Papal conclave, 1774–1775
Encyclopedia
The Papal conclave, October 5, 1774 – February 15, 1775 – was the papal conclave
convoked after the death of Pope Clement XIV
and ended with the election of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Braschi, who took the name of Pius VI.
died suddenly on September 22, 1774 at the age of 68. His pontificate had been dominated by the problem of the Society of Jesus
. The various courts under the House of Bourbon
and the Kingdom of Portugal
(under the House of Braganza
) urged the general suppression of the order. The Pope tried to defend Jesuits and to temporize, but finally had to capitulate, and in 1773 he issued the Brief Dominus ac Redemptor
which suppressed the Society of Jesus
. Father Lorenzo Ricci
, general of the order, had been imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo
. However, the Jesuits still had many adherents in the Roman Curia
and in the Sacred College of Cardinals. The attitude toward Jesuits remained the main criterion of the appreciation of the candidates to the papal succession in the subsequent conclave.
, while another nine remained entirely absent. Forty-four cardinals participated in the conclave:
Thirteen cardinals were created by Clement XIV, twenty by Clement XIII, ten by Pope Benedict XIV
and one (Alessandro Albani) by Innocent XIII.
Benedict XIV, Clement XIII and Clement XIV created three of them each.
was generally divided into two blocs: curial, pro-Jesuit (zelanti
) and political, anti-Jesuit. The first one was formed by the Italian curial cardinals who opposed the secular influences on the Church. The second one included crown-cardinals of the Catholic courts. These two blocs were in no way homogenous. Zelanti were divided into moderate and radical factions. The anti-Jesuit bloc was divided into several national groups with different interests.
The leader of Zelanti was Cardinal Marcantonio Colonna. The other representatives of this faction were Giovanni Battista Rezzonico, his relative Carlo Rezzonico, who occupied the important office of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Gian Francesco Albani
, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Alessandro Albani, archdeacon of the College. The Rezzonichi represented the radical wing of this faction, while the Albanis and Colonna represented the moderate wing. Among the anti-Jesuit cardinals the main leader was Cardinal de Bernis, ambassador of Louis XVI of France
. The interests of Charles III of Spain
were represented by Cardona, interests of Ferdinand III of Sicily/Ferdinand IV of Naples
by Orsini, while those of Maria Theresa of Austria
and her son Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
were under the care of Migazzi and Corsini. Also very influential was Cardinal Giraud, former nuncio
in France. Several cardinals were not counted among the members of these factions.
There was no main favourite of the conclave. About thirty cardinals were considered papabile
.
Cardinal Marcantonio Colonna, taking advantage of the small number of electors, mostly curial cardinals belonging to his zelanti faction, tried to release Father Ricci from prison. This initiative obtained support of camerlengo Carlo Rezzonico and of Cardinal of York
, but the anti-Jesuit faction was strong enough to frustrate it.
Every day at least one ballot took place, but no candidates with serious chances for the election were proposed at the beginning, because the number of electors was relatively small and they were obliged to await the arrival of the rest, particularly of those representatives of the courts who did not reside in Rome. Zelanti voted mainly for their leader Colonna, who received the greatest number of votes in these initial ballots, but certainly had no chances to secure the required majority of two thirds. Some other candidates were also put forward by the Zelanti, but they were all rejected by crown-cardinals as too pro-Jesuit. Against the candidature of Giovanni Carlo Boschi
the Bourbon courts even pronounced the official exclusion.
Although the court factions cooperated by the blocking of Zelanti candidates, they were unable to agree upon one of their own. Spain supported Pallavicino, while Austria favoured Visconti, a former nuncio at Vienna. Towards the end of 1774 appeared for the first the name of young Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Braschi, aged 57, who belonged to the moderate wing of the Zelanti faction. He was advanced by Cardinal Giraud, and obtained a significant number of votes. This time the crown-cardinals rejected Braschi as pro-Jesuit, although Cardinal de Bernis in his report for the French court found him moderate man and did not exclude the support for him in the future, if no better candidate would be found. No consensus had been achieved before the end of 1774.
In January 1775 cardinals Migazzi, Borromeo, Caracciolo, Pallavicino and Visconti were proposed by the political factions, but without any significant success, because Zelanti rejected all candidates recommended by the monarchs. Cardinal Zelada tried to mediate between factions, proposing to reduce the number of candidates to six, of whom each of the two blocs had to advance three, and to elect this one of them who would be the most acceptable for all. But this initiative had also failed.
