Pope Innocent XI

Pope Blessed

Innocent XI
Pope Blessed; Innocent XI
Bishop of Rome
	Portrait by Jacob Ferdinand Voet, 1670s
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	21 September 1676
Papacy ended	12 August 1689
Predecessor	Clement X
Successor	Alexander VIII
Orders
Ordination	20 November 1650; by Francesco Maria Macchiavelli
Consecration	29 January 1651; by Francesco Maria Macchiavelli
Created cardinal	6 March 1645; by Innocent X
Personal details
Born	Benedetto Odescalchi; 16 May 1611; Como, Duchy of Milan
Died	12 August 1689 (aged 78); Rome, Papal States
Previous post(s)	Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura (1642–1645); Governor of Macerata (1644–1645); Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura (1647–1650); Legate of Ferrara (1648–1651); Bishop of Novara (1650–1656); Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1660–1661); Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano (1645–1659); Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Onofrio (1659–1676);
Motto	Avarus non implebitur ("The covetous man is not (never) satisfied [with money]")
Coat of arms
Sainthood
Feast day	12 August; 13 August (Hungary);
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Title as Saint	Blessed
Beatified	7 October 1956; Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City; by Pope Pius XII
Attributes	Papal vestments; Camauro; Papal tiara;
Patronage	Diocese of Novara; Diocese of Como; Bavarian Congregation;
	Other popes named Innocent

Pope Innocent XI (Latin: Innocentius XI; Italian: Innocenzo XI; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 until his death in 12 August 1689.

Political and religious tensions with Louis XIV of France were a constant preoccupation for Innocent XI. Within the Papal States, he lowered taxes, produced a surplus in the papal budget and repudiated nepotism within the Church. Innocent XI was frugal in his governance of the Papal States, his methods evident in matters ranging from his manner of dress to a wide range of standards of personal behavior consistent with his conception of Christian values. Once he was elected to the papacy, he applied himself to moral and administrative reform of the Roman Curia. He abolished sinecures and pushed for greater simplicity in preaching as well as greater reverence in worship, requesting this of both the clergy and faithful.^[4]^[5]^[6] In consideration of his diplomatic and financial support for efforts to free Hungary from Turkish domination, he is still widely referred to in the country as the "Saviour of Hungary".^[7]

After a difficult cause for canonization, starting in 1791, which caused considerable controversy over the years and which was stopped on several occasions, he was beatified in 1956 by Pope Pius XII.

^ "August 12 - Blessed Pope Innocent XI (in Italian)". Diocese of Novara. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
^ "Cardinal Scola in the Cathedral for the closing of the Year of Innocent (in Italian)". Diocese of Como. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
^ "Patrons of the Bavarian Congregation". Catholic Saints. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
^ "Pope Innocent XI". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
^ "Pope Innocent XI". Cultural Catholic. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
^ "Pope Innocent XI". NNDB. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
^ Philips, Adrian; Scotchmer, Jo (May 2010). "Budapest: CASTLE HILL". Hungary. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-84162-285-9. Retrieved 6 May 2015. At the square's centre is a statue of Pope Innocent XI, who is known as the 'saviour of Hungary' because of his endeavors in funding the European forces that freed Hungary from Turkish rule.

[1] "August 12 - Blessed Pope Innocent XI (in Italian)". Diocese of Novara. Retrieved 23 March 2015.

[2] "Cardinal Scola in the Cathedral for the closing of the Year of Innocent (in Italian)". Diocese of Como. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2015.

[3] "Patrons of the Bavarian Congregation". Catholic Saints. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.

[Pope_Innocent_XI-4] "Pope Innocent XI". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

[5] "Pope Innocent XI". Cultural Catholic. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

[6] "Pope Innocent XI". NNDB. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

[7] Philips, Adrian; Scotchmer, Jo (May 2010). "Budapest: CASTLE HILL". Hungary. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-84162-285-9. Retrieved 6 May 2015. At the square's centre is a statue of Pope Innocent XI, who is known as the 'saviour of Hungary' because of his endeavors in funding the European forces that freed Hungary from Turkish rule.

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