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Pope Innocent XIII (Latin:Innocentius XIII;Italian:Innocenzo XIII; 13 May 1655 – 7 March 1724), born asMichelangelo dei Conti, was head of theCatholic Church and ruler of thePapal States from 8 May 1721 to his death in March 1724.[1] He remains the most recent pope to take thepontifical name "Innocent".
Pope Innocent XIII was reform-oriented, and imposed new standards of frugality, abolishing excessive spending. He took steps to end the practice ofnepotism by issuing a decree which forbade his successors from granting land, offices or income to any relatives – something opposed by many cardinals who hoped they might become pope and benefit their families.[2]
Michelangelo dei Conti was born on 13 May 1655 inPoli,[3] nearRome as the son of Carlo II, Duke of Poli,[4] and Isabella d'Monti. LikePope Innocent III (1198–1216),Pope Gregory IX (1227–1241) andPope Alexander IV (1254–1261), he was a member of the aristocratic landowning family of the Conti, who held the titles ofcounts and dukes of Segni. He included the family shield in hispontifical coats of arms.[5]
On 7 June 1706, Conti was elevated to the cardinalate underPope Clement XI (1700–21) and was made theCardinal-Priest ofSanti Quirico e Giulitta. His appointment came about as the replacement of Gabriele Filippucci who resigned the cardinalate. He would receive his titular church on 23 February 1711. From 1697 to 1710 he acted as papalnuncio to theKingdom of Portugal, where he is believed to have formed those unfavourable impressions of theJesuits which afterwards influenced his conduct towards them. While in Portugal, he was witness to FatherBartolomeu de Gusmão's earlyaerostat experiments.
He was also transferred toOsimo as its archbishop in 1709 and was later translated one last time toViterbo e Toscanella in 1712. He resigned his position in his diocese due to illness in 1719.
After the death ofPope Clement XI in 1721, a conclave was called to choose a new pope. It took 75 ballots just to reach a decision and choose Conti as the successor of Clement XI.[8] After all candidates seemed to slip, support turned to Conti. The curial factions also turned their attention to him. His high reputation for ability, learning, purity, and a kindly disposition secured his election, which occurred the morning of 8 May 1721. He chose the name of Innocent XIII in honour ofPope Innocent III. On the following 18 May, he was solemnly crowned by theprotodeacon, CardinalBenedetto Pamphili.
His pontificate was prosperous, but comparatively uneventful. He held two consistories that saw three new cardinals elevated on 16 June 1721 and 16 July 1721.
TheChinese Rites controversy that started under his predecessor continued during his reign.[9] Innocent XIII prohibited theJesuits from prosecuting their mission inChina, and ordered that no new members should be received into the order. This indication of his sympathies encouraged someFrench bishops to approach him with a petition for the recall of thepapal bullUnigenitus by whichJansenism had been condemned; the request, however, was peremptorily denied.
Innocent XIII, like his predecessor, showed much favour toJames Francis Edward Stuart, the "Old Pretender" to the British throne and liberally supported him. The pope's cousin, Francesco Maria Conti, fromSiena, became chamberlain of James' little court in the RomanMuti Palace.
Innocent XIII fell ill in 1724. He was tormented by ahernia of which he spoke to nobody but his valet. At one point, it had burst and caused inflammation and fever. Innocent XIII asked for thelast rites, made his profession of faith, and died on 7 March 1724, at the age of 68.[10] His pontificate was unremarkable, given that he was hampered by physical suffering. He was interred in the grotto atSaint Peter's Basilica.
Innocent XIII might have lived a few years longer had he been more temperate in eating and drinking, and had his doctors been less ignorant. He was an equitable, honest ruler, always kept his word, in fact was inclined to do more than he had promised. He proved grateful to those who had befriended him, a rare quality indeed. He gave few audiences and compared to Clement XI showed little interest in the Pretender [James Edward Stuart]. I will have reliable correspondents in the coming conclave who will warn me in good time if any intrigues are afoot which might prejudice the King's interests by favouring the Pretender's.
Innocent XIII had suffered from a hernia about three to four months after his election but also suffered from acute attacks of pain due tokidney stones. But Innocent XIII did himself no favors with his excessive appetite and no exercise. He also suffered fromlethargy that caused him to sleep a great deal. In mid-February 1724, his suffering grew worse to the point that he could no longer get up, suffering from an accumulation of water in his lower limbs in what was an indication of severe kidney problems. This led to his doctors fearing that he could developcongestive heart failure.[12] On 3 March, despite his failing health, Innocent XIII set to work signing documents, though he suffered poor sleep that night and had a better day on 4 March. In the morning on 5 March, one of the papal doctors fed Innocent XIII apurgative, however, this backfired and only aggravated the hernia. An attempted reduction was only partially successful, resulting in a strangulated hernia, while the pope experienced great pain in the night between 5 and 6 March. However, a serious inflammation quickly set in, causing the pope to contract a fever. Innocent XIII, now very well aware of his state of health, immediately asked for theViaticum, receiving it on 6 March as his family gathered to see him. However, there had been attempts to get the pope to name new cardinals, simply to create stronger factions in the conclave. At 4:00pm on 6 March, he signed acodicil to his will, and that night asked for and received theExtreme Unction. Innocent XIII died on 7 March.[12]
