Pope Alexander VIII


Alexander VIII
Bishop of Rome
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began6 October 1689
Papacy ended1 February 1691
PredecessorInnocent XI
SuccessorInnocent XII
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordinationc. 1630
Consecration27 December 1654
by Marcantonio Bragadin
Created cardinal19 February 1652
by Innocent X
Personal details
Born
Pietro Vito Ottoboni

(1610-04-22)22 April 1610
Died1 February 1691(1691-02-01) (aged 80)
Rome, Papal States
Coat of armsAlexander VIII's coat of arms
Other popes named Alexander

Pope Alexander VIII (Italian: Alessandro VIII; 22 April 1610 – 1 February 1691), born Pietro Vito Ottoboni, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 October 1689 to his death in February 1691.

Alexander VIII is known for having overturned many of the policies of his predecessor, Innocent XI, deciding to indulge in nepotism in order to further enrich his family. Such nepotism exhausted the papal treasury, later forcing his successor, Innocent XII, to implement austere measures to restore the papal coffers. Despite his brief papacy, during which little of importance was undertaken, Alexander VIII is known for having condemned the doctrines of the so-called philosophical sin which was being taught in schools run by the Society of Jesus.[1] Also during his papacy, King Louis XIV of France restored Avignon to the Holy See as a territory of the Papal States.[2]

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference CE1913 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).