# 1740 conclave

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{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox papal conclave
| month       = February–August
| year        = 1740
| commonname  = <!--Add this if conclave was commonly known by another title-->
| dates       = 18 February – 17 August 1740
| location    = [Apostolic Palace](/source/Apostolic_Palace), [Papal States](/source/Papal_States)
| dean        = {{ubl|[Pietro Ottoboni](/source/Pietro_Ottoboni_(cardinal))|[Tommaso Ruffo](/source/Tommaso_Ruffo)}}
| vicedean    = {{ubl|[Tommaso Ruffo](/source/Tommaso_Ruffo)|Lodovico della Mirandola}}
| camerlengo  = [Annibale Albani](/source/Annibale_Albani)
| protopriest = Armand de Rohan-Soubise
| protodeacon = Lorenzo Altieri
| secretary   = 
| candidates  = <!--If desired, main candidates, if known, can be listed-->
| vetoed      = 
| ballots     = <!--Number of ballots used for papal election-->
| pope_elected= [Prospero Lambertini](/source/Pope_Benedict_XIV)
| nametaken   = Benedict XIV
| image       = Benoit XIV.jpg
| prevconclave_year=1730
| prevconclave_link=1730 conclave
| nextconclave_year=1758
| nextconclave_link=1758 conclave
}}

The '''1740 papal conclave''' (18 February – 17 August) was convoked after the death of [Pope Clement XII](/source/Pope_Clement_XII) on 6 February 1740 and was one of the longest [papal conclave](/source/papal_conclave)s since the 13th century.

The initial favourite to succeed as [pope](/source/pope), the elderly [Pietro Ottoboni](/source/Pietro_Ottoboni_(cardinal)) (1667–1740), [Dean of the College of Cardinals](/source/Dean_of_the_College_of_Cardinals), died shortly after the beginning of the conclave, and cardinals loyal to the [House of Bourbon](/source/House_of_Bourbon) repeatedly proposed [Pompeo Aldrovandi](/source/Pompeo_Aldrovandi), but eventually had to accept that he could not secure two-thirds of the votes.

After six months, other possible candidates had also failed, and Cardinal [Prospero Lambertini](/source/Pope_Benedict_XIV), the [archbishop of Bologna](/source/archbishop_of_Bologna), who had been a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) since 9 December 1726, was elected. He [took the name](/source/Papal_name) ''Benedict XIV''.

==Early candidates==
The conclave began on 18 February 1740, following the funeral of Clement XII, and lasted for six months.

At the outset, only thirty-two cardinals entered into the conclave, in which there was an expectation that the elderly [Pietro Ottoboni](/source/Pietro_Ottoboni_(cardinal)) (1667–1740), a Cardinal for more than fifty years and [Dean](/source/Dean_of_the_College_of_Cardinals) of the [Sacred College of Cardinals](/source/Sacred_College_of_Cardinals), would be chosen to succeed Clement XII. However, opposition to Ottoboni was raised because of his protective relationship with France. After a few days he was taken seriously ill, left the conclave on 25 February, and died on 29 February.<ref name=ottoboni/><ref>[http://www.saint-mike.org/library/papal_library/benedictxiv/biography.html Biography of Benedict XIV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521045036/http://www.saint-mike.org/library/papal_library/benedictxiv/biography.html |date=21 May 2020 }} at saint-mike.org</ref> Ottoboni's place as Dean was taken by [Tommaso Ruffo](/source/Tommaso_Ruffo), vice-dean of the Sacred College.<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1706.htm#Ruffo RUFFO, Tommaso (1663–1753)]  at fiu.edu</ref>

As more cardinals arrived in [Rome](/source/Rome) and entered into the conclave, a group of the French formed an alliance with the Austrians and with the Spanish cardinals from [Naples](/source/Kingdom_of_Naples) and [Tuscany](/source/Tuscany). The cardinals loyal to the [Bourbons](/source/House_of_Bourbon) proposed the name of [Pompeo Aldrovandi](/source/Pompeo_Aldrovandi), but he fell just short of securing the two-thirds majority required. For forty days, his nomination was voted on unsuccessfully before it became clear he could not be elected.<ref>[Horace Walpole](/source/Horace_Walpole), ed. Wilmarth Sheldon Lewis, ''The Yale edition of Horace Walpole's correspondence'', vols. 13-14 (1948), pp. 226-227</ref>

