bibliography
NNDB
This is a beta version of NNDB
Search: for

Pope Innocent XII

Pope Innocent XIIAKA Antonio Pignatelli

Born: 13-Mar-1615
Birthplace: Naples, Italy
Died: 27-Sep-1700
Location of death: Rome, Italy
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Religion: Roman Catholic
Race or Ethnicity: White
Occupation: Religion

Nationality: Italy
Executive summary: Roman Catholic Pope, 1691-1700

Innocent XII, given name Antonio Pignatelli, Roman Catholic Pope from 1691 to 1700 in succession to Alexander VIII, was born in Naples on the 13th of March 1615, was educated at the Jesuit College in Rome, entered upon his official career at the age of twenty, and became vice-legate of Urbino, governor of Perugia, and nuncio to Tuscany, to Poland and to Austria. He was made cardinal and archbishop of Naples by Pope Innocent XI, whose pontificate he took as a model for his own, which began on the 12th of July 1691. Full of reforming zeal, he issued ordinances against begging, extravagance and gambling; forbade judges to accept presents from suitors; built new courts of justice; prohibited the sale of offices, maintaining the financial equilibrium by reducing expenses; and, an almost revolutionary step, struck at the root of nepotism, in a bull of 1692 ordaining that thenceforth no pope should grant estates, offices or revenues to any relative. Innocent likewise put an end to the strained relations that had existed between France and the Holy See for nearly fifty years. He adjusted the difficulties over the regalia, and obtained from the French bishops the virtual repudiation of the Declaration of Gallican Liberties. He confirmed the bull of Alexander VIII against Jansenism in 1696; and, in 1699, under pressure from Louis XIV, condemned certain of Fénelon's doctrines which Bossuet had denounced as quietistic. When the question of the Spanish succession was being agitated he advised Charles II to make his will in favor of the Duke of Anjou. Innocent died, on the eve of the great conflict, on the 27th of September 1700. Moderate, benevolent, just, Innocent was one of the best popes of the modern age.

    Roman Catholic Pope 12-Jul-1691 to 27-Sep-1700
    Papal Inquisition


New!
NNDB MAPPER
Create a map starting with Pope Innocent XII
Requires Flash 7+ and Javascript.

Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile



Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications