Rome 1773: Under Bourbon pressure Clement XIV suppresses the Society of Jesus; Superior General Ricci dies in Castel Sant'Angelo without a verdict

The Bourbon courts demanded the suppression of the Jesuits from the new pope. Ganganelli was elected in 1769 as Clement XIV. Whether he pledged himself to this is disputed: the Catholic Encyclopedia reports a signed paper, while the Britannica sees no evidence. Under the Spanish threat of schism he signed the brief "Dominus ac Redemptor" in 1773. Superior General Ricci was taken to Castel Sant'Angelo and died there in custody; his companions were later found not guilty.

Period

1769-1773 (4 years)

Country

Vatican City

Institutions

Holy See
Society of Jesus

Category

Persecution

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Persons

Clement XIV (Pope)
Lorenzo Ricci (Superior General of the Jesuits, died in custody)

Background

Course of events

1. The brief "Dominus ac Redemptor" was signed on 8 June 1773 and bears the date 21 July 1773. A congregation of cardinals administered the property of the order.
   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Clement XIV

   „The Brief of suppression, signed on 8 June, bears the date 21 July, 1773.“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. In 1772 the Spanish ambassador Moñino openly threatened the pope with a schism in Spain and probably in the other Bourbon states. The Catholic Encyclopedia attributes the facts and provisions of the brief to him.
   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Clement XIV

   „He openly threatened him with a schism in Spain“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Clement XIV

   „Moniño must be held responsible for the matter of the Brief“

Response of the Church

1. In the conclave of 1769 the Bourbons wanted a pope subservient to them. The Catholic Encyclopedia reports that Ganganelli signed a paper that satisfied the Spanish representative. The Britannica writes that there is absolutely no evidence that he pledged himself to suppression and attributes the charge of simony to Jesuit hatred.
   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Clement XIV

   „At any rate he signed a paper which satisfied Solis.“

   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Clement XIV

   „there is absolutely no evidence that Ganganelli pledged himself to suppress the order“

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Clement XIV, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1908), Bd. 4, 1 January 1908. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Clement (Clement XIV), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 6, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.