Pope Clement XIII
Also known as
- Carlo Della Torre Rezzonico
Profile
Son of John Baptist Rezzonico and Victoria Barbadigo, wealthy Venetian nobles. Educated by Jesuits in Bologna, Italy from age 10. He received his degrees in civil and canon law at Padua, Italy. Trained in Rome as a papal ambassador. Governor of Rieti in 1716. Judge of the Rota for Venice, Italy in 1725. Cardinal–deacon on 20 December 1737. Bishop of Padua on 19 March 1743. Known for his zeal in reforming his clergy, which was the topic of a synod in 1746. Cardinal–priest in 1747. Relucant pope in 1758.
Regalism and Jansenism were traditional enemies of the Vatican in its government of the Church. Using these two as instruments, the party of Voltaire and the educated and anti–Christian Encyclopedists were rising in power at the time. They planned for nothing less that the destruction of the Church, and felt the first step was to crush the Jesuits. They persuaded monarchs that the Jesuits were an obstacle to Regalism, and thus a danger to themselves, their rule, their realms. This situation faced Clement from the moment he took the crown.
Born
Papal Ascension
- 2 February 1769 at Rome, Italy of natural causes
Readings
He was called the saint (by his people), and was an exemplary man who, notwithstanding the immense revenues of his diocese and his private estate, was always without money owing to the lavishness of his alms-deeds, and would give away even his linen. – Jansenist Abbé Clément, who was certainly no friend of the pope
MLA Citation
- “Pope Clement XIII“. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 February 2019. Web. 6 December 2019. <>