Pope Innocent XII

Papal styles of
**Pope Innocent XII**
Papal styles of; Pope Innocent XII
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father
Posthumous style	None

Pope

Innocent XII
Pope; Innocent XII
Bishop of Rome
	Portrait by Antonio Zanchi, c. 1691-99
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	12 July 1691
Papacy ended	27 September 1700
Predecessor	Alexander VIII
Successor	Clement XI
Previous post(s)	Titular Archbishop of Larissa (1652–1671); Apostolic Nuncio to Poland (1660–1668); Apostolic Nuncio to Austria (1668–1671); Archbishop-Bishop of Lecce (1671–1681); Archbishop-Bishop of Faenza (1682–1686); Archbishop of Naples (1686–1691); Cardinal-Priest of San Pancrazio (1681–1691);
Orders
Ordination	c. 1643
Consecration	27 October 1652; by Marcantonio Franciotti
Created cardinal	1 September 1681; by Innocent XI
Personal details
Born	Antonio Pignatelli; 13 March 1615; Spinazzola, Kingdom of Naples
Died	27 September 1700 (aged 85); Rome, Papal States
Buried	Vatican Grottoes, St. Peter's Basilica
Coat of arms
	Other popes named Innocent

Pope Innocent XII (Latin: Innocentius XII; Italian: Innocenzo XII; 13 March 1615 – 27 September 1700), born Antonio Pignatelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 July 1691 to his death in September 1700.

He took a hard stance against nepotism in the Church, continuing the policies of Pope Innocent XI, who started the battle against nepotism but which did not gain traction under Pope Alexander VIII. To that end, he issued a papal bull strictly forbidding it. The pope also used this bull to ensure that no revenue or land could be bestowed on relatives.