Pope Pius III was the head of the Roman Catholic Church for a brief period in 1503. Born as Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, he was elected pope on September 22, 1503, following the death of Pope Alexander VI. His papacy lasted only 26 days, making it one of the shortest in history. Pope Pius III was known for his efforts to promote peace and reform within the Church. He was a member of the influential Piccolomini family and had previously served as a cardinal. Unfortunately, his reign ended with his death on October 18, 1503, leading to the election of Pope Julius II.