The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Biographical Dictionary
Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846)
Consistory of July 22, 1844 (XXIII)


(68) 1. CARAFA DELLA SPINA, Domenico (1805-1879)

Birth. July 12, 1805, Naples. Neapolitan patrician. Seventh of the nine children of Palatine Prince and Count Francesco Carafa della Spina (1765-1808), third duke of Traetto, and Paola Orsini (1770-1817), of the princes of Solofra and the dukes of Gravina, grand-daughter of Cardinal Domenico Orsini (1743). The other siblings were Ippolita, Antonio (a priest), Filippo; Pasquale, Michele, Teresa, Maria Antonia and Giuseppe. Great-grand-nephew of Cardinal Francesco Carafa della Spina (1773). Other cardinals of the family were Filippo Carafa (1378); Oliviero Carafa (1467); Gianvincenzo Carafa (1527); Carlo Carafa (1555); Diomede Carafa (1555); Alfonso Carafa (1557); Antonio Carafa (1568); Decio Carafa (1611); Pier Luigi Carafa, seniore (1645); Carlo Carafa della Spina (1664); Fortunato Ilario Carafa della Spina (1686); and Marino Carafa di Belvedere (1801). His last name is also listed as Carafa only; and as Carafa di Traetto.

Education. Studied at Collegio Nazareno, Rome, from 1817 to 1823; at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, Rome, from 1823; and at the Public Gymnasium of the S. Eustachio region, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in utroque iuris, both civil and canon law, on July 22, 1826.

Early life. Vice-legate in Ravenna, 1819. Conclavist of Cardenal Giorgio Doria en 1823. Apostolic delegate in Spoleto, 1823; in Rieti, 1832; and in Macerata, 1834-1839. Privy cahamberlain supernumerary, 1826. Domestic prelate of His Holiness and apostolic protonotary participantium, December 1827. Vice-legate in Ravenna, January 1828. Referendary of the tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, April 1830. Apostolic delegate, December 1831; in Spoleto, Abril 1833; and in Macerata, January 1834. Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber.

Priesthood. Ordained, May 30, 1841.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Benevento, July 22, 1844. Consecrated, August 11, 1844, in the church of S. Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome, by Cardinal Vincenzo Macchi, assisted by Fabio Maria Asquini, titular Latin patriarch of Constantinople, secretary of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars, and by Giovanni Giuseppe Canali, titular archbishop of Colosso.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 22, 1844; received the red hat and the title of S. Maria degli Angeli, July 25, 1844. Participated in the conclave of 1846, which elected Pope Pius IX. Expelled from Benevento in 1860 after its annexation to the Italian kingdom. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, 1864 to March 27, 1865. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870. Participated in the conclave of 1878, which elected Pope Leo XIII. Secretary of Apostolic Briefs, January 30, 1879. Grand chancellor of the Pontifical Military Orders. Opted for the title of S. Lorenzo in Lucina, May 12, 1879.

Death. June 17 (1), 1879, Naples. Exposed in the metropolitan cathedral of Naples and buried, temporarily, in the chapel of the archconfraternity of the Bianchi dello Spirito Santo, in the new cemetery of that city.

Bibliography. Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, VII, 34, 42 and 110; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, VIII, 49; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), III, 190.

Webgraphy. Biography by Francesco Malgeri, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 19 (1976), Treccani; biography, in Italian, Brigantaggio; his genealogy, A3 B1 C2 D2 E1 F2 G10 H7, Libro d'Oro della Nobilitß Mediterranea; his arms, engravings and portrait, Araldica Vaticana.

(1) This is according to Ritzler, Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, VII, 34 and 110. His genealogy, linked above, indicates that he died on June 16, 1879.

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(69) 2. CAPACCINI, Francesco (1784-1845)

Birth. August 14, 1784, Rome. From a modest family. Son of Domenico Capaccini and Barbara Procaccini. His last name is also listed as Caooacini.