Gradually French Cardinals de Bernis and Luynes came to the conclusion that it was impossible to find any better candidate with chances for the election than initially rejected by them Cardinal Braschi. This was the turning point of the conclave. The Braschi's candidature gained important and influential allies. But Spain and Portugal still opposed him as too much devoted to Jesuits. Braschi also had some opponents in the radical wing of his own party. To secure the required majority for Braschi, Cardinal de Bernis aligned himself with Cardinal Zelada, who recentely acted as mediator: de Bernis had to convince the political factions, while Zelada had to overcome the opposition among radical Zelanti. Also Cardinal Albani was engaged in the promotion of Braschi.
Cardinal Zelada secured the support of Zelanti without serious problems. Also the conviction of Spain was not a difficult task for de Bernis because Spanish candidate Pallavicino openly declared that he would not accept the tiara and called to vote for Braschi. The other political factions agreed when Braschi promised the ratification of the suppression of the Jesuits
, his friendship to the House of Bourbon
and to the House of Habsburg, and agreed to be guided by the allies in the distribution of State offices.
, dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He took the name of Pius VI, in honour of St. Pius V.
On February 22, 1775 the Pope-elect was consecrated bishop of Rome by Cardinal Dean Gian Francesco Albani, bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, assisted by Sub-dean Henry Benedict Stuart
, bishop of Frascati, and Camerlengo Carlo Rezzonico, bishop of Sabina. On the same day he was also solemnly crowned
by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, protodeacon
of S. Maria in Via Lata.
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
convoked after the death of Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
and ended with the election of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Braschi, who took the name of Pius VI.
Death of Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIVPope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
died suddenly on September 22, 1774 at the age of 68. His pontificate had been dominated by the problem of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. The various courts under the House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
and the Kingdom of Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
(under the House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
) urged the general suppression of the order. The Pope tried to defend Jesuits and to temporize, but finally had to capitulate, and in 1773 he issued the Brief Dominus ac Redemptor
Dominus ac Redemptor
Dominus ac Redemptor is the papal brief promulgated on 21 July 1773 by which Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus.-Circumstances:...
which suppressed the Society of Jesus
Suppression of the Jesuits
The Suppression of the Jesuits in the Portuguese Empire, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result of a series of political moves rather than a theological controversy. By the brief Dominus ac Redemptor Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus...
. Father Lorenzo Ricci
Lorenzo Ricci
Lorenzo Ricci was an Italian Jesuit, elected the 18th Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was also the last before the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773.-Early Life and career:Ricci was born in Florence, Italy...
, general of the order, had been imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family...
. However, the Jesuits still had many adherents in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
and in the Sacred College of Cardinals. The attitude toward Jesuits remained the main criterion of the appreciation of the candidates to the papal succession in the subsequent conclave.
List of participants
At the death of Clement XIV there were fifty-five cardinals in the Sacred College, but two of them died during sede vacanteSede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
, while another nine remained entirely absent. Forty-four cardinals participated in the conclave:
- Gian Francesco AlbaniGian Francesco AlbaniGian Francesco Albani was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was a member of the Albani family.Albani was born in Rome, the son of Carlo Albani, Duke of Soriano; his grand-uncle was Pope Clement XI...
(created cardinal on April 10, 1747) — Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina; Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals; prefect of the S.C. of Ceremonies; Cardinal-protector of the Kingdom of Poland - Henry Benedict StuartHenry Benedict StuartHenry Benedict Stuart was a Roman Catholic Cardinal, as well as the fourth and final Jacobite heir to publicly claim the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Unlike his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, and brother, Charles Edward Stuart, Henry made no effort to seize the throne...
(July 3, 1747) — Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati; commendatario of S. Lorenzo in Damaso; Sub-dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals; Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church; archpriest of the patriarchal Vatican Basilica - Fabrizio SerbelloniFabrizio SerbelloniFabrizio Serbelloni was an Italian Cardinal. He was from a prominent family in Milan.He was a graduate of the University of Pavia, becoming doctor in utroque iure. He served as inquisitor general in Malta, in 1726....
(November 26, 1753) — Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia e Velletri - Carlo Rezzonico (September 11, 1758) — Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina; commendatario of S. Marco; Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
- François-Joachim de Pierre de BernisFrançois-Joachim de Pierre de BernisFrançois-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis was a French cardinal and statesman. He was the sixth member elected to occupy seat 3 of the Académie française in 1744.- Biography :...
