✝ Biography
Pope Innocent XI (Latin: Innocentius XI; Italian: Innocenzo XI; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 until his death on 12 August 1689. Within the Papal States, he lowered taxes, produced a surplus in the papal budget and repudiated nepotism within the Church. Once he was elected to the papacy, he applied himself to moral and administrative reform of the Roman Curia.