Papal conclave January–April 1655 | |
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Dates and location | |
18 January – 7 April 1655 Apostolic Palace, Papal States | |
Elected pope | |
Fabio Chigi Name taken: Alexander VII | |
The 1655 papal conclave was convened following the death of Pope Innocent X and ended with the election of Cardinal Fabio Chigi as Alexander VII. The conclave quickly reached a deadlock, with Giulio Cesare Sacchetti receiving 33 votes throughout the conclave, but never securing enough for his own election. After several months of deliberation and negotiation, Chigi was elected Pope when Cardinal Mazarin, the leader of the French government, consented to Chigi's election at the request of Sacchetti.
The 1655 papal conclave was a notable event in the history of the Catholic Church, reflecting the political complexities of the time and resulting in a change of leadership.