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Papal conclave
May–July 1758
Dates and location
15 May – 6 July 1758
Apostolic Palace, Papal States
Key officials
DeanRainiero d'Elci
Sub-deanGiovanni Antonio Guadagni
CamerlengoHenry Benedict Stuart
ProtopriestThomas-Philipp d'Alcase
ProtodeaconAlessandro Albani
Election
VetoedCarlo Cavalchini
Elected pope
Carlo di Rezzonico
Name taken: Clement XIII
← 1740
1769 →

The 1758 papal conclave (15 May – 6 July) was convoked after the death of Pope Benedict XIV on 3 May 1758 and ended with the election of Cardinal Carlo di Rezzonico, who took the name Clement XIII.

Divisions among the cardinals

[edit]

The College of Cardinals was divided into several factions, which initially formed two blocs:[1]

Many cardinals created by Benedict XIV (called "Juniors") did not belong to any faction, but majority of them aligned themselves with "Union of Crowns", particularly with Spanish protector Portocarrero.

During the conclave, however, these two groups mixed with each other. Near the end of the conclave, on the one side there was the Imperial faction together with zelanti, and on the other side Anziani, together with the Bourbon faction (defending the interests of the Bourbon crowns).

Because of the absence of the political representatives of the main Catholic courts the ambassadors of France and the Empire asked the electors for delay voting until their arrival. This demand was rejected before the conclave began.

Beginning and early candidates

[edit]

Only twenty-seven cardinals entered the conclave on May 15.[3] Eighteen more cardinals arrived in Rome by June 29. In the meantime, however, Cardinal Bardi had to leave the conclave due to illness.

No serious candidates were proposed in the early ballots. In the first scrutiny on May 16 the greatest number of votes (eight in the ballot and three more in the accessus) were received Dean of the College of Cardinals Rainiero d'Elci, who was 88 years old.[4] It does not mean, however, that no efforts to obtain the support for the candidates were made by the leaders present in the conclave. In particular Corsini worked vigorously for the election of Giuseppe Spinelli, leader of the zelanti, but met with the strong opposition of Orsini, Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Naples. The protector of Spain, Portocarrero, also rejected Spinelli, and was able to join many of the "Juniors" to his party. Finally, the candidature of Spinelli had to be withdrawn.[5]

The first candidate with serious chances for election was Alberico Archinto, Secretary of State and Vice-Chancellor of the deceased pope. He had a strong support both among zelanti and some of the "Crown-Cardinals", but the faction of Corsini did not agree to support him and produced as counter-candidate Marcello Crescenzi. Eventually, as had occurred many times before and later, the candidatures of Archinto and Crescenzi eliminated each other.[5]

Arrival of the French cardinals

[edit]

Gradually, the representatives of royal courts arrived in Rome with instructions from their monarchs. On June 4 entered Cardinal Luynes with the instructions of Louis XV of France. Five days later he officially announced the nomination of Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra to the post of Protector of France.[6] But the Imperial Cardinal von Rodt was still awaited.

During the next days the new candidate Carlo Alberto Guidobono Cavalchini, received still more votes, promoted by Corsini and Portocarrero working together. On June 19 he obtained twenty-one votes, on June 21 twenty-six, and in the evening of June 22 as many as twenty-eight out of forty-three, which meant that he was only one vote short of being elected. But after that ballot Cardinal Luynes informed the Dean of the Sacred College Rainiero d’Elci of the official veto of the King of France against Cavalchini. France opposed Cavalchini because of his support of the beatification of Robert Bellarmine and in the matters connected with the anti-Jansenist bull Unigenitus.[7] The exclusion met with strong protests, but Cavalchini himself said, "It is a manifest proof that God deems me unworthy to fill the functions of his vicar upon earth".[8]

After the collapse of Cavalchini's candidacy, Portocarrero advanced as a new candidate Paolucci, but he was rejected by French, who – together with the faction of Corsini, voted again for Crescenzi.[9]

Arrival of Cardinal von Rodt

[edit]

The arrival of Cardinal von Rodt on June 29 with the instructions of the Imperial Court was the turning point of the conclave. He initially tried to achieve an agreement with the French, but having failed, he turned toward the zelanti faction. Direct negotiations between von Rodt and Spinelli resulted in the proposal for election of the Venetian Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico, bishop of Padua. On July 6 in the morning the bishop of Padua received eight votes in the ballot and four additional in the accessus. Portocarrero, Albani and the French cardinals initially opposed, but finally agreed for him. After the consultations of French Cardinals with ambassador Laon it became clear that Rezzonico would be elected to the Papacy.[10]

Election of Pope Clement XIII

[edit]

On July 6 in the evening Carlo Rezzonico was elected Pope, receiving thirty-one votes out of forty-four, one more than the required majority of two-thirds. The remaining thirteen (including his own) fell to Cardinal Dean Rainiero d'Elci.[8] Rezzonico accepted his election and took the name of Clement XIII, in honour of Pope Clement XII, who had elevated him to the cardinalate in 1737.[11] He was crowned on July 16 in the loggia of the patriarchal Vatican Basilica by protodeacon Alessandro Albani.[12]

List of cardinal electors

[edit]

List of participants

[edit]

Pope Benedict XIV died on 3 May 1758. Forty-five out of fifty-five cardinals participated in the subsequent conclave. Only forty-four, however, voted in the final ballot, because Cardinal Bardi left the conclave because of illness on June 24:[13]

Thirty five electors were created by Benedict XIV, eight by Clement XII, one by Benedict XIII (Borghese) and Innocent XIII (A. Albani).

