Pope Alexander VIII

Financial controversies

Charities on a large scale and unbounded nepotism exhausted the papal treasury, reversing the policies of his predecessor. Out of compassion for the poor of the impoverished Papal States, he sought to help them by reducing taxes. But this same generous nature led him to bestow on his relations the riches they were eager to accumulate; on their behalf, and to the discredit of his pontificate, he revived sinecure offices which had been suppressed by Innocent XI. He bought the books and manuscripts of Queen Christina of Sweden for the Vatican Library. He assisted his native Venice by generous subsidies in the war against the Turks. Alexander condemned in 1690 the doctrines of the so-called philosophical sin, taught in the Jesuit schools. He died on February 1, 1691.

Related Topics:
Papal States - Sinecure - Christina of Sweden - Vatican Library - Turks - 1690 - Philosophical sin - Jesuit - February 1 - 1691

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also: other popes named Alexander.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~