(October 2, 1758) — Cardinal-Bishop of Albano; Cardinal-protector and ambassador of the Kingdom of FranceKingdom of FranceThe Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
before the Holy See; administrator of the see of Albi - Carlo Vittorio Amedeo delle Lanze (April 10, 1747) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Prassede
- Vincenzo Malvezzi (November 26, 1753) — Cardinal-Priest of SS. Marcellino e Pietro; archbishop of Bologna; Pro-Datary of His Holiness
- Antonio Sersale (April 22, 1754) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Pudenziana; archbishop of Naples
- Francisco de Solís Folch de Cardona (April 5, 1756) — Cardinal-Priest of SS. XII Apostoli; archbishop of Seville; Cardinal-protector of the Kingdom of Spain
- Paul d'Albert de LuynesPaul d'Albert de LuynesPaul d'Albert de Luynes was a French prelate. He was elected the seventh occupant of Académie française seat 29 in 1743....
(April 5, 1756) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Tommaso in Parione; archbishop of Sens - Girolamo Spinola (September 24, 1759) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Balbina
- Giuseppe Maria Castelli (September 24, 1759) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Alessio; prefect of the S.C. for the Propagation of Faith
- Gaetano Fantuzzi (September 24, 1759) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli; prefect of the S.C. of the Ecclesiestical Immunities
- Marcantonio Colonna (September 24, 1759) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria della Pace; Vicar General of Rome; prefect of the S.C. of the Residence of Bishops; archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian Basilica
- Andrea CorsiniAndrea Corsini (cardinal)Andrea Corsini was an Italian cardinal. A great-nephew of pope Clement XII and a nephew of cardinal Neri Maria Corsini. Pope Clement XIII made him a cardinal in the consistory of 24 September 1759...
(September 24, 1759) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Mateo in Via Merulana; prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice - Christoph Anton von Migazzi von Waal und Sonnenthurn (November 23, 1761) — Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; archbishop of ViennaArchbishop of ViennaThe Archbishop of Vienna is the prelate of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna who is concurrently the metropolitan bishop of its ecclesiastical province which includes the dioceses of Eisenstadt, Linz and St. Pölten....
; administrator of the see of VácVácVác is a town in Pest county in Hungary with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The archaic spellings of the name are Vacz and Vacs.-Location:... - Simon Buonaccorsi (July 18, 1763) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta Latina
- Giovanni Ottavio Bufalini (July 21, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria degli Angeli; archbishop of Ancona
- Giovanni Carlo BoschiGiovanni Carlo BoschiGiovanni Carlo Boschi was an Italian clergyman who was made a cardinal by Pope Clement XIII in the consistory of 21 July 1766. He then served as Major Penitentiary from 1767 to 1788, and participated in the papal conclaves of 1774-75 and 1769...
(July 21, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo; Grand penitentiary; prefect of the Congregation for the correction of the books of the Oriental Church - Ludovico Calini (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio; prefect of the S.C. of the Indulgences and the Sacred Relics; Camerlengo of the Sacred College of CardinalsCamerlengo of the Sacred College of CardinalsThe Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals was the treasurer of that body.He administered all property, fees, funds and revenue belonging to the College of Cardinals, celebrated the requiem Mass for a deceased cardinal and was charged with the registry of the Acta Consistoralia.It is...
- Antonio Colonna Branciforte (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Via; legate in Bologna
- Lazzaro Opizio Pallavicino (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of SS. Nereo ed Achilleo; Cardinal Secretary of StateCardinal Secretary of StateThe Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
- Vitaliano Borromeo (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Aracoeli; legate in RomagnaRomagnaRomagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
- Pietro Pamphli (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Trastevere
- Urbano Paracciani Rutili (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Priest of S. CallistoSan CallistoSan Callisto is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, Italy, built over the site of Saint Pope Callistus I and the location of his martyrdom. The original building dates form the time of Pope Gregory III who order the building of a church on the site. The church has been rebuilt twice since,...
; archbishop of Fermo - Mario Marefoschi Compagnoni (January 29, 1770) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Agostino; prefect of the S.C. of Rites; archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran Basilica
- Scipione Borghese (September 10, 1770) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria sopra Minerva; legate in FerraraFerraraFerrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
; Cardinal-protector of Germany - Antonio Eugenio Visconti (June 17, 1771) — Cardinal-Priest of [no title assigned]
- Bernardino GiraudBernardino GiraudBernardino Giraud was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Apostolic Nuncio to France from 1767 to 1773, and as Archbishop of Ferrara from 1773 until his resignation in 1777. He was elevated to Cardinal in pectore on 17 June 1771, and installed as Cardinal-Priest of SS. Trinità al Monte...