There was considerable and lengthy confusion, with a series of names advanced, all of whom failed to find the necessary level of support. After long deliberation, [Cardinal Lambertini](/source/Pope_Benedict_XIV), a [canon law](/source/canon_law)yer, was proposed as a compromise candidate, and he is reported to have said to the College of Cardinals, "If you wish to elect a saint, choose [Gotti](/source/Vincenzo_Ludovico_Gotti); a statesman, [Aldrovandi](/source/Pompeo_Aldrovandi); an honest man, me."<ref>Matthew Bunson, ''The pope encyclopedia: an A to Z of the Holy See'' (1995), p. 45</ref><ref>Michael J. Walsh, ''Pocket Dictionary of Popes'' (2006) [https://books.google.com/books?id=vWP_K-lZCB0C&pg=PA21 p. 21]</ref> This appears to have assisted his cause, which also benefited from his reputation for deep learning, gentleness, wisdom, and conciliation in policy.<ref name=cicognani>Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, ''Canon law: I. Introduction to the study of canon law'', book 1 (1934), p. 401</ref>

==Election of Benedict XIV==
[[File:Benedict XIV by Pietro Bracci.JPG|thumb|130px|Benedict by [Bracci](/source/Pietro_Bracci)]]
In the words of one historian, the College of Cardinals was {{blockquote|"...too sensible of their own weakness to risk giving offense to the neighboring courts, At length they fixed on a man who was at least unlikely to be offensive, as he had never in his life been engaged in diplomatic affairs, either as [ambassador](/source/ambassador) or [nuncio](/source/nuncio). This was Prospero Lambertini, a native of [Bologna](/source/Bologna).<ref>Daniel Parish Kidder, ''The Lives of the popes from A. D. 100 to A. D. 1853'' (Carlton & Phillips, 1853), [https://archive.org/details/livespopesfroma00kiddgoog/page/n502 p. 512]</ref>}}

On 17 August in the evening, Lambertini was elected [Pope](/source/Pope), receiving the ballots of more than the required two-thirds of the fifty-one Cardinals present. Lambertini accepted his election and took the name of [Benedict XIV](/source/Pope_Benedict_XIV) in honour of his friend and patron [Pope Benedict XIII](/source/Pope_Benedict_XIII).<ref name=cicognani/> It had been one of the longer conclaves, though far from the longest.{{efn|The longest papal election was that [election of 1268–1271](/source/Papal_election%2C_1268%E2%80%931271) which had lasted almost three years, compared with more than two years for that of [1292–1294](/source/Papal_election%2C_1292%E2%80%931294) and almost a year for the [1287–1288 election](/source/Papal_election%2C_1287%E2%80%931288). This conclave lasted a few days longer than the [election of 1277](/source/Papal_election%2C_1277).<ref>P. H. Gallen, ''How Popes Are Chosen and Other Essays'' (1927, reprinted by Kessinger Publishing, 2003), [https://books.google.com/books?id=0JkS06Ek8r0C&pg=PA18 p. 18]</ref>}} Benedict was [crowned](/source/papal_coronation) a few days later in the loggia of the [Vatican Basilica](/source/Vatican_Basilica).

==Other witnesses==
Giovanni Angelo Braschi, later [Pope Pius VI](/source/Pope_Pius_VI), attended the conclave while still a layman as assistant to Cardinal Ruffo.<ref>Jeffrey Collins, ''Papacy and Politics in Eighteenth-Century Rome: Pius VI and the Arts'' (Cambridge University Press, 2004, {{ISBN|978-0521809436}}), [https://books.google.com/books?id=SxDYM3cnSpwC&pg=PA9 pp. 9–10]</ref>

The young [Horace Walpole](/source/Horace_Walpole), who was in Rome at the time, attempted to attend the coronation but gave up because he found the waiting interminable. He wrote to his friend and cousin [Conway](/source/Henry_Seymour_Conway), "I am sorry to have lost the sight of the Pope's coronation, but I might have staid for seeing it till I had been old enough to be Pope myself."<ref>Horace Walpole, ''The letters of Horace Walpole, earl of Oxford'' vol. 1 (Henry G. Bohn, 1861), [https://books.google.com/books?id=N1IKHQtQZGYC&pg=PA53 p. 53]</ref>

