Pope Clement X

Early work

After finishing his studies, Altieri was named auditor of John Baptist Lancellotti in 1623, in the nunciature of Poland. On his return to Rome, he was named Bishop of Camerino, then governor of Loreto and of all Umbria. Urban VIII gave him charge of the works designed to protect the territory of Ravenna from the unruly Po River.

Related Topics:
John Baptist Lancellotti - Nunciature - Poland - Camerino - Loreto - Umbria - Urban VIII - Ravenna - Po

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Innocent X sent him as nuncio to Naples, where he remained for eight years. He is credited with the re-establishment of peace after the stormy days of Masaniello. Alexander VII confided to him a mission to Poland.

Related Topics:
Innocent X - Naples - Masaniello - Alexander VII

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Clement IX named him Superintendent of the Papal Exchequer (in charge of the Church's finances), and in 1667 his maestro di camera, and he was made Secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. Just before his death, Clement made him a Cardinal. He was then about seventy-nine years of age; and Clement, when making him a member of the Sacred College, said to him: "You will be our successor."

Related Topics:
Clement IX - 1667 - Cardinal - Sacred College

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After the funeral of Clement IX sixty-two electors entered into conclave on the December 20, 1669. Forty-two votes were necessary, and heated discussion prevailed for four months; Cardinal Giovanni Nicholas Conti was supported by twenty-two votes; Cardinal Rospigliosi, nephew of Clement IX, had thirty, or, as some say, thirty-three, with two at the accesso, so that he needed only seven more votes to gain the tiara. Cardinal Cerri obtained twenty-three votes.

Related Topics:
Clement IX - Conclave - December 20 - 1669 - Giovanni Nicholas Conti - Tiara

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At length the cardinals agreed to resort to the old expedient of electing a cardinal of advanced years, and proposed Cardinal Altieri, an octogenarian, whose long life had been spent in the service of the Church, and whom Clement IX, on the eve of his death, had raised to the dignity of the purple. The reason a prelate of such transcendent merits received the cardinalate so late in life seems to have been that he had waived his claims to the elevation in favour of an older brother.

Related Topics:
Church - Clement IX - Prelate

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