Clement XI, Pope

CLEMENTE XI, POPE. — Giovanni Francesco Albani, born at Urbino on 23 July 1649, was educated in Rome and was not unconnected with the circle of Queen Cristina di Svezia. Appointed secretary of briefs in 1687, he was created by Alessandro VIII cardinal of S. Maria in Aquiro on 10 April 1690.

He was elected pontiff on 23 November 1700. His pontificate was troubled, because, when the War of the Spanish Succession broke out, each of the two opposing powers, France and the Empire with their allies, claimed to have the Pope on its side. Emperor Giuseppe and Filippo V of Spain recalled their ambassadors from Rome, breaking off relations with the Pope; indeed, the emperor had the Papal States harassed by his troops.

The Treaties of Utrecht, Rastadt, and Baden (1712–14) established in general terms the arrangement of Europe without taking the Pope’s rights into account; indeed, the new emperor Carlo VI did not fail to advance new claims. Better prospects, however, were indicated for Christendom by the victories achieved in Hungary by Prince Eugenio and by the Venetians at Corfu and in the Peloponnese, to which the Pontiff also contributed. A passionate debate over Jansenist questions ran throughout the pontificate of C. It began in 1701 with the famous case of conscience: namely, whether a person could be absolved who professed that respectful silence concerning the condemnations of Jansenism was sufficient, without also being required to give internal assent. The Pope condemned this assertion with the bull Vineam Domini of 16 July 1705. On 8 September 1713 he issued the bull Unigenitus, by which

101 propositions from Quesnel’s Reflections morales were condemned; passionate controversies arose in France, eventually giving rise to a party known as the “Appellants” (1717), who were promptly excommunicated by the new bull Pastoralis of 1718. Under the pontificate of C., the missions received a strong impetus, particularly those in the eastern Mediterranean, Persia, India, and China. The questions Malabar rites (v.), which Pope C. intended to bring to an end with his bull of 9 March 1715, provoked lengthy controversies and disagreements and caused persecutions throughout the remainder of that century. Under C.’s pontificate there were also effective administrative measures and enlightened patronage. A special Congregation, known as that of Sollievo, was established to complete provisions for supplying food to the destitute; public granaries, hospitals, colleges, and hospices were also established in the provinces.

C. died on 19 March 1721 and was buried in S. Pietro.
- Vedi Tav. CXIX.