Benedict XIII
pope of the Catholic Church from 1724 to 1730
Who they were
Pietro Francesco Orsini, heir to a ducal family, entered the Dominicans at sixteen against his parents' will. Made a cardinal in 1672 against his own protests, he never laid aside his habit, and chose the poor diocese of Manfredonia, later serving Benevento for thirty-eight years.
As pope he was known for his virtuous life and fatherly zeal, though his pontificate was harmed by his misplaced trust in Cardinal Coscia. He died on 23 February 1730.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe his cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A pope who kept the poverty and humility of a friar all his life.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Connected on this site
- Sant'Adiutore Saint“At Benevento his relics were placed under the high altar in 1687 by Cardinal Orsini, later Pope Benedict XIII.” — this site's research
- Sant'Equizio diacono Saint“After examination at Benevento, Cardinal Orsini, later Pope Benedict XIII, had the relics placed under the high altar of the church of San Giovanni Battista in 1713.” — this site's research
- Vincent Ferrer Saint“After supporting Antipope Benedict XIII during the Western Schism, Ferrer travelled to preach across Western Europe and the British Isles.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Pope Benedict XIII
- Wikidata Q155971 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Pope Benedict XIII (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.