List of absentees

[edit]

Ten cardinals were entirely absent from this conclave:[13]

All the absentees were created by Benedict XIV; except d'Alsace, who was created by Clement XI; and Lamberg, who was appointed by Clement XII.

Notes

[edit]

Sources

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

1758 conclave

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The 1758 papal conclave was the assembly of the College of Cardinals to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XIV following his death on 3 May 1758, culminating in the selection of Venetian Cardinal Carlo della Torre Rezzonico, who assumed the name Clement XIII, on 6 July after 53 days of scrutiny. Of the 55 living cardinals, 45 participated, though attendance fluctuated due to illnesses, late arrivals, and one departure, with 43 ultimately voting in the final ballot amid intense factional maneuvering. The conclave's protracted duration stemmed from deep divisions within the Sacred College, exacerbated by external pressures from Catholic monarchies—particularly the Bourbon powers of France, Spain, and Portugal—seeking a pontiff amenable to suppressing the Society of Jesus, whose global influence they viewed as a threat to royal authority. Zelanti cardinals, staunch defenders of papal independence and the Jesuits led by figures like Cardinal Spinelli, clashed with reformist factions backed by Naples and France, leading to the rare invocation of the French exclusiva veto against pro-Jesuit candidate Cardinal Cavalchini on 21 June. Delays were further compounded by the tardy arrival of key electors, including French and Imperial cardinals, and the introduction of Habsburg instructions via Cardinal von Rodt on 29 June, which shifted negotiations toward compromise candidates. Rezzonico's election represented a consensus choice: a moderate, aristocratic Venetian with ties to the curia but no strong factional allegiance, perceived as unlikely to aggressively challenge Jesuit privileges or Bourbon demands, though his subsequent pontificate would test those expectations amid escalating suppression campaigns. This conclave underscored the era's tensions between ultramontane papal autonomy and absolutist state interference, foreshadowing the Jesuits' formal suppression in 1773 under Clement's successor.

Historical Context

Death of Benedict XIV and Interregnum

Pope Benedict XIV, born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, died on 3 May 1758 at the age of 83 in Rome. His death resulted from a fever that exacerbated long-standing asthma and kidney disease, compounded by difficulties in urination and a history of gout. The interregnum, or sede vacante, commenced immediately upon his death and extended until the election of his successor on 6 July 1758, lasting 65 days. During this period, the governance of the Holy See was administered by the College of Cardinals under the direction of the Camerlengo, Girolamo Cardinal Colonna di Sciarra, who had held the office since 20 September 1756. Colonna, a member of the prominent Colonna family and Grand Prior in Rome of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, managed temporal affairs, while major ecclesiastical decisions were suspended per canon law. The traditional novendiales—nine days of mourning rites, Masses, and funeral observances—were observed, though the ninth day was omitted as it fell on Pentecost Sunday, which took liturgical precedence. Benedict XIV's funeral oration was delivered by Msgr. Tommaso Antonio Emaldi, a professor of canon law at the Sapienza University and canon of the Lateran Basilica, who also served as Secretary of Latin Briefs. The Governor of the Conclave, Monsignor Marcantonio Colonna (Prefect of the Apostolic Palaces and a Roman nobleman), oversaw preparations for the upcoming election, alongside the Secretary of the Sacred College, Leonardo Antonelli of Senigaglia, and various magistri ceremoniarum. This interregnum occurred amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly over the Society of Jesus, with Bourbon monarchs in Portugal, Spain, and France pressuring the papacy for reforms against perceived Jesuit interference in state affairs. In the preceding months, Benedict XIV had appointed Cardinal Francisco de Saldanha da Gama as a visitor to reform the Jesuits in Portuguese territories, reflecting these strains that would influence the subsequent conclave. The period concluded with the conclave's opening on 15 May 1758, following a Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated by the Dean of the College, Raniero Cardinal d'Elci.