==List of cardinal electors==
===List of participants===
Of the sixty-eight cardinals living at the death of Pope Clement XII, four died during the [sede vacante](/source/sede_vacante) and fifty-one took part in the final ballot.:<ref name=miranda>Salvador Miranda, ''[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/conclave-xviii.htm#1740 List of participants of the papal conclave of 1740] ''.</ref>
*[Pietro Ottoboni](/source/Pietro_Ottoboni_(cardinal)) (1667–1740), Created a [Cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) 7 November 1689, bishop of Ostia and Velletri, [Dean](/source/Dean_of_the_College_of_Cardinals) of the [Sacred College of Cardinals](/source/Sacred_College_of_Cardinals); he was taken ill during the conclave, left it on 25 February, and died on 29 February 1740.<ref name=ottoboni>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1689.htm#Ottoboni OTTOBONI, Pietro (1667–1740)]  at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Tommaso Ruffo](/source/Tommaso_Ruffo) (1663–1753), a Cardinal since 17 May 1706, bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina; he succeeded Ottoboni as Dean of the College of Cardinals.
*[Annibale Albani](/source/Annibale_Albani) (1682–1751), a Cardinal since 23 December 1711, [bishop of Sabina](/source/bishop_of_Sabina)
*[Lodovico Picco della Mirandola](/source/Lodovico_Picco_della_Mirandola) (1668–1743), a Cardinal since 18 May 1712, [bishop of Albano](/source/bishop_of_Albano)
*[Pier Marcelino Corradini](/source/Pier_Marcelino_Corradini) (1658–1743), also a Cardinal since 18 May 1712, [bishop of Frascati](/source/bishop_of_Frascati)
*[Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan](/source/Armand_Gaston_Maximilien_de_Rohan) (1674–1749), also a Cardinal since 18 May 1712, [bishop of Strasbourg](/source/bishop_of_Strasbourg)
*[Carlo Maria Marini](/source/Carlo_Maria_Marini) (1677–1747), a Cardinal since 29 May 1715
*[Thomas Philip Wallrad de Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace](/source/Thomas_Philip_Wallrad_de_H%C3%A9nin-Li%C3%A9tard_d'Alsace) (1679–1759), a Cardinal since 29 November 1719, [archbishop of Mechelen](/source/archbishop_of_Mechelen)
*[Luis Antonio Belluga y Moncada](/source/Luis_Antonio_Belluga_y_Moncada) (1662–1743), also a Cardinal since 29 November 1719
*[Alessandro Albani](/source/Alessandro_Albani) (1692–1779), a Cardinal since 16 July 1721
*[Giambattista Altieri](/source/Giovanni_Battista_Altieri_(iuniore)) the younger (1673–1740), a Cardinal since 11 September 1724, [bishop of Palestrina](/source/bishop_of_Palestrina). He died during the conclave, on 12 March 1740, of [apoplexy](/source/apoplexy), having suffered such an attack three years earlier.<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1724.htm#Altieri ALTIERI, ''iuniore'', Giambattista (1673–1740)] , at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Vincenzo Petra](/source/Vincenzo_Petra) (1662–1747), a Cardinal since 20 November 1724
*[Niccolò Coscia](/source/Niccol%C3%B2_Coscia) (1682–1755), a Cardinal since 11 June 1725
*[Niccolò del Giudice](/source/Niccol%C3%B2_del_Giudice) (1660–1743), also a Cardinal since 11 June 1725
*[Angelo Maria Quirini](/source/Angelo_Maria_Quirini) (1680–1755), a Cardinal since 9 December 1726, [bishop of Brescia](/source/bishop_of_Brescia).
*[Francesco Antonio Finy](/source/Francesco_Antonio_Finy) (1669–1743), also a Cardinal since 9 December 1726
*[Prospero Lambertini](/source/Prospero_Lambertini) (1675–1758), also a Cardinal since 9 December 1726, [archbishop of Bologna](/source/archbishop_of_Bologna); elected Pope by the conclave.
*[Niccolò Maria Lercari](/source/Niccol%C3%B2_Maria_Lercari) (1675–1757), also a Cardinal since 9 December 1726
*[Sigismund von Kollonitsch](/source/Sigismund_von_Kollonitsch) (1677–1751), a Cardinal since 26 November 1727, [archbishop of Vienna](/source/archbishop_of_Vienna)
*[Philip Ludwig von Sinzendorf](/source/Philip_Ludwig_von_Sinzendorf) (1699–1747), also a Cardinal since 26 November 1727, bishop of Györ
