The artifact is a document signed by Cardinal Alessandro de’ Medici, the future Pope Leo XI, while he was the cardinal-archbishop of Florence.

A deeply religious man whose body of work and holiness is known mostly prior to his pontificate, Pope Leo XI’s mark on the Catholic Church will remain particularly because of his influence in implementing Tridentine reform and in restoring Church discipline in a France ravaged by civil war.

This is a particularly valuable addition to the Collection given the incredibly short duration of his papacy:  it began on April 1st, 1605 and ended on April   27th of that month, a mere 27 days later.  His pontificate is one of the briefest in history.