Innocent XI
pope of the Catholic Church from 1676 to 1689
Feast: 12 August (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Benedetto Odescalchi, born at Como on 16 May 1611, was loved as a cardinal for his piety, charity and devotion to duty; sent to famine-stricken Ferrara, he was introduced as 'father of the poor'. As Bishop of Novara he spent all his revenues on the poor and sick.
Elected pope unanimously despite Louis XIV's opposition, he died at Rome on 11 August 1689.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia records that his cause was introduced by Benedict XIV and continued by later popes, but was dropped through French influence and a charge of Jansenism.
Why that counted as sanctity
A pope known as the father of the poor.
Connected on this site
- Gregorio Barbarigo Saint“A shepherd in the mould of St Charles Borromeo, he later became bishop of Padua and worked, as adviser to Innocent XI, for reunion with the Eastern Churches.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Pope Innocent XI
- Wikidata Q101286 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Pope Innocent XI (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.