When Pope Innocent XI became pope in 1676, one of the first orders was that none of the cardinals should help their relatives.
Christopher Francis – Vatican
Pope Innocent 10
Friends! Last week we also saw a Pope who, by favoring his relatives, was under the influence of a Pope who had tarnished his name. Pope Innocent 10, whom we will see today, earned a bad name because of his brother’s widow who moved into the Vatican after his brother’s death. Pope Innocent X, born in 1574 to a noble Italian family with the name Giambattista Pamfili, served first in the Holy See, then as the Apostolic Bishop of Naples and Spain, and was given the honor of the Patriarch of the Latin Rite of Antioch, and was declared a Cardinal in 1626, but only in 1629 did he accept the red cap of a Cardinal. Upon the death of Pope Urban VIII on July 29, 1644, the cardinals met to elect the next pope. But the election lasted 37 days, as the heat of Rome and malaria hampered the election, as well as conflicts between the Spanish and French cardinals.
Former Pope Urban VIII was so loyal to the French that the cardinals wanted to choose someone who was the opposite. Pope Innocent 10 was the chosen one. Elected on 15 September 1644. Pope Innocent X established a commission to investigate the properties of the Barberini family, who had enriched themselves by looting the Holy See during the reign of Pope Urban VIII. But the group came to nothing because the former papal Barberini family had the support of Cardinal Mazarin, then prime minister of France. Meanwhile, his brother’s widow, Olimpia Maidalchini, entered the monastery and began to control everyone. It was during the reign of Innocent 10 that the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) between Catholics and schismatic Christians came to an end. And in the war between France and Spain, Pope Innocent X supported Spain. Because he thought that if France were victorious, Italy would be in danger. This Thiruthanth also gave great encouragement to missionary work in foreign countries. It was during his time that the interior decorations of St. Peter’s Basilica, which had just been completed, were completed. Urom renovated the Navona complex and beautified the fountains. Besides, he introduced humane reforms in the prisons under the Tirupati. He also declared a year of jubilee in 1650. He died on 7th January 1655.
Pope Alexander VII
Next in charge was Pope Alexander VII, born Fabio Chigi on February 13, 1599 in Siena, Italy. He has served as the Ambassador to Germany for 13 years. A cardinal in 1652, he was unanimously elected pope in 1655 after the death of Pope Innocent X in a meeting of 62 cardinals held for 80 days. Knowing very well that some of the old popes had tarnished their names by showing favors to their relatives, this patriarch ordered that his relatives should not come to the Holy See. But who has fate left? In order to overcome the opposition of some cardinals, he enlisted the help of his relatives and kept them close. Enmity with France continued during his time. King Louis XIV of France, who expelled the Holy See from Paris, also captured Avignon, the papal residence in France. The Pope was also forced to sign the Treaty of Pisa with the King in 1664 on various conditions.
Relations with the Republic of Venice improved during this papacy. In 1606 the expelled Jesuits were allowed to re-enter the Republic. At the same time, Pope Alexander VII refused to accept some episcopal appointments of the Spanish King and the King of Spain also refused to accept the Holy See. He also gave great encouragement to the work of evangelization. Unlike the previous pope, Jesus gave permission for the congregation to worship in the Chinese language in China. He exempted Chinese monks from chanting the Rosary in Latin. He loved the writings of Francis de Sales. It was Alexander VII who canonized him in 1661 and canonized him in 65. It was he who commissioned the famous artist Bernini to build the two semi-circular beauty structures with pillars that surround the St. Peter’s Basilica complex that we see today. He modernized the famous Sapienza University of Rome and built a large library for it. He also expanded the Vatican library. Pope Alexander VII died on May 22, 1667. One of the most beautiful tombs in St. Peter’s Cathedral is his. Because it was designed by Bernini.
Pope Clement IX
Pope Clement IX succeeded Pope Alexander VII in 1667 as head of the monastery. Born in Italy on January 28, 1600, he earned a doctorate at the University of Pisa at the age of 23 and worked as a professor of philosophy. He was the special patron of Pope Urban VIII and was the liturgical secretary of Pope Alexander. On the death of Pope Alexander VII in 1667, Clement IX became Pope by unanimous vote (June 20) of the House of Cardinals. His real name is Julio Rospilosi. He did not act as a monarch like previous popes. Instead, he acted like a loving father. Anyone can approach him and talk to him. Two days a week St. Peter sat in the cathedral and performed the absolution or propitiatory grace. He did not give any concession to his relatives. He visited hospitals frequently. He gave money to the poor. Although he erected many buildings, he did not allow his name to be engraved on any of them. He reduced the taxes of the poor. He abolished the duty imposed on grain brought into Rome from outside regions. He removed the right of the nobles to sell grain and paved the way for the price of grain to fall. He was responsible for peace between France and Spain. He was dismayed that the island of Crete had fallen to the Turks because no one had heeded his call for the Catholic Monarchs to unite against the Turks. He died in Rome on the 9th of December 1669. He led the church for two years, 5 months and 19 days and canonized Lemaros, the first American saint. Cardinal Emilio Altieri, his close friend, took over after the deceased triad, announcing that his body should be buried in the grounds of the Holy Mary Major Perungovil without the luxury of the popes.
Pope Clement X
Cardinal Emilio Altieri, born in Rome on July 13, 1590, was 80 years old when he was elected on April 29, 1670. Due to his age, he was unable to properly oversee the administration of the diocese. This 80-year-old cardinal was chosen after 4 months and 20 days of cardinals’ discussions in the election of the next pope on the occasion of the death of Pope Clement IX. He took the name Clement X. Clemente X canonized Francis Borgia, Louis Bertrand, and Lima Rose. This father worked hard to bring peace in Europe. Clement X died on 22nd July 1676.
Pope Innocent XI
Benedetto Odescalchi, born on May 6, 1611 in Como, Italy, was our next Pope, the eleventh Innocent. Educated at the Jesuit College of Como, he studied law in Rome and Naples. Pope Innocent X made him a cardinal in 1645. This father of three was known for his piety, altruism and sense of duty. When he worked as a bishop, he spent all his income for the poor. He was also called the father of the poor. When he became pope in 1676, his first order was that none of the cardinals should help their relatives. He ordered that if you want to help in that way, just give whatever help is given to the poor. Pope Innocent 11 paid off all the debts owed to him within two years of his inauguration. Conflict with Louis XIV of France continued throughout his tenure. The King refused to appoint bishops in the French dioceses and was receiving the diocesan revenues. At the same time, he unjustly punished schismatic Christians who acted against Catholicism with the aim of gaining good standing with the Pope. This further angered the Pope.
King Louis XIV deliberately appointed a French ambassador to the repatriation who did not like the Pope. The Pope refused to accept it. But the ambassador, Marquis de Lavardin, with the help of 800 French soldiers, seized the embassy in Rome and took office. Because of this, the Pope excommunicated him. Meanwhile, King Louis of France clashed with the Pope over the appointment of a bishop for Cologne, Germany. Failing that, King Louis seized the Papal property in Avignon and imprisoned the Papal ambassador. But after the fall of King James II of England who helped France, the situation eased somewhat. Pope Innocent XI ended gambling in Rome. He introduced restrictions on women’s dress and prevented cultural degradation. He encouraged people to receive the Eucharist daily.
This father of three died on 11th August 1689.