Pope Benedict XI

Pope Blessed Benedict XI O.P.
Bishop of Rome
A 1352 fresco by Tommaso da Modena at the church of Saint Nicholas in Treviso
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	22 October 1303
Papacy ended	7 July 1304
Predecessor	Boniface VIII
Successor	Clement V
Previous post(s)	Master of the Order of Preachers (1296–1303) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina (1298–1300) Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia (1300–1303)
Orders
Ordination	1300
Consecration	March 1300
Created cardinal	4 December 1298 by Boniface VIII
Personal details
Born	Nicola Boccasini 1240 Treviso, Italy
Died	7 July 1304(1304-07-07) (aged 63–64) Perugia, Papal States
Motto	Illustra faciem Tuam super servum Tuum (Latin for 'Let Your Face shine upon Your servant')
Coat of arms
Sainthood
Feast day	7 July
Beatified	24 April 1736 Rome, Papal States by Pope Clement XII
Attributes	Dominican habit Papal vestments Papal tiara
Patronage	Treviso
Other popes named Benedict

Pope Benedict XI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XI; 1240 – 7 July 1304), born Nicola Boccasini (Niccolò of Treviso), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 October 1303 to his death, in 7 July 1304.^[1]

Boccasini entered the Order of Preachers in his native Treviso. He studied at Venice and Milan before becoming a teacher in Venice and in other Dominican houses. He served two terms as Provincial Prior of Lombardy, before being elected Master of the Order in 1296. Two years later he was made cardinal. He was appointed Bishop of Ostia, and served as papal legate first to Hungary, and then to France. He was with Pope Boniface VIII when Boniface was attacked by French forces at Anagni.

He was beatified with his cultus confirmed by Pope Clement XII in 1736. He is a patron of Treviso.