(June, 17, 1771) — Cardinal-Priest of SS. Trinita al Monte Pincio; archbishop of Ferrara - Innocenzo Conti (September 23, 1771) — Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Gennaro Antonio de Simone (March 15, 1773) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme
- Francesco Carafa di Traetto (April 19, 1773) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Clemente
- Francesco Saverio de ZeladaFrancesco Saverio de ZeladaFrancesco Saverio [de] Zelada was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, born of a Spanish family, who served in the Papal Curia and in the diplomatic service of the Holy See....
(April 19, 1773) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Martino ai Monti - Giovanni Angelo Braschi (April 26, 1773) — Cardinal-Priest of S. Onofrio; commendatory abbotCommendatory abbotA commendatory abbot is an ecclesiastic, or sometimes a layman, who holds an abbey in commendam, drawing its revenues but not exercising any authority over its inner monastic discipline...
of SubiacoSubiaco, ItalySubiaco is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, in Lazio, Italy, from Tivoli alongside the river Aniene. It is mainly renowned as a tourist and religious resort for its sacred grotto , in the St. Benedict's Abbey, and the other Abbey of St. Scholastica... - Alessandro Albani (July 16, 1721) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Via Lata; commendatario of S. Maria in Cosmedin; protodeaconProtodeaconProtodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern...
of the Sacred College of Cardinals; Librarian of the Holy Roman Church; Cardinal-protector of AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Kingdom of SardiniaKingdom of SardiniaThe Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the... - Domenico Orsini d'Aragona (September 9, 1743) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria ad Martyres; Cardinal-protector of the Kingdom of NaplesKingdom of NaplesThe Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
- Luigi Maria Torregiani (November 26, 1753) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Agata in Suburra
- Giovanni Costanzio Caracciolo (September 24, 1759) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eustachio; prefect of the Apostolic Tribunal of the Signature of Grace
- Andrea Negroni (July 18, 1763) — Cardinal-Deacon of SS. Vito e Modesto; secretary of the Apostolic Briefs
- Benedetto Veterani (September 26, 1766) — Cardinal-Deacon of SS. Cosma e Damiano; prefect of the S.C. of Index
- Giovanni Battista Rezzonico (September 10, 1770) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano
- Antonio Casali (December 12, 1770) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Giorgio in Velabro; prefect of the S.C. of Good Government
- Pasquale Acquaviva d'Aragona (December 12, 1770) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Aquiro; pro-president of UrbinoUrbinoUrbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
- Francesco D'Elci (April 26, 1773) — Cardinal-Deacon of S. Angelo in Pescheria
Thirteen cardinals were created by Clement XIV, twenty by Clement XIII, ten by Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
and one (Alessandro Albani) by Innocent XIII.
Absentees
Nine cardinals were absent:- Giuseppe PozzobonelliGiuseppe Pozzobonelli- Life :Pozzobonelli was born in Milan, which at the time was part of Duchy of Milan and under Spanish rule. Pozzobonelli was the son of a noble family, and lost his mother during childhood. He was educated by the Jesuits and he received his degree in law at Pavia university...
(September 9, 1743) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina; protopriestProtopriestProtopriest — in the College of Cardinals, is the first Cardinal-Priest in the order of precedence. This title is always attached to the most senior Cardinal Priest according to date of his creation. From the 17th century until the end of 19th century Protopriest usually opted for the titulus San...
of the Sacred College of Cardinals; archbishop of Milan - Franz Konrad Casimir von Rodt (April 5, 1756) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria del Popolo; bishop of Constance
- Francisco de Saldanha da GamaFrancisco de Saldanha da GamaDom Francisco I de Saldanha da Gama was the third cardinal patriarch of Lisbon .He studied canon law at Coimbra and was appointed a cardinal by Pope Benedict XIV in 1756, and named Patriarch of Lisbon on July 25, 1758...