Geopolitical Pressures on the Papacy

The 1758 conclave unfolded amid the escalating Seven Years' War (1756–1763), a global conflict that pitted an alliance of Catholic powers—France, the Habsburg Empire, and Spain—against Protestant-led coalitions including Prussia and Great Britain, thereby complicating the Papacy's efforts to maintain ecclesiastical neutrality while preserving relations with traditional Catholic monarchs. The war disrupted travel and diplomacy, delaying the arrival of French cardinals and limiting their influence in early ballots, while Prussian advances into Habsburg territories, such as the invasion of Moravia noted during the conclave period, underscored the vulnerability of Catholic Europe and heightened demands for a pope adept at balancing secular alliances without compromising spiritual authority. Regalist policies advanced by absolutist rulers in Portugal, Spain, and France exerted mounting pressure on the Papacy to curb the Society of Jesus, viewed by these monarchs as a transnational entity undermining state sovereignty through its educational, missionary, and economic activities. In Portugal, the Marquis of Pombal's hostility toward the Jesuits had already prompted Benedict XIV to issue a brief on April 1, 1758—just weeks before his death—authorizing Cardinal Saldanha to probe allegations against the order in the colonies, reflecting pre-conclave tensions that crown-cardinals from Iberian powers leveraged to oppose pro-Jesuit candidates. Similar sentiments in France under Minister Choiseul and in Spain foreshadowed broader campaigns for Jesuit reform or suppression, framing the election as a test of whether the next pope would prioritize monarchical prerogatives over the Society's defense. The Habsburg Empire, led by the devoutly Catholic Maria Theresa, countered with support for candidates protective of traditional papal independence and the Jesuits, whose role in countering Enlightenment influences aligned with Viennese interests; this imperial backing, channeled through figures like Cardinal von Rodt, clashed with Bourbon demands for veto power via the informal jus exclusivae, prolonging negotiations over frontrunners like Cardinals Passionei and Cavalchini. These divergent geopolitical imperatives—war-time cohesion versus internal church reforms—ultimately favored Carlo Rezzonico's compromise candidacy, whose pro-Jesuit leanings prevailed despite the risks of alienating reformist courts.

Factions and Divisions Among Cardinals

Zelanti and Pro-Jesuit Groups

The Zelanti faction comprised conservative curial cardinals, predominantly Italian, who prioritized the Church's independence from secular monarchs and resisted encroachments by Catholic powers such as the Bourbon courts of France, Spain, Portugal, and Naples. This group, emphasizing ecclesiastical autonomy and traditional papal authority, opposed reforms that would subordinate religious matters to state interests, including efforts to limit or suppress the Society of Jesus amid growing anti-Jesuit campaigns in Europe. Led by Giuseppe Spinelli, Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina, the Zelanti sought candidates unswayed by foreign vetoes or diplomatic pressures, promoting Spinelli himself early in the conclave despite his eventual exclusion by Neapolitan opposition. Aligned closely with the Zelanti were pro-Jesuit elements within the College of Cardinals, who defended the order's global missions, educational role, and influence against monarchial accusations of political meddling. Key figures included Carlo Alberto Guidobono Cavalchini, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere, whose pro-Jesuit sympathies—evident in his support for the canonization of Jesuit theologian Robert Bellarmine—propelled him to 21 votes on June 19, 1758, rising to 26 on June 21 before a French veto that day explicitly cited his Jesuit favoritism as disqualifying. Fortunato Tamburini, Cardinal-Priest of San Callisto and nephew of former Jesuit Superior General Michelangelo Tamburini, emerged as a short-lived candidate on May 17, 1758, symbolizing defiance against Bourbon anti-Jesuit initiatives led by figures like Portugal's Marquis de Pombal. Luigi Maria Torregiani, a Florentine cardinal, further bolstered this stance through unwavering advocacy for the Jesuits, later appointed Secretary of State by the elected pope. These groups' insistence on papal resistance to crown interference prolonged the conclave, which began on May 15, 1758, with 27 of 55 cardinals initially present, by rejecting compromise figures amenable to secular demands. Their efforts countered the numerical strength of crown-cardinals (approximately 15-20 aligned with Bourbon interests) and contributed to the deadlock, fostering scrutiny ballots that tested veto thresholds and alliances. Ultimately, the Zelanti and pro-Jesuit bloc's pressure facilitated the compromise election of Carlo Rezzonico as Clement XIII on July 6, 1758, after 53 days and over 100 ballots; Rezzonico, while not a Zelanti hardliner, appointed pro-Jesuit advisors like Torregiani and resisted early suppression demands, reflecting the faction's partial success in upholding Jesuit protections.

