Clement XII: A blind Pope who tries to “right the ship” in Rome.
In this episode of Habemus Papam, Fr. Conrad discusses Clement XII, who succeeded Benedict XIII: A Holy Dominican Pope, who doesn’t know how to play politics and trusted the wrong people. You can listen to the podcast about him here.
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Born Lorenzo Corsini in Florence in 1652 to Bartolomeo Corsini, Marquis of Casigliano, and Elisabetta Strozzi, sister of the Duke of Bagnuolo.
Corsini received his education in civil and canon law at the Jesuit Collegio Romano in Rome and at the University of Pisa.
After pope Benedict XIII died in 1730, a conclave ensued. After four months, the conclave elected Corsini, 78 years old with poor eyesight. He selected the name: Clement XII.
The Pope sought to improve the papal finances and reinstituted the lottery in the Vatican.
He also held a competition of the façade of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. That facade finished in 1735.
During his reign, he combated the Jansenists and canonized St. Vincent de Paul, who also opposed the Jansenists in his life.
Clement XII died on February 6, 1740 due to complications from gout. His tomb is in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. Pope Benedict XIV succeeded him.
