Early Life
Pignatelli was born on 13 March 1615 in Spinazzola (current Puglia) to one of the most aristocratic families of the Kingdom of Naples, which included many Viceroys, and ministers of the crown. He was educated at the Jesuit college in Rome.
At the age of 20 he became an official of the court of Pope Urban VIII. He served successive popes as nuncio to Florence, Vienna and Poland. Later he went to Malta where he served as an inquisitor.
Read more about this topic: Pope Innocent XII
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