Crown Cardinals and Secular Influences

The Bourbon monarchies of France, Spain, and Portugal exerted substantial influence through their crown cardinals, who sought a pope amenable to suppressing the Society of Jesus amid rising state-Jesuit tensions. These powers, united by the Family Compact, viewed the Jesuits as obstacles to royal absolutism, with Portugal's Marquis de Pombal leading anti-Jesuit campaigns that included the suspension of Jesuit preaching and confessions in Lisbon by June 7, 1758. French crown cardinals Paul d'Albert de Luynes, Archbishop of Sens, and Etienne-René Potier de Gesvres, Bishop of Beauvais, represented Louis XV's interests, coordinating with Spanish counterparts to block pro-Jesuit candidates. Spanish crown cardinals, including Joaquín Fernández Portocarrero Mendoza, Bishop of Sabina, aligned with Bourbon objectives by opposing Giuseppe Spinelli, a Zelanti leader, and initially supporting Carlo Alberto Cavalchini before broader vetoes shifted dynamics. Portugal's Francisco de Saldanha da Gama, appointed by King Joseph I to reform Jesuit operations on April 1, 1758, was absent but amplified Pombal's pressure for papal intervention against the order. These cardinals formed a bloc that wielded the jus exclusivae, culminating in France's veto of Cavalchini— who garnered 26 votes on June 21, 1758—due to his perceived Jesuit sympathies tied to Bellarmine's canonization advocacy. Countering Bourbon dominance, the Habsburg Holy Roman Empire advanced its agenda via Cardinal Franz Konrad Casimir von Rodt, Bishop of Konstanz, who entered the conclave on June 29, 1758, bearing instructions from Maria Theresa to favor candidates like Domenico Passionei or Alberico Archinto, ultimately endorsing Carlo Rezzonico as a compromise. This imperial intervention, reflecting Austrian desires for a papacy balancing against Bourbon expansionism, contributed to the conclave's prolongation to 53 days, as secular vetoes and negotiations forestalled factional victories. The crown cardinals' maneuvers underscored causal tensions between ecclesiastical autonomy and monarchical prerogatives, with Bourbon anti-Jesuit secularism clashing against curial defenses of the order, yet yielding Rezzonico's election on July 6, 1758, with 31 votes out of 43.

Other Factions and Independent Voices

In addition to the Zelanti and crown-cardinal blocs, the conclave featured the "Elders" (Anziani), a faction of approximately 7-8 cardinals led by Cardinal Neri Corsini, who had served under Pope Clement XII and acted as Protector of Portugal. This group opposed excessive national interference, aligning selectively with the Zelanti on issues of papal authority while canvassing for conservative candidates such as Cardinal Giuseppe Spinelli, despite objections from the King of Naples. Their resistance to the "Union of the Crowns" highlighted a preference for curial independence, though they yielded influence as foreign vetoes mounted. A looser assembly known as the "Juniors" comprised cardinals elevated by Benedict XIV, lacking a unified leader but initially courted by figures like Cardinal Joaquín Fernando Portocarrero to exclude rivals; efforts to consolidate them behind candidates such as Cavalchini or Archinto faltered amid internal divisions and national pressures. Venetian cardinals, including Giovanni Carlo Bandiera Delfino and the eventual electee Carlo Rezzonico, formed a distinct subgroup allied with French interests, promoting Rezzonico as a compromise who garnered 31 votes on July 6, 1758. Independent voices exerted pivotal mediation: Cardinal Alessandro Albani, as Imperial Protector for Austria, delayed scrutinies to await arriving national cardinals and brokered across factions; Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra, appointed French Protector on June 9, guided arriving French electors like Luynes due to his experience; and Portocarrero, despite Spanish ties, rallied support for Cavalchini before a French exclusion. These figures navigated the stalemate by leveraging personal networks, underscoring how individual agency amid factional deadlock facilitated Rezzonico's ascent.

Opening of the Conclave

Initial Procedures and Attendance

The 1758 papal conclave commenced on May 15, the day after Pentecost Sunday, following the death of Pope Benedict XIV on May 3. The opening rituals included the celebration of the Mass of the Holy Spirit, presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Rainiero d'Elci, Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia. This was followed by the Oratio pro pontifice eligendo, delivered by Msgr. Giovanni Battista Bortoli, titular Archbishop of Nazianzus. These ceremonies adhered to longstanding traditions aimed at invoking divine guidance for the election, with the first scrutiny ballot occurring the following day, May 16. Of the 55 cardinals eligible to participate, only 27 entered the conclave on the opening day. Five cardinals present in Rome at the time abstained due to illness, while Cardinal Mesmer never joined. This low initial attendance, representing less than half of the electors, rendered an authoritative election infeasible at the outset and contributed to the conclave's prolongation as participants awaited reinforcements, including French and imperial representatives. Over time, four of the ill cardinals entered on June 29 alongside Cardinal von Rodt, though one cardinal, de' Bardi, withdrew due to health issues, with participation stabilizing at 44 electors in later phases.

