The pious Pope whose weak leadership bankrupted the Papal States

History · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Benedict XIII was a man of deep asceticism and religious devotion, but he was a disastrous administrator. While he focused on charity and monastic ideals, his lack of political savvy allowed a corrupt secretary to drain the treasury, leaving the Church in Rome facing financial ruin.

Born Pietro Francesco Orsini, the Dominican friar was elected on 29 May 1724. He was chosen by the College of Cardinals because his modest, austere lifestyle suggested he would be a neutral and malleable leader. However, his preference for religious duties over political administration created a power vacuum. This allowed his secretary, Cardinal Niccolò Coscia, to seize control of the government and engage in systemic financial abuses that devastated the papal treasury.

Despite his administrative failures, Benedict XIII left a significant institutional legacy. In 1727, he inaugurated the Spanish Steps and founded the University of Camerino. He also played a key role in resolving disputes regarding the authenticity of the relics of Augustine of Hippo in 1728. Curiously, his biological legacy remains immense; because he personally consecrated at least 139 bishops, more than 90% of contemporary bishops can trace their episcopal lineage back to him through Cardinal Rebiba.

The Pope's life ended on 21 February 1730, at age 81, after contracting a catarrh while officiating at a funeral. His death was officially announced to the public the following day. His posthumous journey toward sainthood has been fraught with difficulty. After several failed attempts to open his cause for canonization—most notably in 1931 and 1940 due to doubts regarding the morality of his corrupt deputy, Coscia—the process was reopened in 2004. He currently holds the title of Servant of God.

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