Education. Studied at Seminario Romano, Rome, with a scholarship, from 1797 to 1798, when the seminary closed because of the French occupation of the city; and from 1801 to 1806. He dedicated himself to the study of theology, philosophy, belles-lettres, law and sciences (physics, mathematics and astronomy).

Early life. He went to Milan (1811) as a preceptor of the family of Count Porro Lambertenghi. There he studied astronomy, and then marched to Naples with a position at the Observatory of that city (1812-1815). He became a notable astronomer.

Priesthood. Ordained, September 19, 1807. Minutant in the Secretariat of State, 1815. Secretary and close collaborator of Cardinal Ercole Consalvi. Substitute of the Secretariat of Apostolic Briefs. Participated in the negotiation of the concordat with the Low Countries, 1827. Internuncio in Holland, 1828-31. Substitute of the Secretariat of State and secretary of the Cipher, 1831. Secretary of the S.C. of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, remaining as substitute and secretary of the Cipher, July 11, 1836. Canon of the patriarchal Lateran basilica, 1837. Internuncio extraordinary and apostolic delegate to Portugal to negotiate the normalization of diplomatic relations, November 1841 until February 20, 1844. Auditor general of the Apostolic Chamber, February 20, 1844.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of July 22, 1844; published in the consistory of April 21, 1845; died before receiving the red hat and the title.

Death. June 15, 1845, Rome. Exposed and buried in the church of S. Maria in Aquiro.

Bibliography. De Marchi, Giuseppe. Le nunziature apostoliche dal 1800 al 1956. Pref. di Antonio Samoré. Roma : Edizioni di Storia e letteratura, 1957, pp. 20, 29, 30, 61, 183 and 213; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les potificats de Pie VII, Léon XII, Pie VIII, Grégoire XVI, Pie IX et Léon XIII, 1800-1903. Montréal : Wilson & Lafleur, 2007. (Collection Gratianus. Série instruments de recherche), p. 199-201; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VII (1800-1846). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, pp. 34.

Webgraphy. Biography by Lajos Pásztor, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 18 (1975), Treccani; his engravings and arms, Araldica Vaticana.

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(70) 3. ZACCHIA RONDININI, Giuseppe Antonio (1787-1845)

Birth. February 22, 1787, in the castle Vezzano, diocese of Luni-Sarzana. Fourth child of Marquis Francesco Zacchia and Caterina Ferrari. Distant relative of Cardinals Paolo Emilio Zacchia (1599); Laudivio Zaccia (1626); and Paolo Emilio Rondinini (1643). His last name is also listed as Rondinini only.

Education. Studied at Collegio of Lucca; while studying in Lucca, he was required to move to Paris to be part of the Imperial Guard, but eventually he was exempted for health reasons; and also studied at La Sapienza University, Rome, where he obtained doctorates in philosophy and diritto delle genti in 1810.

Early life. Secretary of Msgr. Tassoni at the Sacred Roman Rota, October 1814. Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, February 15, 1816. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government, March 9, 1816. Vice-legate in Romagna, November 21, 1816. Named protonotary apostolic, April 30, 1817; adscribed to the college of protonotaries apostolic, April 29, 1817. Governor in Ascoli Piscena, November 28, 1818. Governor in Fermo, March 21, 1821; and in Frosinone, May 17, 1821. Destined to Spoleto, was instead named governor in Viterbo, April 23, 1823. Relator of the Sacred Consulta, 1824. Vicar of the basilica of S. Pietro in Damaso, Rome, April 5, 1829; confirmed, 1833. Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota, 1829. During the sede vacante of Pope Pius VIII, the Sacred College of Cardinals sent him as pro-legate to Romagna, December 4, 1830. Knight of the Sovereign Order of Malta, January 29, 1835. Vicar of the Cardinal Carlo Odescalchi, archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian basilica, 1835. Received the subdiaconate, July 20, 1841; diaconate, July 25, 1841.

