Who was the head of the Catholic Church during the Renaissance?

During the Renaissance, the head of the Catholic Church was the Pope. The Pope served as the spiritual leader of the Catholic faithful, wielding significant religious authority and influencing political matters across Europe. The position of the Pope was central to the church's operations, doctrine, and relationships with secular rulers, as the church played a crucial role in daily life and governance during this period.

The Pope also led the church in its response to various challenges during the Renaissance, including the rise of humanism, the Reformation, and other theological disputes. Prominent popes during this era, such as Pope Julius II and Pope Leo X, were known not just for their spiritual leadership but also for their roles in patronizing the arts, which contributed to the broader cultural movement of the Renaissance.

The other figures mentioned, such as kings, archbishops, and cardinals, held important roles within the church hierarchy and governance but did not serve as the ultimate head of the Catholic Church. Kings ruled their respective kingdoms, archbishops oversaw large districts within the church, and cardinals were influential advisors and electors of the Pope, but none held the supreme position that the Pope occupied.