XII (.originally Jacob de Novellis), a native of Sa- verdun, and monk of Citeaux, afterward bishop of Pa- miers and of Mirepoix, pope from Dec. 1334, to April, 1312, was the third of the Avignon (q. v.) popes, the friend of Petrarch, and one of the most virtuous <>l the pontiffs. Scarcely was he elevated to the pontificate when a deputation was sent to him from Rome pressing him to return to the ancient seat; but circumstances induced him to remain at Avignon. He addressed the Castilian clergy on the necessity of reforming their lives, and endeavored, though with little success, to correct some of the more glaring evils of the Romish system. He died April 25, 1342, at Avignon. See his life in Baluzo, Vies dea Papes <V Avignon.
XIII (A), Pope, was of a noble family of Aragon. His name was Pedro do Luna, and in 1375 he was mado
BENEDICT
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BENEDICT
cardinal by Gregory IX. On the death of Gregory
XI began the great Western schism, by the election of Urban VI at Rum > and of Clement VII at Avignon. Pedro de Lima took part with the latter, who made him his 1 »gate in Spain. Upon the death of Clement, Pe- dro was chosen by the cardinals attached to the party at Avignon to Bucceed him on the 28th of September, 139 1. and in the mean time Boniface VIII had ascend- ed Hi' throne at Rome. To put an end to the schism, | it was agreed by all the sovereigns of Europe, except the king of Aragon, that a cession of the p\pal digni- ty should he m.dc by both parties, hut both Benedict and Boniface refused to resign; whereupon, in a na- j tional council held at Paris May 22d, 1398, it was agreed to withdraw from the obedience of Benedict. This example having been followed in almost all the countries of Europe, sixteen of the cardinals who had adhered to Benedict deserted him. He was besieged at Avignon by the Marechal de Boucicault, and with difficulty escaped. After this the aspect of his affairs for a time brightened ; but at length, in the council of Pisa, convoked in 140!), both Benedict. and Gregory
XII were excommunicated and deposed. Benedict, driven from Avignon, retired to the little castle of Peniscola, in Valencia, retaining the support of Ara- gon, Castile, and Scotland. Thus the schism still re- mained ; and it was necessary to call another council, which met at Constance in 141-1, where Ottoneo Colon- na was elected pope under the name of Martin V, who anathematized Benedict, but without producing any effect, since he continued in his rebellion till his death, which happened at Peniscola November 17th, 1424. So far did he carry his resolution to prolong the schism, that he exacted a promise from the two cardinals who continued with him that they would elect another pope to succeed him after his death : this was done in the person of Clement VIII.— Hist, of the Pojxs, p. 280.
XIII (ft), Pope, originally Peter Francis Orsini, was born in 1G49, and was raised to the papal chair May 29th, 1724. He was pious, virtuous, and liberal ; but. unfortunately, placed too much confidence in Cardinal Coscia, his minister, who shamefully op- pressed the people. A fruitless attempt which he made to reconcile the Romish, Greek, Lutheran, and Calvinist churches bears honorable testimony to his tolerant spirit. His theological works, including Hom- ilies on Exodus, etc., were published at Rome (1728, 3 vols. fol.). He died in 2730. His Life was written by Alessandro Borgia (Uom. 1741). — Mosheini, Eccl. Hist, ii, 305, 370.
XIV, Pope, originally Prospero Lambertini, of a nobl • family of Bologna, was born in 1G75, became in 1727 bishop of Ancona, in 1728 cardinal, in 1731 arch- 1 ishop of Bologna, and succeeded Clement XII Au- gust 17th, 1740. He was a man of great ability, learning, and industry, and was especially distinguish- ed in the canon and civil law. He died May 4th, 1758, after having signalized his pontificate by the wisdom of bis government, and his zeal for the propagation of Romanism. During the eighteen years of his reign Rome enjoyed peace, plenty, and prosperity, and half a century after his death the pontificate of Lambertini ill remembered and spoken of at Pome as the last period of unalloyed happiness which the country had enjoyed. His tolerance was remarkable; indeed, ed him to the censure of the rigorists among the college of cardinals. Without exhibiting any thing like Indifference to the doctrines of the Church of which he was the head, he showed urbanity and friond- Uness toward all Christians of whatever denomination, whether kin^s or ordinary travellers, who visited his capital; and in Germany, France, and Naples his in- fluence was constantly exerted to discourage persecu- tion, and to restrain tic abuse of ee< losiastical power. Benedict was learned not only in theology, but in his- tory, in the classical writer-, and in (lee'ant literature,
and he had a taste fur the line arts. His works were
published at Rome in 12 vols. 4to (1747). The most remarkable are his treatise He Nervorum Dei Beatifica- tione et Beatorum Canonizatione, in four books, a work full of historical and theological learning : — De Synodo Hiocesann, which is also much esteemed: — Institutiones EcclesiasHcae : — De Jlfissai Officio, libri iii ; besides his Bullarium, or collection of bulls issued by him, and several letters and dissertations in Italian. Benedict was always opposed to the Jesuits, and, when he died, was preparing to suppress the order. — Vie die pape Benoit XI V (Paris, 1775); Ranke, Hist, of Papicy, ii, 287.