(April 5, 1756) – Cardinal-Deacon [no deaconry assigned]; patriarch of LisbonPatriarch of LisbonThe Patriarch of Lisbon is an honorary title possessed by the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lisbon.The first patriarch of Lisbon was D. Tomás de Almeida, who was appointed in 1716 by Pope Clement XI... - Buenaventura de Córdoba Espínola de la Cerda (November 23, 1761) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna; patriarch of the West IndiesPatriarch of the West IndiesThe Titular Patriarchate of the West Indies is a Latin Rite Titular Patriarchate of the Roman Catholic Church. It is vacant since the death of its last holder in 1963.-Attempt to create a jurisdictional Patriarchate in the Spanish Indies:...
; Vicar General of the Spanish Army and Fleet - Jean-François-Joseph Rochechouart (November 23, 1761) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Eusebio; bishop of Laon
- Louis-César-Constantine de Rohan-Guéménée (November 23, 1761) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; bishop of Strasbourg
- João Cosme da Cunha, C.R.S.A. (August 6, 1770) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; archbishop of Evora; Inquisitor General of the Portuguese InquisitionPortuguese InquisitionThe Portuguese Inquisition was formally established in Portugal in 1536 at the request of the King of Portugal, João III. Manuel I had asked for the installation of the Inquisition in 1515 to fulfill the commitment of marriage with Maria of Aragon, but it was only after his death that the Pope...
- Charles-Antoine de La Roche-Aymon (December 16, 1771) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; archbishop of ReimsArchbishop of ReimsThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750...
- Leopold Ernest von Firmian (December 14, 1772) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; bishop of PassauBishop of PassauThe Diocese of Passau is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in Germany. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of München und Freising. The diocese covers an area of 5,442 km². The current bishop is Wilhelm Schraml.-History:...
Benedict XIV, Clement XIII and Clement XIV created three of them each.
Died during sede vacante
Two cardinals, including one created by Benedict XIV and one created by Clement XIII:- Giovanni Francesco Stoppani (November 26, 1753) – Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina; Secretary of the Supreme S.C. of the Roman and Universal InquisitionRoman InquisitionThe Roman Inquisition was a system of tribunals developed by the Holy See during the second half of the 16th century, responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of a wide array of crimes related to heresy, including Protestantism, sorcery, immorality, blasphemy, Judaizing and witchcraft, as...
(died on November 18, 1774 at Rome) - Ferdinando Maria de' Rossi (September 24, 1759) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Cecilia; prefect of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council (died on February 4, 1775 at Rome)
Divisions in the Sacred College
The College of CardinalsCollege of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
was generally divided into two blocs: curial, pro-Jesuit (zelanti
Zelanti
In Roman Catholicism, the expression zelanti has been applied to conservative members of the clergy and their lay supporters since the thirteenth century. Its specific connotations have shifted with each reapplication of the label...
) and political, anti-Jesuit. The first one was formed by the Italian curial cardinals who opposed the secular influences on the Church. The second one included crown-cardinals of the Catholic courts. These two blocs were in no way homogenous. Zelanti were divided into moderate and radical factions. The anti-Jesuit bloc was divided into several national groups with different interests.
The leader of Zelanti was Cardinal Marcantonio Colonna. The other representatives of this faction were Giovanni Battista Rezzonico, his relative Carlo Rezzonico, who occupied the important office of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Gian Francesco Albani
Gian Francesco Albani
Gian Francesco Albani was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was a member of the Albani family.Albani was born in Rome, the son of Carlo Albani, Duke of Soriano; his grand-uncle was Pope Clement XI...
, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Alessandro Albani, archdeacon of the College. The Rezzonichi represented the radical wing of this faction, while the Albanis and Colonna represented the moderate wing. Among the anti-Jesuit cardinals the main leader was Cardinal de Bernis, ambassador of Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
. The interests of Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
were represented by Cardona, interests of Ferdinand III of Sicily/Ferdinand IV of Naples
Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
Ferdinand I reigned variously over Naples, Sicily, and the Two Sicilies from 1759 until his death. He was the third son of King Charles III of Spain by his wife Maria Amalia of Saxony. On 10 August 1759, Charles succeeded his elder brother, Ferdinand VI, as King Charles III of Spain...
by Orsini, while those of Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
and her son Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
were under the care of Migazzi and Corsini. Also very influential was Cardinal Giraud, former nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
in France. Several cardinals were not counted among the members of these factions.
There was no main favourite of the conclave. About thirty cardinals were considered papabile
Papabile
Papabile is an unofficial Italian term first coined by Vaticanologists and now used internationally in many languages to describe a cardinal of whom it is thought likely or possible that he will be elected pope. A literal English translation would be "popeable" or "one who might become pope".In...
