Birth. January 22, 1773, London, England. Of an ancient and wealthy family from Lulworth in Dorsetshire. Eldest son of Thomas Weld (1750-1810), a wealthy landowner and one of the great benefactors of the English Catholics, and Mary Massey-Stanley (1753-1830). Related by his sister Teresa to Cardinal Herbert Vaughan (1893).
Education. Private tutoring at home by Father Charles Plowden, S.J.; he probably was educated in Stoneyhurst, England, by the former Jesuits from Liège, since the Society of Jesus had been suppressed on July 21, 1773.
Early life. During the French Revolution, he manifested his generosity toward the émigré; French priests, welcoming Jesuits to his property in Stonyhurst, Trappists in Lullworth, as well as Franciscan and Visitandine nuns. Married Lucy Bridget Clifford of Tixall (1771-1815) on June 7, 1796 in Ugbroke. Had a daughter, Mary Lucy, who later married her cousin Hugh, seventh baron of Clifford of Chudleigh, related to Cardinal Giacomo Giustiniani (1). One of his grandsons, William Clifford, later became bishop of Clifton. His wife died on June 1, 1815. Following his religious vocation under the direction of Abbé Carron, left all his possessions to his brother and started his studies, September 1, 1818.
Priesthood. Ordained, April 3, 1821, Paris, by Hyacinthe-Louis Quélen, archbishop of Paris. Curate of the mission of Chelsea, June 20, 1822. Curate of the mission of Hammersmith.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Amiclea and appointed coadjutor, with right of succession, of the diocese of Kingston, Canada, May 23, 1826. Consecrated, August 6, 1826, Saint Edmund`s College, Old Hall Green, Ware, Hertfordshire, England, by William Poynter, titular bishop of Alia, assisted by James Yorke Bramston, titular bishop of Usula, and by Thomas Penswick, titular bishop of Europo. For different reasons, especially the illness of his daughter, never went to his diocese. Traveled to Rome because of his daughter's poor health. Resigned the coadjutorship, March 13, 1830.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 15, 1830; received the red hat, March 18, 1830; and the title of S. Marcello, July 5, 1830. Following the emancipation of the English Catholics, which occurred on April 13, 1829, Pope Pius VIII chose him as the cardinal of his country. Participated in the conclave of 1830-1831, which elected Pope Gregory XVI. He resided in Palazzo Odescalchi, where he received the English and Roman aristocracy and from where he followed the affairs of England, Ireland, the United States of America, Canada, the Indies and Australia. He was often seen driving his carriage accompanied by his numerous grandchildren. He was known as the "Cardinal of the Seven Sacraments" for having been both married and ordained.
Death. April 10, 1837, Rome. Exposed and buried in his title, next to the tombs of his daughter and son in law (2).
Bibliography. Baxter, Dudley. England's cardinals. With an appendix showing the reception of the sacred pallium by the archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster. London : Burns & Oates, 1903, pp. 73-74; Bellenger, Dominic Aidan, and Stella Fletcher. Princes of the Church. A history of the English cardinals. Gloucestershire : Sutton Publishing, 2001, pp. 109-111; Boutry, Philippe Souverain et Pontife : recherches prosopographiques sur la curie romaine à l'âge de la restauration, 1814-1846. Rome : Ecole française de Rome, 2002, pp. 483-484; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les pontificats 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. 965-967; 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. 23, 42 and 72; Walsh, Michael J. The cardinals : thirteen centuries of the men behind the papal throne. Grand Rapids, Mich. : W.B. Eerdmans Pub., 2011, p. 227-229.
Webgraphy. The Weld family by John Hungerford Pollen, in English, The Catholic Encyclopedia; his bust, next to his tomb in S. Marcello al Corso, Rome, The Australian National University; his drawing by George Jones, National Portrait Gallery, London, England; his tomb, arms, engraving and portrait, Araldica Vaticana.
