{"id":69,"date":"2017-01-27T13:55:03","date_gmt":"2017-01-27T13:55:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/popehistory.com\/?page_id=69"},"modified":"2024-02-27T16:46:27","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T16:46:27","slug":"pope-benedict-xiii","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/popehistory.com\/popes\/pope-benedict-xiii\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Benedict XIII"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pope Benedict XIII, born Pietro Francesco Orsini in 1649, ascended to the papacy in 1724, bringing with him a reputation for personal piety and asceticism that would define his pontificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benedict XIII was the 245th leader of the Catholic Church and the 13th among that lot to choose the papal name of Benedict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid the complexities of the early 18th century, marked by political machinations and the challenges of maintaining church unity, Benedict XIII’s tenure was a testament to his deep spiritual commitment and his efforts to reform the Church from within. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This piece seeks to shed light on the life and legacy of Benedict XIII, a pope whose dedication to spiritual renewal and ecclesiastical discipline stood out in an age often characterized by its secular concerns and royal intrigues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From his humble beginnings as a Dominican friar to his elevation to one of the highest spiritual offices on earth, explore the journey of a pontiff who, despite the controversies and challenges of his time, remained steadfast in his mission to lead the Church towards greater holiness and integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pope Benedict XIII Profile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pontiff<\/strong>
number<\/strong><\/td>		Pontificate<\/strong><\/td>English \/ Latin Name<\/strong><\/td>Birth name<\/strong><\/td>Date and Place of birth<\/strong><\/td>Age at start\/<\/strong>
end of papacy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
#245<\/td>29 May 1724\u00a0\u2013
21 February 1730
(5\u00a0years, 268\u00a0days)<\/td>		Servant of God\u00a0Benedict XIII<\/strong>
BENEDICTVS<\/strong>\u00a0Tertius Decimus<\/td>		Pietro Francesco\u00a0Orsini,\u00a0O.P.<\/td>2 February 1649 Gravina in Puglia<\/td>75 \/ 81<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Life Before the Papacy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pietro Francesco Orsini was born in the city of Gravina in Puglia. He was the firstborn son, of six, to hail from the union of Giovanna Frangipani della Tolfa and Duke Ferdinando III Orsini. Upon reaching age 18, he gave up his inheritance and changed his name in order to enter the Dominican Order. “Vincenzo” Orsini joined the priesthood in February of 1671.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the political and financial clout of his family, Pope Clement X decided to appoint Vincenzo the Cardinal-Priest of San Sisto roughly one year after he become a priest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He taught philosophy at Brescia, served as bishop of Mandredonia and Cesena, then became the archbishop of Benevento. After the a pair of earthquakes jostled the area in 1688 and 1702, he decided to organize charities to assist victims of the tremors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Papal Legacy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pope Benedict XIII was a man more concerned with good works and spirituality than politics and statesmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n