.
Conclave
The conclave began on October 5, 1774. Initially there were only 28 participants. By the middle of December their number reached only 39, but by the end of the conclave five more cardinals arrived.Cardinal Marcantonio Colonna, taking advantage of the small number of electors, mostly curial cardinals belonging to his zelanti faction, tried to release Father Ricci from prison. This initiative obtained support of camerlengo Carlo Rezzonico and of Cardinal of York
Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart was a Roman Catholic Cardinal, as well as the fourth and final Jacobite heir to publicly claim the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Unlike his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, and brother, Charles Edward Stuart, Henry made no effort to seize the throne...
, but the anti-Jesuit faction was strong enough to frustrate it.
Every day at least one ballot took place, but no candidates with serious chances for the election were proposed at the beginning, because the number of electors was relatively small and they were obliged to await the arrival of the rest, particularly of those representatives of the courts who did not reside in Rome. Zelanti voted mainly for their leader Colonna, who received the greatest number of votes in these initial ballots, but certainly had no chances to secure the required majority of two thirds. Some other candidates were also put forward by the Zelanti, but they were all rejected by crown-cardinals as too pro-Jesuit. Against the candidature of Giovanni Carlo Boschi
Giovanni Carlo Boschi
Giovanni Carlo Boschi was an Italian clergyman who was made a cardinal by Pope Clement XIII in the consistory of 21 July 1766. He then served as Major Penitentiary from 1767 to 1788, and participated in the papal conclaves of 1774-75 and 1769...
the Bourbon courts even pronounced the official exclusion.
In January 1775 cardinals Migazzi, Borromeo, Caracciolo, Pallavicino and Visconti were proposed by the political factions, but without any significant success, because Zelanti rejected all candidates recommended by the monarchs. Cardinal Zelada tried to mediate between factions, proposing to reduce the number of candidates to six, of whom each of the two blocs had to advance three, and to elect this one of them who would be the most acceptable for all. But this initiative had also failed.
Cardinal Zelada secured the support of Zelanti without serious problems. Also the conviction of Spain was not a difficult task for de Bernis because Spanish candidate Pallavicino openly declared that he would not accept the tiara and called to vote for Braschi. The other political factions agreed when Braschi promised the ratification of the suppression of the Jesuits
Suppression of the Jesuits
The Suppression of the Jesuits in the Portuguese Empire, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result of a series of political moves rather than a theological controversy. By the brief Dominus ac Redemptor Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus...
, his friendship to the House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
and to the House of Habsburg, and agreed to be guided by the allies in the distribution of State offices.
Election of Pius VI
On February 15, 1775, after 134 days of deliberation, in the 265th ballot, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Braschi was elected to the papacy receiving all votes except his own, which, according to custom, he gave to Gian Francesco AlbaniGian Francesco Albani
Gian Francesco Albani was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was a member of the Albani family.Albani was born in Rome, the son of Carlo Albani, Duke of Soriano; his grand-uncle was Pope Clement XI...
, dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He took the name of Pius VI, in honour of St. Pius V.
On February 22, 1775 the Pope-elect was consecrated bishop of Rome by Cardinal Dean Gian Francesco Albani, bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, assisted by Sub-dean Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart was a Roman Catholic Cardinal, as well as the fourth and final Jacobite heir to publicly claim the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Unlike his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, and brother, Charles Edward Stuart, Henry made no effort to seize the throne...
, bishop of Frascati, and Camerlengo Carlo Rezzonico, bishop of Sabina. On the same day he was also solemnly crowned
Papal Coronation
A papal coronation was the ceremony of the placing of the Papal Tiara on a newly elected pope. The first recorded papal coronation was that of Pope Celestine II in 1143. Soon after his coronation in 1963, Pope Paul VI abandoned the practice of wearing the tiara. His successors have chosen not to...
by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, protodeacon
Protodeacon
Protodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern...
of S. Maria in Via Lata.
Sources
- Jean-François Bourgoing, Historical and Philosophical Memoirs of Pius the Sixth and of His Pontificate, 1799
- S. Miranda: List of participants of the conclave, 1774–75
- Damian Hungs: Papst Pius VI
- Valérie Pirie The Triple Crown: An Account of the Papal Conclaves
- Kazimierz Dopierała, Księga papieży, Pallotinum, Poznań 1996