After the death of Pope Leo X on 1 December 1521, the papal conclave witnessed opposing factions of French and Spanish cardinals deadlocked over whom to select as a successor. Eventually, a Dutch cardinal began to emerge as a candidate, by way of compromise. His name was Adrian Florensz Boeyens, and on 9 January 1522, 500 years ago last month, he became Pope Adrian VI – the only Dutchman to serve as pontiff.

Adrian, who was born in Utrecht on 2 March 1459, came from a pious family of modest means. His father died young, and his mother soon after sent him to the Brethren of the Common Life, a Dutch Catholic community, for his schooling. As a young adult, he attended the University of Louvain, where he studied canon law, philosophy, and theology. He also received his priestly ordination there in 1490 and, the next year, obtained his doctorate in theology. He then became a popular theology professor and also served as vice-chancellor at Louvain.