Succession of Pope Innocent XIII
- When
- 1721
- Where
- Rome; Vatican
- Episodes
- 2
Following the death of Pope Clement XI on 19 March 1721, a conclave was convened to select his successor. Michelangelo dei Conti, known for his reputation and reformist stance, was elected on 8 May 1721, becoming Pope Innocent XIII.
Episodes
- Death of Clement XI
Pope Clement XI died in Rome on 19 March 1721, creating a vacancy in the papacy.
- Election of Innocent XIII
Michelangelo dei Conti was elected pope on 8 May 1721 following a conclave.
Background and detail
Death of Predecessor. Pope Clement XI, born Giovanni Francesco Albani, served as head of the Catholic Church until his death in Rome on 19 March 1721. He was buried in the pavement of Saint Peter's Basilica, marking the end of his pontificate and the vacancy of the papal throne.
Conclave and Election. A conclave was called immediately after Clement XI's death to choose a new pope. Michelangelo dei Conti, who had resigned his diocesan position in 1719 due to illness, was selected based on his high reputation for ability, learning, and purity. His election took place on the morning of 8 May 1721.
Assumption of Office. Upon election, Michelangelo dei Conti assumed the name Innocent XIII, becoming the head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States. He is noted as the most recent pope to take this specific pontifical name, beginning a tenure that would last until his death in March 1724.
People involved
- Michelangelo dei Conti · Elected Pope Innocent XIII
- Giovanni Francesco Albani · Predecessor Pope Clement XI
Sources
- Pope Clement XI Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-30
- Pope Innocent XIII Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-31
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.