Early Candidates and First Ballots

The 1758 papal conclave opened on May 15 with limited attendance of 27 cardinals out of 55 eligible electors, insufficient for a canonical election requiring 30 votes, as many awaited arrivals from distant European courts. This initial phase featured tactical maneuvers among factions, including the pro-Jesuit Zelanti and Bourbon-aligned groups seeking leverage against Habsburg interests. Early canvassing centered on figures like Giuseppe Spinelli, Zelanti leader supported by Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini, though Spinelli's prior diplomatic clashes with Naples rendered him vulnerable to external vetoes from Bourbon monarchies. The first scrutiny occurred on May 16, yielding 11 votes for Rainiero d’Elci, Dean of the Sacred College at age 88 and thus an improbable long-term pontiff; this tally reflected a Corsini-led demonstration of factional cohesion rather than genuine momentum for d’Elci's election. No other candidate garnered substantial support in this ballot, underscoring the procedural focus on establishing baselines amid incomplete participation. On May 17, Corsini pivoted to promote Fortunato Tamburini, a move interpreted as a probe to elicit reactions or provoke a Bourbon veto, though Tamburini secured negligible votes and his candidacy dissolved rapidly. Neapolitan suggestions via Minister Bernardo Tanucci included Carlo Maria Sacripante, Marcello Crescenzi, Girolamo Colonna, Prospero Colonna, and Francesco Scipione Maria Borghese as potentially amenable figures, but these did not translate to early ballot strength, highlighting pre-scrutiny negotiations over immediate voting. Carlo Alberto Cavalchini emerged in preliminary discussions as a Bourbon-favored option due to his Jesuit sympathies, yet his traction built gradually beyond the first days, with initial ballots prioritizing factional signaling over consensus. These opening ballots revealed deep divisions, setting the stage for extended deliberations as additional cardinals arrived.

Key External Influences

Arrival of French Cardinals

The French ambassador to Rome, Jean-François-Joseph de Rochechouart, insisted that the conclave postpone decisive proceedings until the arrival of key French cardinals, reflecting Bourbon France's determination to assert influence amid rival imperial and Jesuit interests. This delay was compounded by logistical challenges, as only two French cardinals—Paul d'Albert de Luynes, Archbishop of Sens, and Étienne-René Potier de Gesvres, Bishop of Beauvais—were positioned to travel promptly to Rome following Benedict XIV's death on May 3, 1758. Neither was fluent in Italian nor deeply versed in Roman curial customs, rendering them reliant on diplomatic guidance yet vital for executing French policy. The conclave opened on May 15, 1758, with just 27 of 55 eligible cardinals present, excluding the anticipated French arrivals and others delayed by illness or distance. De Luynes and de Gesvres entered subsequent to this initial session, bolstering the French contingent and enabling alignment with Bourbon objectives against pro-Jesuit candidates. Their participation, alongside the absence of fellow Frenchman Nicolas de Saulx-Tavannes due to unspecified reasons, underscored France's selective mobilization, prioritizing strategic actors over numerical parity. This influx shifted factional dynamics, as the growing electorate—reaching 45 by the election—facilitated vetoes and negotiations that prolonged the conclave until July 6.

Arrival of Cardinal von Rodt and Imperial Interests

Cardinal Franz Konrad Casimir von Rodt, Bishop of Konstanz and a figure aligned with Habsburg interests, arrived in Rome on June 27, 1758, entering the ongoing conclave two days later on June 29. His participation brought the number of electors to 44, including four others who had been absent due to illness, at a time when the assembly required 30 votes for a canonical election. As the designated imperial ambassador, von Rodt's delayed entry—anticipated as early as June 10—had prolonged negotiations, with factions led by Cardinal Alessandro Albani (managing imperial affairs in his absence) and French diplomats insisting on awaiting both his arrival and that of additional French cardinals. Von Rodt carried explicit instructions from Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa, dated May 22 and elaborated on June 2, outlining acceptable papal candidates such as Cardinals Borghese, Cavalchini, Oddi, Lante, Stoppani, and Doria, while authorizing a potential veto, particularly against French-aligned figures. These directives reflected Vienna's strategic aims to counter Bourbon influence from France, Spain, and Naples, amid improved Franco-Austrian relations that initially favored candidates like Cardinal Archinto of Milan. The imperial faction, previously guided by Albani, sought to preserve a de facto exclusiva (exclusion right), prioritizing a pope amenable to Habsburg ecclesiastical policies and resistant to Jesuit suppression pressures from southern European courts. His arrival reinvigorated imperial leverage during a deadlock, where earlier vetoes—such as France's against Cavalchini on June 21—had stalled progress. Von Rodt is noted for proposing Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico as a compromise, shifting momentum toward a neutral figure unaligned with dominant foreign powers. This intervention facilitated Rezzonico's rise, culminating in 22 votes on July 4 and election with 31 out of 43 on July 6, balancing imperial objectives against Bourbon opposition and Zelanti pro-Jesuit sentiments. Vienna's trust in von Rodt stemmed from distrust of the apostolic nuncio, underscoring Austria's direct oversight of conclave dynamics to safeguard its interests in papal appointments.

