Prelate: Innocent XII, like Pope Francis, wanted a poor Church

March 15, 2016

Cardinal Francesco Monterisi served as the Pope’s special envoy at a Mass concluding a yearlong commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Pope Innocent XII, who reigned from 1691 to 1700.

Preaching in Spinazzola on March 13, Cardinal Monterisi, the archpriest emeritus of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, paid tributes to Innocent’s efforts against nepotism.

Pope Innocent, like Pope Francis, wanted a “poor Church for the poor,” said Cardinal Monterisi, who also recalled Innocent’s attentiveness to the needy, concern for promptness in judicial rulings, and proclamation of the jubilee year of 1700.

 

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Further information:

• I miei nipoti sono i poveri (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 6)
• Lettera del Santo Padre all’Inviato Speciale alla celebrazione conclusiva dell’Anno Innocenziano (Spinazzola, 13 marzo 2016) (Holy See Press Office)