Innocent XIII
Michelangelo dei Conti · 1721 – 1724
Briefly reigned and invested Emperor Charles VI with the Kingdom of Naples, one of the last major papal temporal acts.
Michelangelo dei Conti came from a family that had produced several popes, including Innocent III. He became pope in 1721 and reigned for less than three years. He invested Charles VI with the Kingdom of Naples, banned the Jesuits from accepting new novices in China due to the Chinese Rites Controversy, and tried to mediate European political disputes. Poor health limited his effectiveness.
Why He Matters
Innocent XIII's involvement in the Chinese Rites Controversy foreshadowed questions about inculturation that the Church would wrestle with for centuries. How much should Catholic practice adapt to local culture? The question remains live today.