Pope Boniface VIII
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| Birth name | Benedetto Caetani |
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| Born | 1235 Anagni, Papal States |
| Died | October 11, 1303 Rome |
| Papacy from | December 24, 1294 – October 11, 1303 |
| Came after | Pope Celestine V |
| Came before | Pope Benedict XI |
Pope Boniface VIII (1235 – October 11, 1303), born Benedetto Caetani, was an Italian cleric of the Roman Catholic Church and the 194th Pope from 1294 to 1303.[1]
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[change] Early life
Benedetto Caetani was born in 1235 at Anagni in Italy.[2]
Caetani studied at Todi and at Spoleto where he earned a degree in law.[2]
In 1265, Caetani traveled with Cardinal Ottobuono Fieschi to England.[2]
[change] Cardinal
In 1281, Pope Martin IV raised Caetani to the rank of cardinal. In 1291, Pope Nicholas IV made him Cardinal of SS. Silvestro e Martino ai Monti.[2]
[change] Pope
Cardinal Caetani was elected in 1294;[3] and he chose to be called Boniface VIII.[4]
Pope Boniface was involved in Italian and European political disputes.[2]
[change] After his death
Dante mentions Boniface in The Inferno. He identifies the pope as "the Prince of the new Pharisees."[5]
[change] References
- ↑ "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Pope Boniface VIII", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ↑ Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. (1838). "Boniface VIII," Penny cyclopaedia, Vol. 5, p. 154.
- ↑ Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Boniface VIII–IX are really the 7th and 8th popes with that name. This is because Boniface VII is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Boniface VIII, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual seventh pope Boniface identified himself with the ordinal number VIII. In other words, the numbering of popes after the 7th Boniface needs to be explained -- compare Popes Benedict XI–XVI.
- ↑ "Boniface IX," Encyclopedia Britannica (1910), Vol. 4, p. 207.
[change] Other reading
- Boase, Thomas Sherrer Ross. (1933). Boniface VIII. London: Constable. OCLC 1387650
[change] Other websites
"Pope Boniface VIII". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.
