Pope Innocent XII

Pope Innocent XII
Bishop of Rome
Portrait byAntonio Zanchi,c. 1691-99
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	12 July 1691
Papacy ended	27 September 1700
Predecessor	Alexander VIII
Successor	Clement XI
Orders
Ordination	c.1643
Consecration	27 October 1652 byMarcantonio Franciotti
Created cardinal	1 September 1681 byInnocent XI
Personal details
Born	Antonio Pignatelli (1615-03-13)13 March 1615 Spinazzola,Kingdom of Naples
Died	27 September 1700(1700-09-27)(aged 85) Rome,Papal States
Previous post(s)	Titular Archbishop of Larissa (1652–1671) Apostolic Nuncio to Poland(1660–1668) Apostolic Nuncio to Austria (1668–1671) Archbishop-Bishop of Lecce(1671–1681) Archbishop-Bishop of Faenza(1682–1686) Archbishop of Naples(1686–1691) Cardinal-Priest ofSan Pancrazio(1681–1691)
Coat of arms
Other popes named Innocent

Papal styles of Pope Innocent XII
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father
Posthumous style	None

Pope Innocent XII(Latin:Innocentius XII;Italian:Innocenzo XII;13 March 1615 – 27 September 1700), bornAntonio Pignatelli,was head of theCatholic Churchand ruler of thePapal Statesfrom 12 July 1691 to his death in September 1700.

He took a hard stance againstnepotismin the Church, continuing the policies ofPope Innocent XI,who started the battle againstnepotismbut which did not gain traction underPope Alexander VIII.To that end, he issued apapal bullstrictly forbidding it. The pope also used this bull to ensure that no revenue or land could be bestowed on relatives.

Biography

Early life

Antonio Pignatelli was born on 13 March 1615 inSpinazzola(now inApulia) to one of the most aristocratic families of theKingdom of Naples,which had included several Viceroys and ministers of the crown. He was the fourth of five children of FrancescoPignatelliand PorziaCarafa.His siblings were Marzio, Ludovico, Fabrizio and Paola Maria.

He was educated at theCollegio RomanoinRomewhere he earned adoctoratein bothcanonand civil law.

Diplomatic career

At the age of 20 he became an official of thecourtofPope Urban VIII.Pignatelli was the Referendary of theApostolic Signaturaand served as the governor ofFanoandViterbo.Later he went toMaltawhere he served as aninquisitorfrom 1646 to 1649,and then governor ofPerugia.Shortly after this, he received his priestly ordination.

Episcopate and cardinalate

Cardinal Antonio Pignatelli

Pignatelli was made TitularArchbishop of Larissain 1652 and receivedepiscopal consecrationin Rome. He served as theApostolic Nuncio to Polandfrom 1660 to 1668 and later toAustriafrom 1668 to 1671.He was transferred toLeccein 1671.Pope Innocent XIappointed him as the Cardinal-Priest ofSan Pancrazioin 1681 and then moved him to thesee of Faenzain 1682. He was moved to his final post before the papacy, asArchbishop of Naplesin 1686.

Papacy

Papal election

Main article:Papal conclave, 1691

Innocent XII, 1695.

Pope Alexander VIIIdied in 1691 and theCollege of Cardinalsassembled to hold aconclaveto select his successor. Factions loyal to theKingdom of France,Spainand the broaderHoly Roman Empirefailed to agree on aconsensuscandidate.

After five months, Cardinal Pignatelli emerged as a compromise candidate between the cardinals of France and those of the Holy Roman Empire, particularly after CardinalGregorio Barbarigowas no longer considered a viable candidate for the papacy.Having received 53 out of 61 votes, Pignatelli took his new name in honour ofPope Innocent XIand was crowned on 15 July 1691 by theprotodeacon,Cardinal Urbano Sacchetti. He took possession of theBasilica of Saint John Lateranon 13 April 1692.

