Back Pous Benedictus XIV Afrikaans Benedikt XIV. (Papst) ALS Benedet XIV AN بندكت الرابع عشر Arabic بندكت الاربعتاشر ARZ Benitu XIV AST XIV Benedikt Azerbaijani Бенедыкт XIV Byelorussian Бэнэдыкт XIV BE-X-OLD Бенедикт XIV Bulgarian
Benedict XIV | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
 Portrait of Benedict XIV by Pierre Subleyras, 1746 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 17 August 1740 |
| Papacy ended | 3 May 1758 |
| Predecessor | Clement XII |
| Successor | Clement XIII |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2 July 1724 by Pope Benedict XIII |
| Consecration | 16 July 1724 by Benedict XIII |
| Created cardinal | 9 December 1726 (in pectore) 30 April 1728 (revealed) by Benedict XIII |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini 31 March 1675 |
| Died | 3 May 1758 (aged 83) Rome, Papal States |
| Previous post(s) |
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| Motto | Curabuntur omnes (Latin for 'All will be healed')[1] |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Other popes named Benedict | |
| Papal styles of Pope Benedict XIV | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
Pope Benedict XIV (Latin: Benedictus XIV; Italian: Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758),[2] born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758.[note 1]
Perhaps one of the best scholars to sit on the papal throne, yet often overlooked, he promoted scientific learning, the Baroque arts, reinvigoration of Thomism, and the study of the human form. Firmly committed to carrying out the decrees of the Council of Trent and authentic Catholic teaching, Benedict removed changes previously made to the Breviary, sought peacefully to reverse growing secularism in European courts, invigorated ceremonies with great pomp, and throughout his life and his reign published numerous theological and ecclesiastical treatises. In governing the Papal States, he reduced taxation on some products, but also raised taxes on others; he also encouraged agriculture and supported free trade within the Papal States. A scholar, he created the Sacred and Profane Museums, now part of the present Vatican Museums. He can be considered a polymath to an extent due to his numerous studies of ancient literature, his publishing of ecclesiastical books and documents, his interest in the study of the human body, and his devotion to art and theology.
Towards the end of his papacy Benedict XIV was forced to contend with issues surrounding the Society of Jesus. He expelled them from Portugal at the behest of Joseph I in 1758, just before his death. The papacy reluctantly acceded to the anti-Jesuit demands while providing minimal theological justification for the suppressions.
Horace Walpole described him as "loved by papists, esteemed by Protestants, a priest without insolence or interest, a prince without favorites, a pope without nepotism, an author without vanity, a man whom neither intellect nor power could corrupt."[3]
- ^ "Pope Benedict XIV (Prospero Lambertini)". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ Rosa, Mario (1966). "Benedetto XIV, papa". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Vol. 8.
- ^ Benedict XIV and the Enlightenment, p. 370.
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