X-Nico

9 unusual facts about Pope Benedict XIV


Apostolic Majesty

Maria Theresia used (the female version of) the title, "Apostolic Queen", for the first time in the letters patent granted to the imperial plenipotentiary sent to the College of Cardinals after the death of Pope Benedict XIV.

Bishop of Kilfenora

The Roman Catholic Church bishopric of Kilfenora continued as a separate title until 1750 when Pope Benedict XIV decreed that it to be united with the bishopric of Kilmacduagh.

Francisco de Saldanha da Gama

On April 1, 1758, a brief was obtained from the aged Pope Benedict XIV, appointing Saldanha, recommended by the Marquis of Pombal, to investigate allegations against the Jesuits that had been raised in the name of the Joseph I of Portugal.

Joan of France, Duchess of Berry

The cause for her canonization was begun in 1631 and Pope Benedict XIV beatified her on 21 April 1742.

John V of Portugal

His negotiations with the Vatican gained the recognition of Portugal as a lawful sovereign country by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 and the title "Most Faithful Majesty" bestowed upon him and his successors by a bull.

Most Faithful Majesty

King John V of Portugal was favoured with the title of Rex Fidelissimus in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV.

Palazzo Madama

After the extinction of the Medici, the palace was handed over to the House of Lorraine and, later, to Pope Benedict XIV, who made it the seat of the Papal Government.

Pierfrancesco Scarampi

Pope Benedict XIV commanded the Master of the Sacred Palace to make known to the Fathers of the Oratory that the title of Venerable was to be given to Fr.

Stanislav Radonjić

Seen off with gifts and medals, Stano visited Pope Benedict XIV (1740–1758), seeking assistance in an amount of 50,000 SCA for reconstruction and maintenance of monasteries on the territory of Albania, which was then under the religious authority of Cetinje mitropholy.


Antonio Martini

Cardinal Carlo Vittorio Amedeo delle Lanze, knowing that Pope Benedict XIV desired a good version of the Bible in the contemporary Tuscan language, urged Martini to undertake the work.

Giovanni Manzolini

Many of the models made by the Manzolinis were purchased by Giovanni Antonio Galli (1708-1782) for use in his school for midwives, then bought by Pope Benedict XIV and assigned to the Bologna Istituto delle Scienze and housed in the Palazzo Poggi, where they can be seen today.

Girolamo and Pietro Ballerini

He attracted the attention of Pope Benedict XIV, who commissioned him to prepare an edition of St. Leo's works in refutation of the defective one published by Quesnel.

Meletie Covaci

Born in Macedonia, he was a priest of the Greek-Catholic Church in Diosig when, in 1748, Pope Benedict XIV named him auxiliary bishop of the Latin Rite Oradea Diocese, in charge of its Romanian Greek-Catholic parishes.


see also

Sacramentum

Sacramentum Poenitentiae, an apostolic constitution published by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741