Blessed Innocent XI

Blessed Innocent XI, pope, was born May 19, 1611, in Como, Italy. A priest, he earned a law degree in 1639 and served the church in a number of roles over the years, including papal legate, bishop and cardinal. He was elected the 240th pope on Sept. 21, 1676, and he was installed Oct. 4, 1676. He worked against Jansenism, Quietism and heresies. The pontiff also had high expectations about education in the seminaries. He lived a simple and pious life. Blessed Innocent XI died Aug. 12, 1689, of natural causes.