, whose name was Prosper Lambertini, was born in 1675, at Bologna. He
, whose name was Prosper Lambertini, was
born in 1675, at Bologna. He was appointed canon of the Basilicon, or great church of St. Peter, then successively archbishop of Theodosia, and bishop
of Ancona. He received the cardinal’s hat in 1728, was
deputy of the congregation of the holy office the same year,
became archbishop of Bologna in 1731, and succeeded
pope Clement XII. August 17, 1740. He then took the
name of Benedict XIV. zealously endeavoured to calm the
dissensions which had arisen in the church, patronised arts
and sciences, founded several academies at Rome, and declared openly in favour of the Thomists. This pope did
justice to the memory of the celebrated cardinal Noris; published the bull “Omnium sollicitudinum
” against certain
ceremonies, and addressed a brief to cardinal Saldanha for
the reformation of the Jesuits, which was the foundation
of their destruction. He had also established a congregation to compose a body of doctrine, by which the troubles
of the church might be calmed. This pontiff was a very
able canonist, and well acquainted with ecclesiastical history and antiquities. Though he governed with great wisdom, and was very zealous for religion, he was lively in his
conversation, and fond of saying bonmots. He died 1758,
aged 83. His works were published before his death in
16 vols. 4to, by Azevedo. The four last contain his briefs,
bulls, &c. The five first are, “A treatise on the Beatification and Canonization of haints,
” in which the subject is exhausted; an abridgement of it was published in
French, 1759, 12mo. The sixth contains the actions of
the saints whom he canonized. The two next consist of
supplements, and remarks on the preceding ones. The
ninth treats on the “Sacrifice of the Mass,
” and the tenth
on the “Festivals instituted in honour of Jesus Christ and
the Holy Virgin.
” The eleventh is entitled “Ecclesiastical Institutions;
” an excellent work, containing his instructions, mandates, letters, &c. while he was hishop of
Ancona, and afterwards archbishop of Bologna. The
twelfth is a “Treatise on Diocesan Synods.
” All the above
are in Latin. Caraccioli published his life at Paris, 1784,
12mo. It was begun in the life time of Benedict, and part
of it submitted to him by the author, to whom the pope
said, “If you were a historian, instead of a panegyrist, I
should thank you for the picture you have drawn, and with
which I am perfectly satisfied.
”