Fernando Martins de Bulhões (Lisbon 1195 - Padua 1231), also known as St. Anthony of Padua, was a religiousmember of the Franciscan order. St. Francis entrusted him with the teaching of theology, to counter the heretical movements that were spreading in Europe in the 13th century. A year after his death he was canonized.
Giacomo Cardano (Pavia 1501 - Rome 1576), was a mathematician, physician and academic of great genius. He teachestaught medicine at the university of Pavia and Bologna. He was one of the most influential mathematicians of the Renaissance. He is remembered for the dispute with the mathematician Tartaglia who plagiarized the resolution of the fourth-degree equation. He invented the combination lock and the gimbal joint.
Known as Pope Gregory XIII, Ugo Boncompagni (Bologna 1501 - Rome 1585), before the tonsure he teachestaught law at the University of Bologna. During his pontificate he worked for the religious unity of the Christians of Europe through the Reformreform of the Church. He is best known for commissioning the Gregorian calendar.
Francesco della Rovere (Pecorile 1414 - Rome 1484), in 1471 was appointed Pope of the Catholic Church and took the name of Sixtus IV. He obtained a doctorate in theology in 1444, and began his academic career in several Italian universities. During the papacy, he was inspired by his love for art, erecting the Sistine Chapel and supporting important artists. He is also remembered for his nepotism which led him to become involved in the Pazzi conspiracy.