Pope Benedict XIV

Catholic pope from 1740 to 1758

Pope Benedict XIV (Latin: Benedictus Quartus Decimus; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 248th Pope from 1740 until his death in 1758.[1]

Benedict XIV
Papacy began17 August 1740
Papacy ended3 May 1758
PredecessorPope Clement XII
SuccessorPope Clement XIII
Personal details
Birth nameProspero Lorenzo Lambertini
Born(1675-03-31)31 March 1675
Bologna
Died3 May 1758(1758-05-03) (aged 83)
Rome
Other popes named Benedict

Early life

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Lambertini was born in Bologna.[2]

Bishop

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In 1725, Lambertini was made Bishop of Theodosia. He became the Bishop of Ancona in 1727. He was made Bishop of Bologna in 1731.[2]

Cardinal

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lambertini was raised to the rank of cardinal in 1728.[2]

He was elected Pope in 1740;[2] and he chose to be called Benedict XIV.[3]

Benedict confirms the title of King of Prussia, which was taken in 1701 by the Elector of Brandenburg.[2]

The pope remained neutral in the War of the Spanish Succession.[4]

Benedict ordered the construction of the Fountains of Trevi.[4]

During Benedict's reign, the creation of a Vatican Library catalogue was begun.[2]

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References

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The Coat of Arms of Benedict XIV
  1. "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-8.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Pope Benedict XIV," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-8.
  3. Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Benedict XI–XVI are really the 10th–15th popes with that name. This is because Benedict X is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Benedict XI, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual thirteenth pope Benedict identified himself with the ordinal number XIV. In other words, the numbering of popes after the 10th Benedict needs to be explained -- compare Popes Boniface VIII–IX.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. (1833). "Benedict XIV," Penny cyclopaedia, Vol. 4, p. 215.

Other websites

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  Media related to Benedictus XIV at Wikimedia Commons

  •   "Pope Benedict XIV" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
  • Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Benedict XIV
  • Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church Archived 2011-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Cardinal Lambertini
  • Pope Benedict XIV portrait in the Vatican Museum
Preceded by
Clement XII
Pope
1740–1758
Succeeded by
Clement XIII