Innocent loses out to Pope John Paul

THE body of a 17th century pope who helped fund Protestant William of Orange’s invasion of Britain and Ireland is to be removed from the Vatican to make way for the remains of Pope John Paul II.

Italian scholars have claimed the Vatican is deliberately downgrading Pope Innocent XI as punishment for his role in helping the Dutch-born “King Billy” seize power in Ireland.

The remains of Innocent, who was pope from 1676 to 1689, will be removed from the Chapel of St Sebastian, at the entrance to St Peter’s basilica, to make way for Pope John Paul II who is to be beatified on May 1.

Innocent XI was considered a hero for helping to defend Europe from the marauding Ottoman Turks but his backing of William of Orange was seen by many as a betrayal of Catholicism.

Innocent XI was a member of the Odescalchi family, which owned a powerful banking empire.

It was well known that he had little sympathy for James II and is said to have used the family bank to provide a loan to William.

William of Orange invaded England in 1688 and James II fled to France.

The following year he landed in Ireland in an attempt to recover his crown.

But his Jacobite forces were defeated at the Battle of the Boyne and he was forced into exile for good, living out his life at the court of King Louis XIV of France.

Never before has the body of one Pope been removed to make way for another.

The Vatican denies claims it is downgrading Innocent XI and says it is simply putting the body of John Paul II in a place where it will be easy for pilgrims to visit.