CLEMENT XII,
pope (1730-1740), born Lorenzo Corsini, elected at the age of 78. His first act was the trial and
condemnation of Cardinal Coscia, guilty of corrupt behavior in office under his predecessor. Nothing else of importance occurred under his administration, during the greater part of which, according to some historians, he was afflicted with blindness. He was the first pontiff who condemned the
Freemasons.
from the 9th edition (1876) of an old encyclopedia -please update as necessary (
in particular: what's malversation?
- preceded by Pope Benedict XIII (1724-1730)
- succeeded by Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758)