In June, 1273, Peter went to the General Council of Lyons, along with Gregory X, where he was sanctified as a bishop.
Later Years of Pope John XXI
Even amidst the heavy schedule of papacy, John initiated special time for his scientific studies. His own world of knowledge and medical studies were more affable to him than the big business of Curia that was subjected to him. In his later years, he lived in tranquility at a papal palace at Viterbo, where he studied and worked undisturbed. On 14 May, 1277, his apartment suddenly collapsed while the pope was alone. John XXI was buried under the wreck, and died on 20 May succumbing to serious injuries.
Pope John XXI was noted for his innumerable social works and welfare activities. One of the greatest achievements in his life is said to be the demolition of papal tax collectors who used to misuse their positions and power.
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