Editing Pope Innocent XIII (section)

==Pontificate==
===Papal election===
{{main|1721 Papal conclave}}
After the death of [[Pope Clement XI]] in 1721, a conclave was called to choose a new pope. It took 75 ballots just to reach a decision and choose Conti as the successor of Clement XI.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/ch/innocent-xiii-a-steady-hand-at-the-tiller/ | title=Innocent XIII: A Steady Hand at the Tiller | date=10 May 2021 }}</ref> After all candidates seemed to slip, support turned to Conti. The curial factions also turned their attention to him. His high reputation for ability, learning, purity, and a kindly disposition secured his election, which occurred the morning of 8 May 1721. He chose the name of Innocent XIII in honour of [[Pope Innocent III]]. On the following 18 May, he was solemnly crowned by the [[protodeacon]], Cardinal [[Benedetto Pamphili]].

===Actions===
His pontificate was prosperous, but comparatively uneventful. He held two consistories that saw three new cardinals elevated on 16 June 1721 and 16 July 1721.

The [[Chinese Rites controversy]] that started under his predecessor continued during his reign.<ref>https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG83732 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> Innocent XIII prohibited the [[Jesuits]] from prosecuting their mission in [[Qing dynasty|China]], and ordered that no new members should be received into the order. This indication of his sympathies encouraged some [[Kingdom of France|French]] bishops to approach him with a petition for the recall of the [[papal bull]] ''[[Unigenitus]]'' by which [[Jansenism]] had been condemned; the request, however, was peremptorily denied.

The Pope also assisted [[Hospitaller Malta]] in its struggles against the [[Barbary pirates]].

Innocent XIII, like his predecessor, showed much favour to [[James Francis Edward Stuart]], the "Old Pretender" to the British throne and liberally supported him. The pope's cousin, Francesco Maria Conti, from [[Siena]], became chamberlain of James' little court in the Roman [[Palazzo Muti|Muti Palace]].

====Consistories====
{{main|Cardinals created by Innocent XIII}}
Innocent XIII held two [[Papal consistory|consistories]] in which he named three cardinals. One of those new cardinals was his own brother, Bernardo Maria.

====Beatifications====
Innocent XIII beatified three individuals during his pontificate: [[John of Nepomuk]] (31 May 1721), [[Dalmazio Moner]] (13 August 1721), and [[Andrea dei Conti]] (11 December 1723).

====Doctor of the Church====
On 25 April 1722, he named Saint [[Isidore of Seville]] as a [[Doctor of the Church]].