|
||
Name:
Pope Benedict XIV
Born: Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini
Preceded by: Clement XII (1730 - 1740)
Succeeded by: Clement XIII (1758 - 1769)
Roman Catholic Pope #248
Dates:
Born: March 31, 1675 (Bologna, Italy)
Died: May 3, 1758
Pope: August 17, 1740 - May 3, 1758 (17 years, 8 months)
Biography:
Pope Benedict XIV had a very active pontifficate because he had many important political
matters that had plagued his predecessors and that he was determined to finish off once and
for all. Unfortunately, while he was able to settle many things, he often did so at great
political cost and with little sense of actual victory. In concordats with Spain, Naples,
and others, Benedict conceded the authority of secular leaders to appoint bishops while
retaining some measure of influence; however, various political moves also led to his
alienating Austria and seriously damaging Church interests there.
Benedict had better luck with internal Church matters - financial strains were eased, reformed the education of priests, condemned Jansenism once again, and revised the calendar of feasts. Less popular was his decision, promulgated in two papal bulls (Ex quo singulari and Omnium solicitudinum) that missionaries should not use Christian terminology to describe the ideas and practices of native cultures. As a consequence, many native converts abandoned Catholicism in favor of the traditional beliefs of their cultures.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
-->Popes and the Papacy: History, Doctrines, News About Popes
The pope may be the most visible and famous symbol of the Catholic Church. It is the office of the papacy and the assumed link back to the original apostles that differentiates Roman Catholicism from other Christian denominations. The office of the papacy is rather complicated and, much to the chagrin of believers, comes with a rather checkered past.Pope John Paul II: Biography, History, and Policies
John Paul II has been one of the longest-lived and most influential popes in the history of the Catholic Church. For good or for ill, his policies and personality have helped shape not only the current character of Catholicism but also the direction Catholicism will take for generations to come. Because of that, it's important to take the time to carefully consider what his policies have been and how they have affected Catholics around the world.Electing the Next Pope: Index of Resources on Papal Elections
Every human is mortal, and that includes popes. Some live and reign for extraordinarily long times while others only serve for a few days, but in the end all die and a new pope must be elected. How are papal elections run? A papal election is a process that is shrouded in secrecy; the details of any one election are supposed to be kept hidden, but general information is known.Book Reviews: Roman Catholic Popes, Papacy, History
Who or what is the pope? The title pope stems from the Greek word papas, which simply means "father." Early in Christian history it was used as a formal title expressing affectionate respect for any bishop and sometimes even priests. Today it continues to be used in Eastern Orthodox churches for the patriarch of Alexandria.
