CLEMENT XII. (Lorenzo Corsini), pope from 173o to 174o, succeeded Benedict XIII. on July 12, 173o. Clement laboured for a union with the Greek Church, and was ready to facilitate the return of the Protestants of Saxony. His services to learning and art include the restoration of the Arch of Constantine, the enrichment of the Capitoline museum with antique marbles and inscriptions, and of the Vatican library with oriental manuscripts (see ASSEMANI) ; and the embellishment of the city with many buildings. He died on Feb. 6, 1740.
See Guarnacci, Vitae et res gestae Pontiff. Rom. (Rome, 1751) ; Sandini, Vitae Pontiff. Rom. (Padua, 1739) ; Fabroni, De Vita et Reb. Gest. Clementis XII. (Rome, 1760) ; Ranke, Popes (Eng. trans. Austin) , iii. 191 seq.; v. Reumont, Gesch. der Stadt Rom., iii. 2, 653 seq.