*[Vincenzo Ludovico Gotti](/source/Vincenzo_Ludovico_Gotti) (1664–1742), [OP](/source/Order_of_Preachers), a Cardinal since 30 April 1728
*[Pierluigi Carafa](/source/Pier_Luigi_Carafa_(1677%E2%80%931755)) the younger (1677–1755), a Cardinal since 20 September 1728
*[Giuseppe Accoramboni](/source/Giuseppe_Accoramboni) (1672–1747), also a Cardinal since 20 September 1728
*[Camillo Cibo](/source/Camillo_Cibo) (1681–1743), a Cardinal since 23 March 1729
*[Francesco Borghese](/source/Francesco_Scipione_Maria_Borghese) (1697–1759), a Cardinal since 6 July 1729
*[Carlo Vincenzo Ferreri](/source/Carlo_Vincenzo_Maria_Ferreri_Thaon) OP (1682–1742), also a Cardinal since 6 July 1729, bishop of Alexandria.
*[Neri Maria Corsini](/source/Neri_Maria_Corsini) (1685–1770), a Cardinal since 14 August 1730
*[Bartolomeo Massei](/source/Bartolomeo_Massei) (1663–1745), a Cardinal since 2 October 1730
*[Bartolomeo Ruspoli](/source/Bartolomeo_Ruspoli) (1697–1741), also a Cardinal since 2 October 1730
*[Vincenzo Bichi](/source/Vincenzo_Bichi) (1668–1750), a Cardinal since 24 September 1731
*[Giuseppe Firrao](/source/Giuseppe_Firrao_(1670%E2%80%931744)) (1670–1744), also a Cardinal since 24 September 1731, archbishop-bishop of Aversa.
*[Antonio Saverio Gentili](/source/Antonio_Saverio_Gentili) (1681–1753), also a Cardinal since 24 September 1731
*[Giovanni Antonio Guadagni](/source/Giovanni_Antonio_Guadagni), [OCD](/source/Discalced_Carmelites) (1674–1759), also a Cardinal since 24 September 1731, [bishop of Arezzo](/source/bishop_of_Arezzo).
*[Troiano Acquaviva d'Aragona](/source/Troiano_Acquaviva_d'Aragona) (1695–1747), a Cardinal since 1 October 1732
*[Agapito Mosca](/source/Agapito_Mosca) (1678–1760), also a Cardinal since 1 October 1732
*[Domenico Riviera](/source/Domenico_Riviera) (1671–1752), a Cardinal since 2 March 1733
*[Marcello Passari](/source/Marcello_Passari) (1678–1741), a Cardinal since 28 September 1733
*[Giovanni Battista Spinola](/source/Giovanni_Battista_Spinola) (1681–1752), a Cardinal since 28 September 1733
*[Pompeo Aldrovandi](/source/Pompeo_Aldrovandi) (1668–1752), a Cardinal since 24 March 1734
*[Pietro Maria Pieri](/source/Pietro_Maria_Pieri), [OSM](/source/Servites) (1676–1743), also a Cardinal since 24 March 1734
*[Giacomo Lanfredini](/source/Giacomo_Lanfredini) (1680–1741), also a Cardinal since 24 March 1734
*[Giuseppe Spinelli](/source/Giuseppe_Spinelli_(cardinal)) (1694–1763), a Cardinal since 17 January 1735, [archbishop of Naples](/source/archbishop_of_Naples).
*[Henri-Osvald de la Tour d'Auvergne de Bouillon](/source/Henri-Osvald_de_la_Tour_d'Auvergne_de_Bouillon) (1671–1747), a Cardinal since 20 December 1737, [archbishop of Vienne](/source/archbishop_of_Vienne)
*[Rainiero d'Elci](/source/Rainiero_d'Elci) (1670–1761), also a Cardinal since 20 December 1737, [archbishop of Ferrara](/source/archbishop_of_Ferrara).
*[Carlo Rezzonico](/source/Pope_Clement_XIII) the elder (1693–1769), also a Cardinal since 20 December 1737; later [Pope Clement XIII](/source/Pope_Clement_XIII)
*[Domenico Passionei](/source/Domenico_Silvio_Passionei) (1682–1761), a Cardinal since 23 June 1738
*[Silvio Valenti Gonzaga](/source/Silvio_Valenti_Gonzaga) (1690–1756), [legate](/source/Papal_legate) in Bologna, a Cardinal since 19 December 1738
*[Carlo Gaetano Stampa](/source/Carlo_Gaetano_Stampa) (1667–1742), a Cardinal since 23 February 1739, [archbishop of Milan](/source/archbishop_of_Milan)
*[Pierre-Guérin de Tencin](/source/Pierre-Gu%C3%A9rin_de_Tencin) (1680–1758), also a Cardinal since 23 February 1739, [archbishop of Embrun](/source/archbishop_of_Embrun)
*[Marcellino Corio](/source/Marcellino_Corio) (1664–1742), a Cardinal since 15 July 1739
*[Carlo Maria Sacripante](/source/Carlo_Maria_Sacripante) (1689–1758), a Cardinal since 30 September 1739
*[Prospero Colonna](/source/Prospero_Colonna_di_Sciarra) (1672–1743), also a Cardinal since 30 September 1739

