St. Benedict XI

Blessed Benedict XI was born Niccolò Boccasini in 1240 at Treviso in northern Italy and died on 7 July 1304 at Perugia. The son of a poor family, he entered the Dominican Order, became a noted preacher and teacher, and was eventually elected Master General of the Order before being created a cardinal. He served the Church faithfully as a legate in difficult negotiations and remained loyal to Pope Boniface VIII during the pope's violent quarrel with King Philip IV of France.

Elected pope in October 1303 in the turbulent aftermath of the outrage at Anagni, he reigned barely nine months. In that short time he worked to restore peace, lifting some of the censures of his predecessor and seeking to calm the conflict with the French crown, while defending the dignity of the papacy. He died suddenly at Perugia in the summer of 1304 — some suspected poison — and was beatified by Pope Clement XII in 1736, being honored in the Church as Blessed.