The widowed sister-in-law of the indecisive Pope Innocent X (reigned 1644-1655), Olimpia was presumed to be the pope’s mistress.  Regardless of whether she was mistress of the pope, she certainly was mistress of the Vatican, appointing cardinals, negotiating with foreign powers, and raking in immense sums from the papal treasury.  In a church that firmly excludes women from officiating as priests, and even from marrying priests, Olimpia’s story is clearly an uncomfortable one for the Vatican.

The day that Cardinal Gianbattista Pamphili was elected pontiff, Cardinal Alessandro Bichi angrily declared, “We have just elected a female pope.”  Mischievous Romans hung banners in churches calling her “Pope Olimpia I.”

Across Europe medals were made showing, on one side, Olimpia on the papal throne, wearing the triple tiara, and holding the keys of St. Peter.  On the other side, Innocent, wearing a bonnet and curls, held a spindle and wool.

Cardinal Giovanni Pallotta despised Olimpia so much that one day when his carriage crossed hers, he leaned out of his window and began insulting her.  According to a shocked Roman diarist, the cardinal cried “that it was certainly a shame that the government of Rome was in the hands of a whore, and other such similar injurious words, and they departed.  It was publicly known that Donna Olimpia had slept with her brother-in-law before he became pope, and people were always talking about this.”

Olimpia’s contemporary, Cardinal Sforza Pallavicino, bewailed the “monstrous power of a woman in the Vatican.”  He fumed, “The court’s predictions that if Cardinal Pamphili became pope, Olimpia would rule, came true.  It was nauseating in a nation that excludes women from all participation, and it is much more abominable because she was not able to keep a lid on two female vices – those being ambition and greed.  She fed her ambition by having her antechamber full of prelates and the principal ministers, who in their ceremony and etiquette recognized her almost as their boss, and it came to pass that even cardinals, in addition to their frequent visits, ran to ask for her intercession in their most serious business.  One of these was not even ashamed to have her portrait hanging in his public rooms, as if she were a queen.” 

Another contemporary chronicler huffed, “There has never before been heard of nor seen that the popes allowed themselves to be so absolutely governed by a woman.  There was no more talk of the pope; all the discourse was of Donna Olimpia, many taking occasion to say, That it were fit likewise to introduce the women to the administration of the Sacrament, since that Donna Olimpia was pope.”

If someone broached a subject which the pope had not already discussed with his sister-in-law, he would ask, “What will Donna Olimpia say?”

Savvy diplomats were prepared to flatter and bribe her to obtain the pope’s favor.  “If you cannot make a breach in the mind of the pope through our authority,” said one powerful prince to his envoy, “try to gain it through the authority of Donna Olimpia with our money.” 

Most of our sources disliked Olimpia’s interference in Vatican affairs – she was far smarter than almost all the men in her environment, and it hurt.  But some fair-minded ambassadors praised her for her intelligence, dignity, and financial acumen.  The French ambassador Bali de Valençais admired Olimpia, informing Louis XIV that she was, without doubt, a “great lady.” Even Cardinal Pallavicino, who despised Olimpia, gave her grudging approval for her “intellect of great worth in economic government” and her “capacity for the highest affairs.”