Adrian, by his virtues and his failings, proved that modern Rome, in her social corruption and religious indifference, demanded an Italian Pontiff.

Single-minded and simple, raised unexpectedly by circumstances into his supreme position, he shut his eyes absolutely to art and culture, abandoned diplomacy, and determined to act only as the chief of the Catholic Church.

In ecclesiastical matters Adrian was undoubtedly a worthy man.

He returned to the original conception of his duty as the Primate of Occidental Christendom; and what might have happened had he lived to impress his spirit upon Rome, remains beyond the reach of calculation.
Dare we conjecture that the sack of 1527 would have been averted?
Adrian reigned only a year and eight months.

He had no time to do anything of permanent value, and was hardly powerful enough to do it, even if time and opportunity had been afforded.