Course of the Prolonged Election

Stalemate and Scrutinies

The 1758 conclave devolved into a protracted stalemate, lasting 53 days from May 15 to July 6, as factional divisions prevented any candidate from achieving the requisite two-thirds majority—approximately 30 votes out of the 44 participating cardinals. Scrutinies, the secret ballot sessions, commenced on May 16 with one per day initially, escalating to two daily thereafter to hasten resolution, yet votes remained fragmented among competing figures favored by rival groups. The process underscored the influence of external secular powers, with crown cardinals exerting pressure through informal vetos (exclusiva) to block undesired candidates, prioritizing geopolitical aims over ecclesiastical unity. Early scrutinies highlighted the impasse: in the inaugural ballot on May 16, Cardinal Rainiero d'Elci, an Italian curialist, secured only 11 votes amid dispersed support, reflecting initial caution among the 27 cardinals present at the outset. Support coalesced around Venetian and Roman candidates protective of papal autonomy, but Bourbon-aligned cardinals—representing France, Spain, and Naples—resisted, viewing them as insufficiently amenable to reforms targeting the Jesuits, whose global influence clashed with absolutist monarchies amid the Seven Years' War. By mid-June, as additional cardinals arrived, ballots intensified; Cardinal Carlo Alberto Cavalchini emerged prominently, receiving 21 votes on June 19 and peaking at 26 on June 21, nearing but failing the threshold. That same day, France invoked its exclusiva against Cavalchini, citing his advocacy for Jesuit interests, including the canonization of Robert Bellarmine, which abruptly redirected votes and prolonged the deadlock. The stalemate's core lay in irreconcilable factions: the Zelanti, emphasizing strict doctrinal orthodoxy and Jesuit defense, clashed with Bourbon crown cardinals demanding concessions to suppress the Society of Jesus; the Imperial faction, bolstering Habsburg leverage, further splintered allegiances. No single bloc commanded a decisive edge, despite the anti-Jesuit powers holding a numerical plurality, as Italian cardinals guarded against foreign dictation, leading to scrutinized ballots where leading candidates hovered in the 20s without breakthrough. Diaries from participants reveal exhaustive negotiations in partitioned cells (celle), with accommodations strained by summer heat and dwindling supplies, yet ideological rigidity—rooted in causal tensions between papal sovereignty and state encroachments—sustained the impasse until compromise candidates gained traction.

Negotiations and Shifts in Support

The prolonged stalemate in the 1758 conclave, lasting from May 15 to July 6, prompted intense behind-the-scenes negotiations among the principal factions, centered on the contentious issue of the Society of Jesus. The Bourbon powers—Spain, France, Naples, and Portugal—deployed their influence through approximately 20 cardinals to advocate for candidates amenable to suppressing the Jesuits, reflecting their secular monarchs' grievances against the order's autonomy and perceived interference in state affairs. In opposition, the Zelanti faction, comprising conservative Italian and pro-Jesuit cardinals, resisted these demands, viewing them as encroachments on papal authority and ecclesiastical independence. Cardinal Franz von Rodt, representing Austrian imperial interests and entering the conclave on June 29, initially sought accommodation with the French Bourbon contingent to secure a balanced outcome favorable to Maria Theresa's diplomatic goals, including stability amid the Seven Years' War. Failing to bridge the divide, von Rodt pivoted toward alliance with the Zelanti, leveraging his five supporting votes to veto Bourbon frontrunners like Cardinals Domenico Passionei or Ludovico Maria Torrigiani, thereby prolonging the deadlock and forcing compromise discussions. This shift underscored the conclave's vulnerability to external crown pressures, with von Rodt's maneuvers highlighting the imperial faction's role as a swing force amid the 43 participating electors. As scrutinies yielded no two-thirds majority—requiring at least 29 votes—discreet accommodations emerged in late June, with factions exploring neutral figures untainted by extreme positions on the Jesuits. Support gradually coalesced around Venetian Cardinal Carlo della Torre Rezzonico, aged 64, whose family ties to the Corsini pope (Clement XII) and perceived moderation made him palatable to Bourbons wary of Zelanti zealotry, while not alienating pro-Jesuit hardliners. Rezzonico's votes rose from marginal tallies in early ballots to a decisive 31 on the afternoon of July 6, 1758, achieving canonical election without formal acclamation, as rival groups conceded to avert further exhaustion after 53 days of confinement.

Election of Clement XIII

Final Ballots and Consensus

As the conclave entered its final phase in early July 1758, with 44 cardinal electors participating, the required canonical majority stood at 30 votes. On July 4, Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico, Bishop of Padua, emerged as a leading candidate, securing 22 votes in that day's balloting, a development driven by the advocacy of Cardinal Franz Konrad Casimir von Rodt and his Imperial allies, who had arrived in Rome on June 29 bearing instructions from Vienna to seek a pontiff amenable to Habsburg interests. The decisive shift toward consensus crystallized two days later, on July 6, following informal negotiations that positioned Rezzonico as a compromise figure unaligned with the Bourbon powers—whose veto (exclusiva) had earlier eliminated rival Carlo Alberto Cavalchini on June 21—or the more polarized Imperial favorites. In the afternoon scrutiny of July 6, Rezzonico received 31 votes out of 43 cast (one cardinal absent due to illness), exceeding the threshold and securing his unanimous acclamation thereafter. This outcome reflected a pragmatic realignment among factions: the Imperial group, led by figures like Alessandro Albani, transferred support from earlier candidates to Rezzonico, while anti-Jesuit hardliners and Venetian sympathizers, viewing him as moderately conservative and neutral on contentious issues like the Society of Jesus, withheld objections. The election, proclaimed at 22:45 by Protodeacon Cardinal Alessandro Albani from the Vatican Basilica's balcony, ended the 53-day conclave without further division, underscoring the role of external diplomatic pressures and internal accommodations in forging agreement.

