Discover

:''Not to be confused with Decet Romanum Pontificem''.

'''Romanum decet pontificem''' is a papal bull issued by Pope Innocent XII (1691—1700) on June 22, 1692, banning the office of Cardinal Nephew, limiting his successors to elevating only one cardinal relative,^[1] eliminating various ''sinecures'' traditionally reserved for cardinal-nephews, and capping the stipend or endowment the nephew of a pope could receive to 12,000 scudi.^[2][3][4]
''Romanum decet pontificem'' was later incorporated into the Code of Canon Law of 1917 in canons 240, 2; 1414, 4; and 1432, 1.^[5] In 1694, Innocent XII's series of reforms was capped off with an expensive campaign to eliminate the venality of offices while reimbursing their current holders.^[6]
However, following ''Romanun decet pontificem'', only three of the eight popes of the 18th century did not make a nephew or brother cardinal.^[7]

Contents

References

References

1. Salvator, Miranda. 1998. "Consistory of September 1, 1681 (I)."
2. Standen, Edith A. 1981. "Tapestries for a Cardinal-Nephew: A Roman Set Illustrating Tasso's "Gerusalemme Liberata." ''Metropolitan Museum Journal''. '16': 147-164.
3. Chadwick, Owen. 1981. ''The Popes and European Revolution''. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198269196. p. 305.
4. Ed. Philippe Levillain. 2002. "Nepotism." ''The Papacy: An Encyclopedia''. Routledge. ISBN 0415922283. p. 1032.
5. Miranda, Salvator. 1998. "Guide to documents and events (76-2005)."
6. Levillain, 2002, p. 468.
7. Chadwick, 1981, p. 304.