Priesthood. Ordained, Sunday, July 26, 1841, by Cardinal Giacomo Luigi Brignole; celebrated his first Mass at the altar of the Borghese chapel in the patriarchal Liberian basilica, Rome. Governor of Rome, vice-camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church and Director general of police, January 25 (1), 1842 until April 21, 1845.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of July 22, 1844; published in the consistory of April 21, 1845; received the red hat and the deaconry of S. Nicola in Carcere, April 24, 1845.

Death. November 26 (2), 1845, of a lieve indisposizione, mal curate, in un coropo già molto affievolito, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Marcello, Rome, where his funeral took place on December 1, 1845; and buried in his deaconry, S. Nicola in Carcere, on the left arm of the crossing next to the altar of S. Nicola.

Bibliography. Del Re, Niccolò. Monsignor governatore di Roma. Rome : Istituto di Studi Romani Editore, 1972, p. 127; Giometti, Cristiano. "Il triplice ritratto dei cardinali Zacchia e Rondinini : storia di un monumento negato", in Tre cardinali e un monumento : viaggio nella Roma del Seicento tra devozione e arte. A cura di Maria Giulia Barberini e Cristiano Giometti. Roma : Campisano, 2014. (I restauri), p. 15-29; Zacchia Rondinini, Antonio. Memorie della famiglia Zacchia Rondinini. Cenni storici e biografici. Documenti. Bologna : L. Parma, 1942, pp. 76-101; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VII (1800-1846). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, pp. 34 and 46.

Webgraphy. His engraving and arms, at the top of the page; at the bottom, Cardinal Paolo Emilio Zacchia (1599), Araldica Vaticana.

(1) This is according to Del Re, Monsignor governatore di Roma, p. 127; Zacchia Rodinini, Memorie della famiglia Zacchia Rondinini, p. 97, indicates that he was appointed on January 24, 1842.
(2) This is according to Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, VII, p. 34; Zacchia Rodinini, Memorie della famiglia Zacchia Rondinini, p. 101, indicates that he died on November 27, 1845.

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(71) 4. SIMONETTI, Lorenzo (1789-1855)

Birth. May 27, 1789, Rome. His paternal family was from the patriciate of Fano and his mother was from Vallecorsa (Frosinone). His brother, Count Luigi Simonetti (1787-1862), was in chargé d'affaires of Modena in Rome since 1833.

Education. (No information found).

Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found). Substitute of the Secretariat of State for Internal Affairs. Assessor of the S.C. of the Roman and Universal Inquisition.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of July 22, 1844; published in the consistory of November 24, 1845; received the red hat, November 27, 1845; and the title of S. Lorenzo in Pansiperna, January 19, 1846. Participated in the conclave of 1846, which elected Pope Pius IX. Prefect of the Economy of the S.C. of Propaganda Fide, 1847. Secretary of Memorialas, March 18, 1852.

Death. January 9, 1855, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Marcello, Rome, where his funeral took place on January 12, 1855, with the participation of Pope Pius IX; and buried in his title.

Bibliography. Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VII (1800-1846). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, pp. 34-35 and 42.

Webgraphy. His engraving and arms, Araldica Vaticana; his engraving and biographical data, in Italian, Wikipedia; Simonetti Family, in English, Wikipedia.

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(72) 5. PICCOLOMINI, Giacomo (1795-1861)

Birth. July 31, 1795, Siena. From a family of the high nobility. Second of the six children of Giulio Cesare Piccolomini (+ 1835) and Giovanna Jackson. The other siblings were Carlo, Orazio, Girolama Luisa, and two other children. His last name is also listed as Piccolomini Amadori and as Amadori Piccolomini (1). His family gave the Church Popes Pius II and Pius III; as well as Cardinals Giovanni Piccolomini (1517); Celio Piccolomini (1664); and Enea Silvio Piccolomini (1766).

Education. Studied at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles from 1816 to 1818.

