Clement IX: A popular Pope who heard confessions weekly for the public and who published the world's first comic opera.

In this episode of Habemus Papam, Fr. Conrad discusses Pope Clement IX, who succeeded Pope Alexander VII–A cultured and honest Pope who fought Jansenism and welcomed the most important convert of the century to Rome. You can listen to the podcast about him here.

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Born Giulio Rospigliosi on January 28 1600, to the Rospigliosi family in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to Giocomo and Caterina Rospigliosi. He received an education at Seminario Romano and later at the University of Pisa with the Jesuits. He earned doctorates in theology, philosophy, and canon and civil law in 1623.

Rospigliosi wrote perhaps the first comic opera in 1637 titled Chi soffre, speri. Pope Alexander VII appointed him as cardinal in 1657 and later the Secretary of State in 1655.

On June 20, 1667 the conclave elected him pope and he took the name Clement IX and received his crown on June 26, 1667.

Clement IX beatified Rose of Lima, who is the first saint of the new world.

He also worked to strengthen Venetian defenses against the Turks at the island of Crete. The Turks captured the island.

He died in Rome supposedly of a broken heart on December 9, 1669.