Pope Urban VIII (baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Barberini, is pope from 1623 to 1644.

He is the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and is a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions.

However, the massive debts incurred during his papacy greatly weaken his successors, who are unable to maintain the papacy's longstanding political and military influence in Europe.

He is also involved in a controversy with Galileo and his theory on heliocentrism during his reign.