Pope Benedict XIII

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(PIETRO FRANCESCO ORSINI)

Born 2 February, 1649; died 23 February, 1730. Being a son of Ferdinando Orsini and Giovanna Frangipani of Tolpha, he belonged to the archducalfamily of Orsini-Gravina. From early youth he exhibited a decided liking for theOrder of St. Dominic, and at the age of sixteen during a visit toVenice he entered theDominicannovitiate against the will of hisparents, though he was the eldest son and heir to the title and estates of his childless uncle the Duke of Bracciano. Their appeal toClement IX was fruitless; thepope not only approved the purpose of the youngnovice, but even shortened hisnovitiate by half in order to free him from the importunities of his relatives. As student andnovice, the young prince was a model ofhumility andzeal, and devoted himself to the acquisition ofecclesiastical learning. At the age of twenty-one he was promoted to a professorship. On 22 February, 1672, he was elevated to thecardinalate by his relativeClement X. He protested strenuously against thehonour, but was compelled to accept it under thevow of obedience by the General of theDominicans, at the insistence of thepope. Ascardinal he adhered strictly to the observance of the rule of his order, and never laid aside his habit. In 1675 having the choice between the Archbishopric ofSalerno and that ofManfredonia (Siponto) he chose the latter because it was a poor diocese and required great exercise of pastoralzeal. His virtuous life not only overcame the opposition made by his relatives when he became amonk, but exercised such a salutary influence that in time his mother, his sister, and two of his nieces embraced thereligious life in the ThirdOrder of St. Dominic. During theconclave that followed the death ofClement X (1676), he was one of the band ofcardinals known as thezelanti who had agreed that no considerations of worldlyprudence would influence them in the choice of a newpope. In the government of hisdiocese, Cardinal Orsini was unremitting in his labours andzeal. He visited even the most remote hamlets and was not less watchful over temporal than over spiritual things. He provided for the needs of the people, repaired churches and held adiocesan synod, the decrees of which he published. In 1680, whenInnocent XI transferred him toCesena, he left to the people of Siponto a memorial of his apostolic activity, his devotion to the poor and his constant preaching brought about a thorough-going reformation among bothclergy and people. Seeing on his frequent journeys the condition of the churches in even the poorestparishes, he neglected none and by thepromulgation of strict rules, he abolished all known abuses.

In 1686, a serious illness, attributed by his physicians to the climate, caused his transfer toBenevento, where he remained for thirty-eight years or until he was electedpope. During this long period he seldom left hisdiocese. Each year he made an episcopal visitation to everyparish. Whenevernecessary, he built or renovated churches. He builthospitals and strove incessantly for the alleviation of the sufferings of the poor. Twice during his episcopate (5 June, 1688, and 14 March, 1702)Benevento was visited by earthquakes and on these occasions hiscourage, his active charity in behalf of the stricken inhabitants, and his energy in the reconstruction of the city, won for him the title of the "Second Founder" ofBenevento. He held twoprovincial synods, the first in 1693 attended by eighteenbishops, the second in 1698, with an attendance of twenty, the acts of which were approved atRome. The only reproach made against his administration is that his simplicity and child-like confidence exposed him to the wiles of some unscrupulouspersons who abused his confidence.

Cardinal Orsini had already taken part in fourconclaves, whenInnocent XIII died in March, 1724; and in all he had acted in the spirit of thezelanti. Theconclave at which he was himself chosen assembled on 20 March; two months afterwards (25 May) no choice had been made. This long delay weighed heavily on thesoul of Orsini, who commenced a novena ofprayers to his patron,St. Philip Neri, that the election of a newpope might be no longer delayed. Before the novena was finished he saw with terror that he himself would be chosen, and, reluctant to accept a position which filled him with dread, he sought by all means in his power to prevent his election. Against his oft repeated protestations he was chosen 29 May, 1724, and even after the final vote was taken he refused to yield, arguing that his age, his physical weakness, his incapacity, and a resolution which he made never to becomepope, should exempt him from such a grave responsibility. He yielded only when it was made clear to him that grave dangers were to be feared if theconclave should be reopened. So with tears, and obeying the command of the general of his order, he allowed himself to be proclaimedpope. Inhonour ofBenedict XI, a member of theDominican Order, he took the name of Benedict XIV, which he shortly changed to Benedict XIII asPeter de Luna who had previously borne the name (1394-1423) was aschismatic.

His first concern aspope was to enforce rigidlyecclesiastical discipline. He issued several decrees onecclesiastical dress and was unsparing in his efforts to abolish any semblance of luxury or worldly pomp among thecardinals. During the Jubilee of 1725, he discharged personally theduties of Grand Penitentiary, and is said to have seriously considered the revival of public penances for certain grave offences. In order to encourage the foundation ofdiocesanseminaries, he organized a special commission (Congregatio Seminariorum). At a provincial Roman Lateransynod held in 1725, he required an unqualified acceptance of theBullUnigenitus and through his effortsCardinal de Noailles,Archbishop ofParis, was led to accept it in 1728. During his pontificate Benedict retained the Archbishopric ofBenevento which he administered by avicar-general and which he twice visited (1727, 1729).

In diplomatic matters and in his relations with foreign powers Benedict did not exhibit the vigour and conservatism which marked his administration in religious matters. Hislove of peace led him to attempt a settlement of the dispute in regard to theecclesiastical privileges of the Kings ofNaples (Monarchia Sicula) by a revocation of the constitution ofClement XI (1715) and by granting to the King ofNaples (andSicily) and his successors theright to appoint a spiritual judge inecclesiastical affairs, reserving, however, the most important cases to theHoly See. The quarrel with Victor Amadeus ofSavoy was compounded by giving to the king the right of patronage over the churches andmonasteries in his dominions, without, however, conceding any claim to the incomes from vacantbenefices. Towards John V, King ofPortugal, thepope exhibited extraordinary firmness in refusing a claim based on the privileges held by other courts to propose candidates for thecardinalate. This was in consequence of the protests made by thecardinals against the election of Vincenzo Biechi, Nuncio toLisbon. In retaliation John recalled all Portuguese residents inRome, forbade all communication with theRoman Curia, and attempted to prevent the sending of the customaryalms fromPortugal toRome; he also interfered with applications fordispensations from matrimonial impediments. At many courts ofEurope grave offense was taken by the extension (1728) to the Universal Church of the Office ofGregory VII containing an account of theexcommunication and deposition ofHenry IV, which to Gallicans andProtestants seemed offensive.

Although fulljustice can scarcely be done to the virtuous life and the fatherlyzeal for the interests of religion of Benedict, his pontificate lost much of its lustre because of his misplaced confidence in Cardinal Nicolò Coscia, who had been his coadjutor atBenevento. Thepope wasignorant of the peculations and venality of his favourite, whosegreed did much to diminish the prestige of theHoly See, and against whom a popular uprising took place on thepope's death, resulting in ten years'imprisonment for this unworthycardinal. Benedict'stheological writings were published in three volumes (Ravenna, 1728).

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