Innocent X | |
---|---|
Bishop of Rome | |
![]() Portrait of Innocent X, by Diego Velázquez, 1650 | |
Church | Catholic Church |
Papacy began | 15 September 1644 |
Papacy ended | 7 January 1655 |
Predecessor | Urban VIII |
Successor | Alexander VII |
Previous post(s) |
|
Orders | |
Consecration | 25 January 1626 by Laudivio Zacchia |
Created cardinal | 19 November 1629 by Urban VIII |
Personal details | |
Born | Giovanni Battista Pamphilj or Pamphili 6 May 1574 |
Died | 7 January 1655 Rome, Papal States | (aged 80)
Motto | Allevitæ sunt aquæ super terram ("The Waters are Lifted Above the Earth") |
Coat of arms | ![]() |
Other popes named Innocent |
Pope Innocent X (Latin: Innocentius X; Italian: Innocenzo X; 6 May 1574 – 7 January 1655), born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 September 1644 to his death, in January 1655.[1]
Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, Pamphili was trained as a lawyer and graduated from the Collegio Romano. He followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle Girolamo Pamphili as auditor of the Rota, and like him, attaining the position of cardinal-priest of Sant'Eusebio. Before becoming pope, Pamphili served as a papal diplomat to Naples, France, and Spain.
Pamphili succeeded Pope Urban VIII (1623–44) on 15 September 1644 as Pope Innocent X, after a contentious papal conclave that featured a rivalry between French and Spanish factions.
Innocent X was one of the most politically shrewd pontiffs of the era, greatly increasing the temporal power of the Holy See. Major political events in which he was involved included the English Civil War, conflicts with French church officials over financial fraud issues, and hostilities with the Duchy of Parma related to the First War of Castro.
In theology, Innocent X issued a papal bull condemning the beliefs of Jansenism.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search