Christ's Faithful People
Christ's Faithful People
1689 - 1691 AD
Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni entered the conclave of 1681 a favorite. At first, however, the Austrian and French monarchs objected to him. The French tried to force Pietro to promise certain concessions before they allowed his election. But Pietro replied that while he wished to have peace with France, he would make no sacrifice of his honor. The French gave in, and Pietro was elected. He took the name Alexander VIII.
Pietro Ottoboni was born in Venice on April 22, 1610. After studies in law at Padua, Pietro entered the papal service. He distinguished himself at Rome by his ability to get business done quickly. Made a cardinal by Innocent X, Pietro joined the "flying squadron," that group of Cardinals who remained independent of countries or persons in the conclaves. One reason why the French were slow to accept him was the loyalty with which he had backed Innocent XI in his struggle with Louis XIV.
Alexander VIII was a man of great charm. Kind and affable he was somewhat a contrast to the rather severe Innocent XI. Festivals which Innocent had frowned on once more delighted the Romans. Unfortunately, he was also a contrast to his predecessor in the way he treated his relatives. Innocent had been rigid against nepotism. Alexander loved to shower favors on his family. But at least he did not allow his relatives to influence papal policy.
A Venetian, Alexander was naturally interested in helping the Republic of Venice in its fight against the Turks. This was in line with usual papal policy and presented only the problem of raising the necessary money. The War of the League of Augsburg, however, made the Pope's position delicate. On the one side was Catholic France; on the other, Catholic Austria. Since Louis was helping exiled King James II, French propagandists loudly proclaimed the struggle a holy war. Alexander, not impressed, was careful to observe neutrality. Indeed relations between the Sun Monarch and the Pope were far from good.
Innocent XI had secretly excommunicated Louis XIV and Louis in turn had once more taken Avignon from the Pope. Worse still, Louis insisted on appointing to vacant bishoprics the subservient clergymen who had signed the objectionable Four Articles of 1682. Since Innocent XI and Alexander VIII refused to confirm these appointments, the number of vacant French bishoprics began to mount. Alexander's last act undertaken on his deathbed was a brief which declared the Four Articles null and void, and pleaded with Louis to act like a Catholic.
Alexander also condemned two odd propositions held by two individual Jesuits, and thirty-one Jansenist propositions.
Though seventy-nine when elected, Alexander was still vigorous. In 1691, however, he failed rapidly and by February 1, 1691, Alexander VIII was dead.
