Born
7 March 1693
Birthplace
Venice, Italy
Pope from
6 July 1758
Pope until
2 February 1769
Died
2 February 1769
Who he was
A Venetian educated by the Jesuits, he studied law at Padua and served in papal government before becoming a cardinal and, in 1743, Bishop of Padua. There his people called him 'the saint', and he gave away so much in alms that he was always short of money. He wept when he was elected pope.
What he is remembered for
His reign was taken up with defending the Society of Jesus as it was expelled from Portugal, France, Spain and Naples; he took in the exiled Portuguese Jesuits and upheld the Society in the bull Apostolicum (1765). He also encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart and ordered the Preface of the Holy Trinity for Sundays.
Sources
All popes · Home · All saints