Pope Benedict XI

Pope Benedict XI (; 1240–7 July 1304), born Nicholas Boccasini, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 195th Pope from 1303 to 1304. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-02.

Early life
Boccasini was born in Treviso."Pope Benedict XI," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3.

Dominican monk
In 1254, Boccasini became a Dominican friar at the age of 14. He rose in the ranks of the Order; and was elected General or Master of the Order of Preachers in 1296.

Cardinal
Pope Boniface VIII raised Boccasini to the rank of cardinal.  In 1298, he was named Cardinal of Santa Sabina.

In 1300, Cardinal Boccasini was named Bishop of Ostia and Velletri.

In 1302, he was the diplomatic representative of Boniface VIII in Hungary.

Pope
Cardinal Boccasini was elected pope on October 22, 1303; and he chose to be called Benedict XI.Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Benedict XI–XVI are really the 10th–15th popes with that name.  This is because Benedict X is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Benedict XI, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual tenth pope Benedict identified himself with the ordinal number XI.  In other words, the numbering of popes after the 10th Benedict needs to be explained -- compare Popes Boniface VIII–IX. He was pope for only eight months.

Benedict was a supporter of the Ultamontane policies of Pope Boniface VIII.

In a conciliatory gesture, Benedict released the King of France from excommunication.

Pope Benedict died suddenly at Perugiain July 1304.

Beatification
Benedict XI was beatified in 1773.

Select works
Benedict XI was the author of a volume of sermons and commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew, on the Psalms, the Book of Job, and John's Apocalypse.

Related pages
 List of popes

References

Other websites


 "St. Benedict XI., Pope and Confessor", Butler's Lives of the Saints''
  Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Benedict XI
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church , Cardinal Boccasini 

Category:1240 births
Category:1304 deaths
Category:Italian popes
Category:Beatified people
Category:People from Treviso