Adrian VI was the last non-Italian pope until John Paul II was elected, and unlike many of his predecessors and successors, he actually seemed interested in church reform. However, the deck was stacked against him:
So, let's let Adrian live a bit longer (not much, the man was 62 when he became pope, so I'd say it doesn't seem a stretch to let him live to around 1529/1530 (he'd be 70)), and somehow avoid both the poisoned cups and the malarial fevers that Rome might give him. How might this former theology professor and tutor to Karl V fare on the throne of St. Peter?
Obviously, the French were none to happy with the choice of Hadrian VI, whom they feared would be biased toward them and favor his former pupil the Emperor. And, they were not the only ones. In fact, the new pope himself was far from overjoyed upon hearing the news, saying he had "many reasons to be saddened". Indeed, when many Romans learned of his election they were outraged that a "northern barbarian" would be coming to rule the Eternal City. Yet, Pope Hadrian VI was to win more than a few enemies during this rather debased period of history for his simple holiness and moral integrity. This was a time when such qualities could just as often be a detriment as a benefit to a religious leader. Showing typical Dutch frugality and pragmatism, as soon as he arrived in Rome he cut back the lavish papal ceremonies and elaborate celebrations which cost so much money. That caused grumbling, but Hadrian VI also cut favors, and that could be downright dangerous.
Many came to admire him for his austerity, frugality and opposition to any form of corruption. However, others were inflamed against him by those elites who had lost their influence at the Papal court thanks to the reforming Dutchman. The all too frequent lapse into Church nepotism was immediately halted, Hadrian bluntly informing relatives who came seeking favors that, "he had not become pope in order to give away the property of the Church to his relatives". When confronted with anger from the Italian clergy over his cuts in spending Hadrian VI replied, "The pope is supposed to adorn churches with prelates, not prelates with churches."
.His reign had been short, and often unpopular, but in an age when many Church leaders were hardly upstanding examples, Hadrian VI left behind a legacy of personal virtue. He was a man of impeccable moral character, zealous devotion to the Church and upholding her doctrines as well as being one of too few who recognized that the Protestant movement was something to be taken seriously and was more than a minor dissatisfaction that would quickly fade away
So, let's let Adrian live a bit longer (not much, the man was 62 when he became pope, so I'd say it doesn't seem a stretch to let him live to around 1529/1530 (he'd be 70)), and somehow avoid both the poisoned cups and the malarial fevers that Rome might give him. How might this former theology professor and tutor to Karl V fare on the throne of St. Peter?