Pope Gregory XV, born Alessandro Ludovisi in 1554, served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1621 until his death in 1623. He is known for his efforts to reform the church and improve its administration. His papacy was marked by the establishment of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, which aimed to promote missionary work and spread Christianity globally. During his short reign, Gregory XV also canonized several saints, including Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Ignatius of Loyola. His papacy contributed to the Counter-Reformation, a movement within the church to address issues raised by the Protestant Reformation.