# Pope Benedict XI

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 1303 to 1304_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xi
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Benedict XI (Latin: Benedictus 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 on 7 July 1304.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1240 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Treviso ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P19))
- **Died:** 7 July 1304 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P570))
- **Place of death:** Perugia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; friar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (30 October 1303 – 7 July 1304); cardinal-bishop of Ostia (1300–1303); Master General of Order of Friars Preachers (1296–1298) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301#P39))

## About

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.

## Questions

**When was Pope Benedict XI born?**  
Pope Benedict XI was born on 1240 in Treviso.

**What positions has Pope Benedict XI held?**  
Positions held by Pope Benedict XI include: Pope (1303–1304); cardinal-bishop of Ostia (1300–1303); Master General of Order of Friars Preachers (1296–1298).

## Related

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- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Benedict XVI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xvi)
- [Pope Innocent VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-vi)
- [Pope Alexander IV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-iv)
- [Pope Gregory IX](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-ix)
- [Pope Innocent V](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-v)
- [Pope Honorius II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-honorius-ii)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Benedict XI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XI) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q169301](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169301) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: 39 Benedetto XI.jpg by Tommaso da Modena (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:39_Benedetto_XI.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Benedict XI, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: 39 Benedetto XI.jpg — Tommaso da Modena, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Benedict XI". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xi. Retrieved 6 November 2026.