Acceptance, Coronation, and Immediate Aftermath

Upon his election on the afternoon of July 6, 1758, Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico accepted the papal office, choosing the name Clement XIII in homage to his patron, Pope Clement XII, who had elevated him to the cardinalate in 1737. He submitted reluctantly, reportedly with tears, foreseeing the political tempests ahead, including mounting pressures against the Society of Jesus from European monarchs. The election was proclaimed that evening at 22:45 from the external balcony of St. Peter's Basilica by Protodeacon Cardinal Alessandro Albani, drawing crowds to acclaim the new pontiff. Clement XIII was crowned on July 16, 1758, in St. Peter's Basilica by Cardinal Albani, marking the formal commencement of his pontificate amid traditional ceremonies of vesting and procession. He subsequently took solemn possession of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the pope's cathedral, on November 13, 1758, affirming his authority over the diocese of Rome. In the immediate aftermath, Clement XIII prioritized administrative stability by appointing Cardinal Ludovico Maria Archinto as Secretary of State, though Archinto died on September 30, 1758, and was replaced by the Jesuit sympathizer Cardinal Luigi Maria Torrigiani. Additional roles included naming Cardinal Filippo Carlo Fabrizi as pro-Datary and his nephew, Monsignor Carlo Rezzonico, as Secretary of Memorials. Early challenges emerged from Portugal, where, following an assassination attempt on King Joseph I on September 3, 1758, Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo accused the Jesuits of conspiracy, initiating their expulsion and shipment to Civitavecchia without possessions as a derisive "gift" to the pope; Clement XIII received the exiles hospitably and provided for them despite severed diplomatic ties by 1760. These events foreshadowed broader conflicts over the Jesuits that defined his reign.

Participants and Absences

List of Cardinal Electors Present

Forty-five cardinals participated in the 1758 conclave out of fifty-five living members of the college, with arrivals increasing the number from an initial twenty-seven on the opening day of May 15. Cardinal Girolamo de' Bardi originally joined but departed on June 24 due to illness, leaving forty-four electors for the concluding ballots on July 6. The participants encompassed a mix of curial officials, Italian aristocrats, and envoys aligned with European monarchies, including delayed French contingents and the Imperial representative Cardinal Joseph Nikolaus von Rodt, whose arrival on June 8 influenced factional negotiations. Prominent among the electors were Cardinal-Bishop Raniero d'Elci, dean of the college and presiding officer; Cardinal-Bishop Giovanni Antonio Guadagni, O.C.D., of Frascati; and Cardinal-Bishop Francesco Scipione Maria Borghese of Sabina. The full roster, documented in archival motu proprio and contemporary records, reflects the college's composition under Benedict XIV, with heavy Italian dominance (over 80% of participants) and limited non-European representation.

Absentees and Their Reasons

Of the 55 cardinals eligible to participate as electors, 10 did not attend the 1758 conclave at all, primarily due to their postings in distant dioceses or personal circumstances that prevented travel to Rome amid the era's logistical challenges. These absences reflected the geographical spread of the College of Cardinals, with several serving in Spain, Portugal, Germany, and the Low Countries, where journeys could take weeks or months by carriage or sea. The non-participants included:
  • Thomas Philippe Wallrad d'Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace-Boussu de Chimay, archbishop of Mechelen (Malines), Belgium, absent due to his remote posting.
  • Joseph Dominicus von Lamberg, bishop of Passau, Germany, unable to travel from central Europe.
  • Johannes Theodor von Bayern, bishop of Liège, Belgium, and administrator of Freising and Regensburg, Germany, deterred by distance and administrative duties.
  • Álvaro Eugenio Mendoza Caamaño y Sotomayor, patriarch of the West Indies (in Spain), absent owing to his transatlantic responsibilities and location in Seville.
  • Giovanni Battista Mesmer, who was in Rome but barred from entry by severe illness and advanced age (87 years), rendering him incapacitated.
  • José Manoel da Câmara, patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, absent due to his position in Portugal; he died on July 9, 1758, three days after the conclave's conclusion.
  • Luis Antonio Fernández de Córdoba Spínola, archbishop of Toledo, Spain, unable to reach Rome from the Iberian Peninsula.
  • Nicholas de Saulx-Tavannes, archbishop of Rouen, France, absent likely due to regional duties in northern France.
  • Francisco de Solís Folch de Cardona, archbishop of Seville, Spain, prevented by distance from southern Spain.
  • Francisco de Saldanha da Gama, posted in Portugal, absent for similar travel reasons.
Additionally, among those initially present in Rome, five cardinals delayed entry due to illness on the opening day of May 15, 1758, though four eventually joined on June 29; only Mesmer remained excluded throughout. Cardinal Girolamo de' Bardi departed on June 24 due to health issues, reducing the active electors temporarily to 44 by the conclave's later stages. No evidence indicates political motivations or deliberate boycotts among the absentees, with travel and health as the predominant factors documented in contemporary records.