Early life. Obtained the benefice of primicerius of the cathedral chapter of Siena. Entered the Roman prelature as referendary prelate in 1819. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government, 1819-1822; dean of the relators, 1821. Relator of the S.C. of the Consulta, 1823-1834; dean, 1832. Abbreviatore di parco maggiore of the Apostolic Chancery, 1833-1845. Judge at the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice, 1834. Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, April 1835; its dean, January 1843. From June 1837, he exercised the functions of president of the Commission delle Acque et delle Strade. President delle Armi for the economic military council, June 1838. Domestic prelate of His Holiness.

Priesthood. Ordained (no further information found).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal and reserved in pectore in the consistory of July 22, 1844; published in the consistory of November 24, 1845; received red hat in the consistory of November 27, 1845; and the title of S. Balbina in the consistory of January 19, 1846. Participated in the conclave of 1846, which elected Pope Pius IX. Opted for the title of S. Marco, October 4, 1847.

Death. August 17, 1861, stricken by paralysis, Siena. Exposed in the parish church of S. Giovanni, Siena, where the funeral took place; and buried temporarily, in the metropolitan cathedral of Siena.

Bibliography. "Cardinali difunti". La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1869. Roma : Tipografia dei Fratelli Monaldi, 1869, p. 108; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les potificats de Pie VII, Léon XII, Pie VIII, Grégoire XVI, Pie IX et Léon XIII, 1800-1903. Montréal : Wilson & Lafleur, 2007. (Collection Gratianus. Série instruments de recherche), p. 747; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VII (1800-1846). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1968, pp. 35 and 40; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, p. 49; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), IV, 777.

Webgraphy. Biography by Federico Ruozzi, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 83 (2015), Treccani; his portrait, first on the second row, Araldica Vaticana.

(1) All the sources consulted, printed and electronic, except LeBlanc, Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle, p. 747, mention him as Giacomo Piccolomini only. The Amadori surname derives from the cardinal having obtained the Amadori prelature, and therefore is not a family surname.

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PALLAVICINI, Alerame Maria (1803-1867)

Birth. October 21, 1803, Genoa. Of one of the premier aristocratic families of that city. Only son of Marquis Antonio Pallavicini, Genoese patrician, and his second wife, Maria Spinola.

Education. (No information found).

Early life. Entered the Roman prelature as domestic prelate and apostolic protonotary in 1831. Named prelate of the S.C. of the Council before June 27, 1832. Named assessor of the tribunal of the governor of Rome before January 23, 1823. Apostolic delegate in Orvieto, January 20, 1834. Apostolic delegate in Spoleto, April 6, 1835. Apostolic delegate in Perugia and prelate of the Congregation of the Fabric of St. Peter's, July 11, 1836. Named master of the papal chamber, September 13, 1838. Named majordome and prefect of the Apostolic Palace, January 24, 1842.

Sacred order. (No information found).

Cardinalate. According to Philippe Boutry, Souverain et Pontife, pp. 609-1610, he was created cardinal and reserved in pectore by Pope Gregory XVI but Pope Pius IX refused to publish him; the author adds that it was, doubtless, because he was an active member of the "Genoese party" of Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini. Governor of the conclave of 1846. On July 31, 1847, he was temporarily replaced in his posts by Monsignor Giovanni Rusconi and authorized to leave Rome to try to recover his health; the function of majordome was suppressed and united to the prefecture of the Apostolic Palace entrusted to a cardinal; Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli was named to the post on November 1, 1848.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Perge, July 7, 1848. Consecrated, December 10, 1848, shrine of Madonna della Misricordia de Valle San Bernardo, Savona, by Giovanni Battista De Albertis, titular archbishop of Nazianzo. Honorary member of the Roman Academy of Archeology, July 23, 1848; member corrispondente, from 1852.

Death. October 12, 1867, S. Michele di Pagana. Buried (no information found).

Bibliography. Boutry, Philippe. Souverain et Pontife : recherches prosopographiques sur la curie romaine à l'âge de la restauration, 1814-1846. Rome : École française de Rome, 2002, pp. 609-610; Moroni, Gaetano. Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica da S. Pietro sino ai nostri giorni. 103 vols. in 53. Venezia : Tipografia Emiliana, 1840-1861, XLI, 280; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, p. 447.

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