Tombstone of Pope Innocent XII, fragment, Basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano
In the middle of a hot, humid summer, after over five months of conclave, in July of 1691 a new pope was chosen. He will be remembered as a humble shepherd who cared for the inhabitants of Rome, for whom he created shelters and hospitals, as well as the person who put an end to the centuries-long sanctified tradition of nepotism. Immediately following his enthronement Innocent XII issued a decree, in which he explicitly stated that the pope can name only one relative to the Holy College of Cardinals and furthermore he specified his salary. He limited simony, meaning the profitable sale of papal offices and attempted to decrease the spending of the papal court. He reformed the justice system, while also being the funder of several structures and buildings, but these did not occupy his thoughts. Those were concentrated on an issue of greater importance – moral correctness.
In the middle of a hot, humid summer, after over five months of conclave, in July of 1691 a new pope was chosen. He will be remembered as a humble shepherd who cared for the inhabitants of Rome, for whom he created shelters and hospitals, as well as the person who put an end to the centuries-long sanctified tradition of nepotism. Immediately following his enthronement Innocent XII issued a decree, in which he explicitly stated that the pope can name only one relative to the Holy College of Cardinals and furthermore he specified his salary. He limited simony, meaning the profitable sale of papal offices and attempted to decrease the spending of the papal court. He reformed the justice system, while also being the funder of several structures and buildings, but these did not occupy his thoughts. Those were concentrated on an issue of greater importance – moral correctness.