===List of absentees===
Fourteen cardinals were absent throughout the conclave:<ref name=miranda/>
*[Lorenzo Altieri](/source/Lorenzo_Altieri) (1671–1741), a Cardinal since 13 November 1690, brother of Cardinal Giambattista Altieri (1673–1740), who died during the conclave.
*[Nuno da Cunha e Ataíde](/source/Nuno_da_Cunha_e_Ata%C3%ADde) (1664–1750), a Cardinal since 18 May 1712; travelled to Rome for the conclave of 1721, but arrived after it had elected [Pope Innocent XIII](/source/Pope_Innocent_XIII); did not participate in the conclaves of 1724, 1730, or 1740.<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1712.htm#Cunha CUNHA E ATAÍDE, Nuno da (1664–1750)]  at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Melchior de Polignac](/source/Melchior_de_Polignac) (1661–1742), a French Cardinal, diplomat, and [Neo-Latin](/source/Neo-Latin) poet
*[Benedetto Erba Odescalchi](/source/Benedetto_Erba_Odescalchi) (1679–1740), a Cardinal since 30 January 1713, [Archbishop of Milan](/source/Archbishop_of_Milan), he resigned the government of his archdiocese in 1736 due to an apoplexy, and died on 13 December 1740.<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1713.htm#Erba ERBA-ODESCALCHI, Benedetto (1679–1740)]  at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Giulio Alberoni](/source/Giulio_Alberoni) (1664–1752), an [Italian](/source/Italy) Cardinal and [statesman](/source/politician) in the service of [Philip V of Spain](/source/Philip_V_of_Spain)
*[Léon Potier de Gesvres](/source/L%C3%A9on_Potier_de_Gesvres) (1656–1744), a Cardinal since 29 November 1719 and archbishop of Bourges since 1694; he never went to Rome to receive the red hat and did not take part in any conclaves.<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1719.htm#Potier POTIER DE GESVRES, Léon (1656–1744)]  at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn](/source/Damian_Hugo_Philipp_von_Sch%C3%B6nborn), bishop of Speyer and Konstanz.
*[André-Hercule de Fleury](/source/Andr%C3%A9-Hercule_de_Fleury) (1653–1743), first counsellor of state of [Louis XV](/source/Louis_XV) of France
*[João da Mota e Silva](/source/Jo%C3%A3o_da_Mota_e_Silva) (1685–1747), a Cardinal since 26 November 1727; he never went to Rome; from 1736 he was principal counsellor to [King John V of Portugal](/source/John_V_of_Portugal).<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1727.htm#Mota MOTA E SILVA, João da (1685–1747)]  at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón](/source/Infante_Luis%2C_Count_of_Chinch%C3%B3n) (1727–1785), Infante of Spain; the youngest son of [Philip V of Spain](/source/Philip_V_of_Spain), and a Cardinal since 19 December 1735, when he was aged eight, he received the red biretta in Madrid in 1736; at the beginning of the conclave he was still only twelve and was in Spain.<ref>[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1735-ii.htm#Borbon BORBÓN Y FARNESIO, Luis Antonio Jaime de (1727–1785)]  at fiu.edu</ref>
*[Joseph Dominicus von Lamberg](/source/Joseph_Dominicus_von_Lamberg), bishop of Passau.
*[Tomás de Almeida](/source/Tom%C3%A1s_de_Almeida), patriarch of Lisbon.
*[Gaspar de Molina y Oviedo](/source/Gaspar_de_Molina_y_Oviedo), [OESA](/source/Order_of_Saint_Augustine), bishop of Málaga.
*[Jan Aleksander Lipski](/source/Jan_Aleksander_Lipski) (1690–1746), a Cardinal since 20 December 1737, bishop of Krákow; he never went to Rome to receive the red hat.

==Notes==
{{Noteslist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* Salvador Miranda, ''[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/conclave-xviii.htm#1758 List of participants of conclave, 1740]'' at fiu.edu
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718015910/http://www.saint-mike.org/library/papal_library/clementxii/biography.html Biography of Pope Clement XII]'', Papal Library
* [Ludwig von Pastor](/source/Ludwig_von_Pastor), ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20080307070542/http://www.openlibrary.org/details/thehistoryofthep36pastuoft History of the Popes, vol. XXXVI]'' (London, 1941)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [1740 conclave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1740_conclave) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1740_conclave?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.