Legacy and Historical Assessments

Impact on Church-State Relations

The 1758 conclave's protracted duration, spanning from May 15 to July 6, reflected the intensifying sway of Catholic monarchies over papal elections, with cardinals polarized into factions proxying state agendas on ecclesiastical independence and the Society of Jesus. Austrian-backed cardinals supported candidates upholding traditional papal prerogatives, while Bourbon powers—France, Spain, and Portugal—pressured for a pontiff willing to curb Jesuit influence amid growing regalist claims of oversight over church orders. This alignment transformed the conclave into a diplomatic arena, where vetoes and negotiations mirrored interstate rivalries rather than purely spiritual deliberations, eroding the College of Cardinals' insulation from secular interference. Clement XIII's election as a Venetian moderate failed to reconcile these divides, instead precipitating direct confrontations as he resisted demands for Jesuit suppression. Portugal expelled the order, citing alleged political intrigue, followed by France's parliamentary decrees and Spain's royal expulsion, each accompanied by severed diplomatic ties and threats to papal authority. Clement's briefs defending Jesuit rights provoked retaliatory measures, including Portugal's imprisonment of the papal nuncio and asset seizures, while Bourbon ambassadors issued ultimatums framing suppression as a precondition for normalized relations. These episodes exemplified absolutist monarchs' prioritization of state control over religious orders, challenging the papacy's doctrinal supremacy. The resulting strains foreshadowed broader erosions in church-state equilibrium, as monarchs leveraged economic leverage—such as withholding subsidies—and military posturing to compel compliance, culminating in Clement's reported distress from a 1768-1769 ambassadorial demand for Jesuit dissolution before his February 2, 1769, death. This dynamic intensified Gallican and Febronian tendencies, subordinating ecclesiastical governance to royal patronage and setting precedents for the 1773 bull Dominus ac Redemptor, which universally dissolved the Jesuits under duress from unified Catholic crowns.

Evaluations of the Conclave's Dynamics

The 1758 conclave exemplified the intricate interplay of internal cardinal factions and external secular pressures that characterized 18th-century papal elections. Primary divisions pitted the Zelanti faction, advocating for ecclesiastical independence and Jesuit defense under leaders like Cardinal Giuseppe Spinelli, against the Bourbon alliance of France, Spain, and Naples, which sought a pope amenable to suppressing the Society of Jesus amid growing state persecutions, particularly in Portugal under the Marquis de Pombal. The Imperial Austrian faction, represented by figures such as Cardinal Alessandro Albani and later reinforced by Cardinal Franz Konrad von Rodt, added further complexity, often aligning against Bourbon candidates while promoting their own preferences like Cardinal Alberico Archinto. Historians assess these dynamics as reflective of the era's church-state tensions, where the conclave's seclusion failed to fully insulate proceedings from monarchical instructions and informal veto threats, prolonging deliberations and forcing iterative negotiations. The process's 53-day duration, from May 15 to July 6, underscored stalled scrutinies exacerbated by incomplete attendance—initially only 27 of 44 electors present—and pivotal late arrivals that reshaped voting blocs. Strategic maneuvers, including the promotion of interim candidates to test veto tolerances and the French exclusivà against frontrunner Cardinal Carlo Alberto Cavalchini on June 21 after he neared the 30-vote threshold, highlighted a calculated avoidance of deadlock while exposing the system's vulnerability to national interests. Evaluations note that such tactics, while preserving canonical secrecy, revealed underlying inefficiencies, as factions maneuvered through proxies and regional loyalties rather than unified deliberation, with the Bourbon bloc's delayed French cardinals hampering early cohesion. The Imperial envoy von Rodt's June 29 entry, bearing Vienna's directives, proved decisive in pivoting support toward compromise figures, illustrating how asynchronous external inputs disrupted internal momentum. Ultimately, the election of Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico as Clement XIII on July 6, securing 31 of 43 votes, is regarded as a pragmatic resolution to irreconcilable extremes, favoring a moderate Venetian bishop unencumbered by deep factional debts. Contemporary observers like French Foreign Minister Étienne François de Choiseul critiqued the outcome through a lens of geopolitical pragmatism, praising Rezzonico's administrative merits while decrying his regional ties as a liability, yet acknowledging the conclave's success in averting a Bourbon-favored anti-Jesuit pontiff. Later assessments portray the dynamics as a temporary Zelanti triumph that deferred rather than resolved Jesuit-state conflicts, foreshadowing intensified pressures under Clement XIII, and affirm the conclave's resilience in achieving consensus amid vetoes, though at the cost of evident politicization that undermined perceptions of spiritual autonomy.
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