Pope Benedict XI

Benedict XI
Papacy began	22 October 1303
Papacy ended	7 July 1304
Predecessor	Boniface VIII
Successor	Clement V
Orders
Created Cardinal	4 December 1298
Personal details
Birth name	Nicola Boccasini
Born	1240 Treviso, Italy, Holy Roman Empire
Died	7 July 1304 (aged 63–64) Perugia, Papal States
Sainthood
Beatified	24 April 1736
Other Popes named Benedict

Papal styles of Pope Benedict XI
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father
Posthumous style	Blessed

Blessed Pope Benedict XI (1240 – 7 July 1304), born Nicola Boccasini, was Pope from 1303 to 1304.

Born in Treviso, he succeeded Pope Boniface VIII (1294–1303), but was unable to carry out his policies. Benedict XI was a Dominican and when he was made Master of the Order in 1296, he issued ordinances forbidding public questioning of the legitimacy of Boniface VIII's election on the part of any Dominican. At the time of the seizing of Pope Boniface VIII at Anagni, Boccasini was one of only two cardinals to defend the papal party in the Lateran Palace itself. However, upon being elected Pope, he released Philip IV of France (1285–1314) from the excommunication that had been laid upon him by Boniface VIII, and practically ignored the bull Unam sanctam. Nevertheless, on 7 June 1304, he excommunicated Philip IV's implacable minister, Guillaume de Nogaret, and all the Italians who had played a part in the seizure of Boniface VIII at Anagni.

After a brief pontificate of eight months, Benedict XI died suddenly at Perugia. As original report had it, suspicion would fall primarily on Nogaret and that his sudden death was caused by poisoning through the agency of Nogaret. However, there is no direct evidence to support Nogaret poisoned the pope. Benedict XI's successor, Pope Clement V (1305–14), removed the papal seat from Rome to Avignon, inaugurating the period sometimes known as the Babylonian Captivity (1309–77). He and the French popes who succeeded him were completely under the influence of the kings of France.

Benedict XI was the author of a volume of sermons and commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew, on the Psalms, the Book of Job, and John's Apocalypse.

(Note on numbering: Pope Benedict X is now considered an antipope. At the time, however, this status was not recognized and so the man the Roman Catholic Church officially considers the tenth true Pope Benedict took the official number XI, rather than X. This has advanced the numbering of all subsequent Popes Benedict by one. Popes Benedict XI through XVI are, from an official point of view, the 10th through 15th popes by that name.)

References

• Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz (1975). Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm. ed (in German). Benedikt XI., Papst (Nicolaus Boccasini). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). 1. Hamm. col. 486. ISBN 3-88309-013-1. http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/b/benedikt_xi_p.shtml. 

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Pope Benedict XI". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links

• "St. Benedict XI., Pope and Confessor", Butler's Lives of the Saints

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Étienne de Besançon	Master General of the Dominican Order 1296–1298	Succeeded by Albertus de Chiavari
Preceded by Leonardo Patrasso	Cardinal-bishop of Ostia 1300–1303	Succeeded by Nicolò Albertini
Preceded by Boniface VIII	Pope 1303–1304	Succeeded by Clement V

Persondata
Name	Benedict XI, Pope
Alternative names	Boccasini, Nicholas
Short description	antipope
Date of birth	1240
Place of birth	Treviso, Italy
Date of death	7 July 1304
Place of death	Perugia, Italy