Emilio Altieri (Clement X) elected Pope

Pope Clement X (13 July 1590 – 22 July 1676), born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope from 29 April 1670 to 22 July 1676.

On 29 April 1670, the papacy was offered to him by fifty-nine Cardinals present at the election; only two being against him. He, however, objected because of his age, for he was almost eighty, and exclaimed, "I am too old to bear such a burden." Pointing to Cardinal Brancacci, Altieri said he was the Cardinal whom they ought to elect. He persisted in refusing, protesting that he no longer had strength or memory; but he was crowned on 11 May. With tears he accepted, and out of gratitude to his benefactor, by ten years his junior, he assumed the name of Clement X.
All but one of the male scions of the Altieri family had chosen the ecclesiastical career. On his accession to the papacy, Clement X, in order to save the Altieri name from extinction, adopted the Paluzzi family, and proposed that one of the Paluzzi should marry Laura Caterina Altieri, the sole heiress of the family. In exchange for adopting the Altieri surname he would make one of the Paluzzi a Cardinal. Following the wedding, which he officiated, he appointed his relative by marriage Cardinal Paluzzi-Altieri, the uncle of Laura's new husband, to the Office of Cardinal Nephew to take on the duties which he was prevented from doing by age. The main activity was to invest the Church's money, and with advancing years gradually entrusted to him the management of affairs, to such an extent that the Romans said he had reserved to himself only the episcopal functions of benedicere et sanctificare, resigning in favour of the Cardinal the administrative duties of regere et gubernare.
On the 8th of June Clement X took possession of St. John Lateran. On 11 June, he confirmed the Minor Observantines in the Holy Land in the privileges and indulgences granted to those who visit the holy places, according to the decree of Popes Alexander VII and Clement IX. In the same month he granted to the...

Born at Rome, 13 July, 1590; elected 29 April, 1670, and died at Rome, 22 July, 1676. Unable to secure the election of any of the prominent candidates, the cardinals finally, after a conclave of four months and twenty days, resorted to the old expedient of electing a cardinal of advanced years; they united upon Cardinal Altieri, an octogenarian, whose long life had been spent in the service of the Church, and whom Clement IX, on the eve of his death, had raised to the dignity of the purple. The reason a prelate of such transcendent merits received the cardinalate so late in life seems to have been that he had waived his claims to the elevation in favour of an older brother. He protested vigorously against this use of the papal robes as a funeral shroud, but at length was persuaded to accept, and out of gratitude to his benefactor, by ten years his junior, he assumed the name of Clement X. The Altieri belonged to the ancient Roman nobility, and since all but one of the male scions had chosen the ecclesiastical career, the pope, in order to save the name from extinction, adopted the Paoluzzi, one of whom he married to Laura Caterina Altieri, the sole heiress of the family.

During previous pontificates the new pope had held important offices and had been entrusted with delicate missions. Urban VIII gave him charge of the works designed to protect the territory of Ravenna from the unruly Po. Innocent X appointed him nuncio to Naples; and he is credited with no slight share in the re-establishment of peace after the stormy days of Masaniello. Under Alexander VII he was made secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. Clement IX named him superintendent of the papal exchequer. On his accession to the papacy, he gave to his new kinsman, Cardinal Paoluzzi-Altieri, the uncle of Laura's husband, the office of cardinal nephew, and with advancing years gradually entrusted to him the management of affairs, to such an extent that the biting Romans said he had res...

Priesthood. Ordained, April 6, 1624.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Camerino, November 29, 1627. Consecrated, November 30, 1627, patriarchal Liberian basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese, assisted by Giovanni Battista Altieri, former bishop of Camerino, and by Giovanni Battista Lancelotti, bishop of Nola. Succeeded his brother Giambattista as bishop of that diocese. Governor of Loreto, December 10, 1633. President of Romagna, June 4, 1636. Governor of Marche, per modum provisionis, January 22, 1641 until October 7, 1641. In charge of the safety of Ravenna against the floods of the river Po. Named apostolic visitor of the entire Papal States, could not exercise the post because of the Castro war. He declined promotion to the cardinalate in favor of an older brother. Nuncio in Naples, December 25, 1644 until 1652. Charged by the Sacred College of Cardinals, during the vacancy of 1655, with the mission of pacifying Lombardy. Secretary of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars, 1657-1667. Consultor of the Supreme S.C. of the Roman and Universal Inquisition in the pontificate of Pope Alexander VII. Resigned the government of the see, June 7, 1666. Prefect of the Cubiculi of His Holiness, January 24, 1667.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of November 29, 1669; never received the red hat and the title because Pope Clement IX died on December 9, 1669 and he was elected his successor. Participated in the conclave of 1669-1670 and was elected pope.

Papacy. Elected pope on April 29, 1670. He protested his election because of his advanced age, but accepted and took the name Clement X. Crowned, May 11, 1670, Rome, by Cardinal Francesco Maidalchini, protodeacon of S. Maria in Via Lata. Took possession of the patriarchal Lateran basilica, June 8, 1670.

Death. July 22, 1676. Exposed and buried in the patriarchal Vatican basilica.