Pope Julius III (10 September 1487 – 23 March 1555), born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, is Pope from 7 February 1550 to 1555.

In his early career in the Church Julius had established a reputation as an effective and trustworthy diplomat, and is elected to the Papacy as a compromise candidate when the Papal Conclave finds itself deadlocked between the rival French and German factions.

As Pope he loses, or fails to show, any of the qualities which had distinguished his previous career, devoting himself instead to a life of personal pleasure and indolence, and the achievements of his incumbency are very few.

His lasting fame, or notoriety, rests rather on his relationship with the 17 year old boy whom he has raised to the position of Cardinal-Nephew, and, it is said at the time, with whom he shares his bed: the resulting scandal does great harm to the reputation of the Church.