Innocent XII: Last Papal beard and an end to nepotism.

In this episode of Habemus Papam, Fr. Conrad discusses Innocent XII, who succeeded Alexander VIII–Nepotism comes back big, for a little while. You can listen to the podcast about him here.

To listen to more Catholic Link podcasts, click here.

View the Catholic Link YouTube page here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catholiclink…

Born Antonio Pignatelli on March 13th 1615 in Spinazzola (now Apulia) to an aristocratic family in the Kingdom of Naples as the fourth of five children to Francesco Pignatelli and Porzia Carafa. (Carafa is a familiar name I hope).

He received an education at the Collegio Romano in Rome and earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law. (You know, the degrees a lot of these popes earned).

Alexander VIII died in 1691 and the conclave gathered but reached a five month stalemate. Eventually they elected Pignatelli and he took the name Innocent XII to honor Blessed Innocent XI.

One of his first actions was to end nepotism with the papal bull, Romanum decet Pontificem. During his pontificate, tensions among European powers grew.

Eventually, Innocent XII fell ill on December 25, 1699. Eventually, Innocent died on September 27, 1700 and Pope Clement XI succeeded him.