Pope Clement XI

Lore & Background

Giovanni Francesco Albani was born in 1649 in Urbino to the Albani family, of Albanian origin. He was educated at the Collegio Romano, became a proficient Latinist, and earned a doctorate in canon and civil law. He served as a papal prelate under Pope Alexander VIII and as Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura under Pope Innocent XII, also serving as governor of Rieti, Sabina, and Orvieto. Pope Alexander VIII elevated him to the cardinalate in 1690. He was ordained to the priesthood in September 1700 and celebrated his first Mass on 6 October 1700. After the death of Pope Innocent XII, Albani was unanimously elected pope on 23 November 1700. He was ordained a bishop on 30 November 1700 and crowned on 8 December 1700. During his pontificate, the War of the Spanish Succession broke out. In 1703 he ordered a synod of Catholic bishops in northern Albania to promote the Council of Trent decrees and stem conversions to Islam. He was forced to support Archduke Charles of Austria's claim as King of Spain after the imperial army conquered much of northern Italy and threatened Rome in January 1709. By the Treaty of Utrecht, the Papal States lost suzerainty over the Farnese Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in favor of Austria, and lost Comacchio. In 1713 he issued the bull Unigenitus condemning Jansenism. He supported James Francis Edward Stuart, recognizing him as James III and VIII, and paid for his residence in Rome. He performed the baptism of James' son, Charles Edward Stuart. He commissioned the Illyricum Sacrum and expanded the Vatican Library's collection of Syriac works. He confirmed the cultus of several individuals, beatified and canonized various saints, and named Saint Anselm of Canterbury a Doctor of the Church. He created 70 cardinals in 15 consistories. He died in Rome on 19 March 1721 and was buried in the pavement of Saint Peter's Basilica.

Reader's Guide

Clement XI was a patron of the arts and science, a benefactor of the Vatican Library, and authorized expeditions that rediscovered ancient Christian writings and excavated Roman catacombs. He funded an expedition to Albania to locate his family's origins. He was regarded as a fine diplomat and peacemaker. His election came within three months after his ordination as a priest and within two months after his first Mass. He initially held ambiguous neutrality in world affairs but was forced to support Archduke Charles after imperial threats. The bull Unigenitus led to controversies in France. He supported the exiled Stuart prince and performed the baptism of Charles Edward Stuart.

Did You Know?

• Clement XI was born Giovanni Francesco Albani to a family of Albanian origin.
• He was unanimously elected pope on 23 November 1700.
• He issued the bull Unigenitus in 1713 to condemn Jansenism.
• He performed the baptism of Charles Edward Stuart, the Jacobite Prince of Wales.
• He died on 19 March 1721 and was buried in the pavement of Saint Peter's Basilica.