Actions

Immediately after his election on 12 July 1691, Innocent XII declared his opposition to thenepotismwhich had afflicted the reigns of previous popes. The following year he issued thepapal bull,Romanum decet Pontificem,banning thecurialoffice of theCardinal-Nephewand prohibiting popes from bestowingestates,offices, orrevenueson any relative. Further, only one relative (and only "if otherwise suitable" ) was to be raised to the cardinalate.

At the same time he sought to check thesimonyin the practices of theApostolic Chamberand to that end introduced a simpler and more economical manner of life into his court. Innocent XII said that "the poor were his nephews" and compared his public beneficence to the nepotism of many predecessors.

That same year he invitedMarcello Malpighito Rome to serve as his personal physician and offered him the position of Professor of Medicine at theSapienza University of Rome.Malpighi introduced his Roman colleagues to the use of themicroscope.

Innocent XII also introduced various reforms into the States of the Church including theForum Innocentianum,designed to improve the administration of justice dispensed by the Church. In 1693 he compelled French bishops to retract the four propositions relating to theGallican Libertieswhich had been formulated by the assembly of 1682.

In 1699, he decided in favour ofJacques-Benigne Bossuetin that prelate's controversy withFénelonabout theExplication des Maximes des Saints sur la Vie Intérieureof the latter. Innocent XII's pontificate also differed greatly from his predecessors' because of his leanings towards France instead of theHabsburg monarchy;the first in the 20 years following France's failure to have its candidate elected in1644and1655.

Consistories

Main article:Cardinals created by Innocent XII

Innocent XII created 30 cardinals in four consistories; two of those he elevated were those he reservedin pectore.

Canonizations and beatifications

He canonized SaintZita of Luccaon 5 September 1696. Innocent XII beatifiedAugustin Kažotićon 17 July 1700 and approved the cultus ofAngela of Folignoin 1693. He also beatifiedOsanna Andreasion 24 November 1694,Mary de Cervellioneon 13 February 1692,Jane of Portugalon 31 December 1692,Umiliana de' Cerchion 24 July 1694,Helen Enselminion 29 October 1695 andDelphine of Glandèvesin 1694.

Death

The tomb and monument to Innocent XII in Saint Peter's Basilica.

Innocent XII was already considerably ill on 25 December 1699 withgout(a rheumatic disease) and was therefore unable to attend the solemn opening of the Holy Door atSaint Peter's Basilicato mark the beginning of theJubileefor 1700, hence, CardinalEmmanuel-Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergnerepresented the pontiff in the solemn celebration. OnEaster Sundayin 1700, the seriously ill pontiff gave a blessing from his balcony to the large crowds outside of theQuirinal Palace.Despite his illness, he named three new cardinals in June 1700.

Innocent died on 27 September 1700 and was succeeded in thenext conclavebyPope Clement XI(1700–21). His tomb in Saint Peter's Basilica was sculpted byFilippo della Valle.

In fiction

Innocent appears as one of the narrators inRobert Browning's long poemThe Ring and the Book(1869), based on the true story of the pope's intervention in a historical murder trial in Rome during his papacy. Innocent is the most recent pope to not be clean shaven.

See also

• Cardinals created by Innocent XII
• Papal conclave, 1691
• Papal conclave, 1700

Bibliography

• Ago, R. (1994), "La carriera curiale di Antonio Pignatelli," in:Riforme, religione e politica durante il pontificato di Innocenzo XII (1691-1700),pp. 23–30.
• Ago, Renata (2000), "Innocenzo XII,"Enciclopedia dei Papi(Treccani: 2000).(in Italian)
• Pastor, Ludwig (1891).The history of the popes from the close of the Middle AgesVolume 32.London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner.
• Pellegrino, B. (ed.).Riforme, religione e politica durante il pontificato di Innocenzo XII (1691-1700)Lecce 1994.(in Italian)[collection of studies]
• Spedicato, M. (1994), "L'episcopato di Antonio Pignatelli a Lecce (1671-82): un governo pastorale a distanza?," in:Riforme, religione e politica,pp. 31–44.(in Italian)

Sources

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Innocent XII".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Innocent".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.