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Pope Clement XIII

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (March 7, 1693-February 2, 1769)
    Born in Venice, Italy
    Birth name was Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico
    Bishop of Padua (1743-58)
    Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1758-69)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a reluctant pope and cried upon his election.
    He appointed a nephew as archbishop.
    He had fig leaves mass-produced to cover the genitals on classical statues in the Vatican.
    He repeatedly issued papal decrees in support of the Jesuits, but it did not stop them from being expelled by Portugal, France and Spain.
    Under pressure, he agreed to call a session of the College of Cardinals to consider suppressing the Jesuits, but died the night before it was to meet.

Why he might not be annoying:

    As Bishop of Padua, he visited all the parishes in his diocese, the first bishop to do so in 50 years.
    He gave away his personal fortune to help the poor when a famine struck Italy (1763-64).
    A political enemy conceded that he 'would give away even his linen.'
    He may have been poisoned. (Although whether by Jesuits afraid he was about to cave or by enemies of the Jesuits afraid he would stick to his guns varies depending on which conspiracy theory you listen to.)
    Antonio Canova's monument to him was the first neoclassical sculpture in St. Peter's Basillica.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 177 Votes: 48.02% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 129 Votes: 50.39% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 104 Votes: 45.19% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 34.78% Annoying