1769 papal conclave
Papal conclave February–May 1769 | |
---|---|
Dates and location | |
15 February – 19 May 1769 Carlo Alberto Guidobono Cavalchini | |
Sub-dean | Federico Marcello Lante |
Camerlengo | Carlo Rezzonico |
Protopriest | Giacomo Oddi |
Protodeacon | Alessandro Albani |
Elected pope | |
Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli Name taken: Clement XIV | |
The 1769 papal conclave (15 February – 19 May), was convoked after the death of
Death of Clement XIII
Divisions in the College of Cardinals and the candidates to the papacy
The papal conclave in 1769 was almost completely dominated by the problem of the
The French government was more fastidious than Spanish and Neapolitan. Only three cardinals were considered good candidates: Conti, Durini and Ganganelli[5]
Out of these 43 cardinals only 27 or 28 were actually considered papabile, while the remaining 15 were excluded due to their age or health.[3]
Conclave
The conclave began on 15 February 1769. Initially only 27 cardinals participated.[6] Zelanti, taking advantage of the small number of the electors and the absence of the French and Spanish cardinals, tried to achieve a quick election of Cardinal Flavio Chigi. In one ballot he was only two votes short of being elected. The efforts of Zelanti met with strong protests from the ambassadors of France and Spain, and Cardinal Orsini, protector of the Kingdom of Naples and the only crown-cardinal present in the early ballots, was able to join some neutral cardinals to block Chigi's candidature.[7]
An unprecedented event was the visit of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, who arrived incognito in Rome on 6 March and was allowed to enter the conclave. He stayed there two weeks, freely debating with the electors. He did not press them but only expressed the wish for the election of a pope who would be able to carry out his duties with the proper respect for the secular rulers.[8]
The arrival of Spanish cardinals Solis and de la Cerda on 27 April
In the same time Zelanti, also began to incline to give their support to Ganganelli, looking upon him as indifferent or even favourable to the Jesuits. It seems that the attitude of Zelanti was decided by the secret negotiations between their leaders Alessandro and Gian Francesco Albani and the Spanish cardinals.[14] Cardinal de Bernis, the nominal leader of the court faction, probably did not play any role in the appointment of Ganganelli and only followed the instructions of Marquis d'Aubeterre when all had been already known.[15]
Election of Clement XIV
In the final ballot on 19 May 1769 Cardinal Lorenzo Ganganelli was elected to the papacy receiving all votes except of his own, which he gave to
References
- ^ Smith, Sydney (1913). "Pope Clement XIII". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ About the factions and their leaders: Littell's Living Age, pp. 597-599
- ^ a b c d e "Pope Clement XIV". Catholic Encyclopedia. 1913.
- ^ The English Review, p. 12 (court faction) and 21 (Zelanti)
- ^ Sede Vacante 1769; these cardinals were mentioned in the report of French ambassador dated August 29, 1765; this report mentioned also a fourth "good" candidate, Cardinal Galli, who died in 1767.
- ^ a b Sede Vacante 1769
- ^ Littell's Living Age, p. 597
- ^ A. Piazzoni, p. 287-288
- ^ Littell's Living Age, p. 598
- ^ Littell's Living Age, p. 600
- ^ Artaud de Montor, p. 79
- ^ K. Dopierała, p. 366
- ^ "Pope Clement XIV". Catholic Encyclopedia. 1913. The article indicates that there is some evidence that such a document had actually been written and signed by Ganganelli. K. Dopierała, p. 366 denies it
- ^ Littell's Living Age, p. 601
- ^ The English Review, pp. 25-26
Sources
- Wilhelm, Joseph (1913). "Pope Clement XIV". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Piazzoni, Ambrogio (2003). Historia wyboru papieży [History of Papal Elections] (in Polish). Kraków: Wydawnictwo M. Originally published as: Storia delle elezioni pontificie (in Italian). Casale Monferrato. 2003.
- Dopierała, Kazimierz (1996). Księga papieży [Lexicon summorum pontificum] (in Polish). Poznań: Wyd. Pallotinum.
- Crétineau-Joly, Jacques (1847). Clément XIV et les Jésuites (in French). Paris: Librairie Religieuse de Mellier Frères.
- "Review of 'Clément XIV et les Jésuites' (1847)". Littell's Living Age. XVIII. Boston: E. Littell & Company: 590–608. July–September 1848.
- "Review of 'Clément XIV et les Jésuites' (1847)". The English Review. VIII. London: Francis & John Rivington: 1–34. September 1847.
- Artaud de Montor, Alexis François (1911) [c. 1836]. The Lives and Times of the Popes. Vol. 7. The Catholic Publication Society of America.
- Adams, John Paul (July 4, 2015). "Sede Vacante 1769". California State University Northridge.