Voting Station

Pope Innocent XI

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (May 16, 1611-August 12, 1689)
    Born in Como, Italy
    Birth name was Benedetto Odesalchi
    Bishop of Novara (1650-56)
    Cardinal of Santi Cosma e Damiano (1645-59) and Sant-Onofrio (1659-76)
    240th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1676-89)

Why he might be annoying:

    He ordered the theaters and opera houses in Rome closed, considering them 'centers of vice and immorality.'
    He issued a decree banning Roman Jews from lending money -- coincidentally, benefiting his banker brothers by eliminating the competition (1682).
    He had a dispute with King Louis XIV of France that lasted throughout his papacy.
    A canonization campaign was started on his behalf but was suspended in the mid-18th century due to French opposition.
    As a result, he did not reach the first step -- being declared venerable -- until 1955.
    His remains were moved to give Pope John Paul II a resting place accessible to the public (2011).

Why he might not be annoying:

    As Bishop of Novara, he spent nearly the entire episcopal income on caring for the poor.
    As Pope, he strictly enforced the ordinances against Cardinals appointing relatives to church offices.
    Through his frugality, he was able to pay off the Papacy's debts and lower taxes on the Roman people.
    When Louis XIV tried to suck up to the Papacy by persecuting French Protestants, he condemned the King's use of violence.
    His criticized King James II's attempt to restore an absolute monarchy in Great Britain.
    He convinced several Central European monarchs to set aside their differences and help defend Austria, thus preventing the Ottoman Empire from conquering Vienna.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 138 Votes: 47.10% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 115 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 97 Votes: 46.39% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 26 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying