Blessed Pope Benedict XI (†1304) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1303 to 1304. He entered the Order of Preachers and studied at Venice and Milan before becoming a teacher in Venice and in other Dominican houses. He served two terms as Provincial Prior of Lombardy, before being elected Master of the Order in 1296. Two years later he was made cardinal. He was appointed Bishop of Ostia, and served as papal legate first to Hungary, and then to France. He was with Pope Boniface VIII when Boniface was attacked by French forces at Anagni. He was beatified by Pope Clement XII in 1736 and his feast day is celebrated on July 7.