(1) The mother of Cardinal Giustiniani was Cecilia Mahoney, daughter of Ann Clifford, grandmother of Hugh Clifford.
(2) This is the text of the inscription on his funeral monument, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:
(4) 2. MAZIO, Raffaele (1765-1832)
Birth. October 24, 1765, Rome. Eldest of the three children of Giacomo Mazio (ca.1720-1793), member of the Roman bourgeoisie, who worked in the upper level of he administration of the Papal States (superintendent of the Zecca (1749), and his wife, Anna Maria Trezza. The other siblings were Francesco and Giovanni.
Education. Studied at Collegio Romano, Rome, under Fathers Giuseppe Mazzolari, S.J., and Francesco Saverio Rezza, S.J.; he defended his thesis in theology, Argumenta ex theologia quæ honori Gullielmi Pallottæ cardinalis, amplissimi ad disputandum proposuit Raphael Matius, at S. Ignazio in 1785.
Priesthood. Ordained, September 20, 1788, in the patriarchal Lateran basilica. Entered the service of the Roman Curia as master of pontifical ceremonies in 1791. Canon of the chapter of S. Maria in Trastevere, Rome. Named by Pope Pius VII in Venice secretary of the S.C. Ceremonial before May 10, 1800; and chamberlain of honor before September 24, 1800. From 1801 to 1805, he accompanied, as chamberlain, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Caprara Montecuccoli, legate a latere for the application of the 1801 concordat with France. Returned to Rome and resumed his post of secretary of the S.C. Ceremonial. Collaborated with Cardinal Michele Di Pietro in the S.C. for Ecclesiastical Affairs. During the French occupation of Rome, he was exiled to Piacenza; later to Bologna; and finally, incarcerated in the château of Cento. He recovered his freedom in the Spring of 1814 and joined Pope Pius VII in Cesena. He accompanied Cardinal Ercole Consalvi to Paris, London and Vienna during the negotiations of the peace treaty. Secretary of Latin Letters, October 1, 1814, during his absence; returned to Rome on June 10, 1815 and was confirmed in his post the following June 15. Named domestic prelate, June 21, 1815. He brought Pope Pius VII the news of the restitution of the legations and the Marches. Canonist of the Apostolic Penitentiary, March 3, 1816; and its corrector, April 17, 1816; he kept the post until his elevation to the cardinalate. Canon of the chapter of the patriarchal Liberian basilica, July 27, 1816. Resigned the secretariat of the S.C. Ceremonial on August 10, 1816. He collaborated with Cardinal Consalvi, secretary of State, in the principal diplomatic affairs of the time. Secretary of the S.C. Consistorial and of the Sacred College of Cardinals, April 6, 1818. Canon of the chapter of the patriarchal Vatican basilica before March 17, 1819. In 1822 accompanied Cardinal Giuseppe Spina to the Congresses of Laibach and Verona. Secretary of the conclave of 1823. Assessor of the S.C. of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, December 28, 1824; on that date he resigned his post of secretary of Latin Letters. Protonotary apostolic non-participant before February 1, 1825.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of March 15, 1830; received the red hat, March 18, 1830; and the title of S. Maria in Trastevere, July 5, 1830. Participated in the conclave of 1830-1831, which elected Pope Gregory XVI.
Death. February 4, 1832, in the afternoon, Rome, of epilepsy. Exposed and buried in his title, S. Maria in Trastevere.
Bibliography. Boutry, Philippe Souverain et Pontife : recherches prosopographiques sur la curie romaine à l'âge de la restauration, 1814-1846. Rome : Ecole française de Rome, 2002, pp. 426-427; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les pontificats 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. 618-619; 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. 23 and 43.
Webgraphy. Biography by Dante Marini, in Italian, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 72 (2008), Treccani; his engravings and arms, Araldica Vaticana.
(5) 3. DE SIMONE, Domenico (1768-1837)
Birth. November 29, 1768, Benevento. Of a patrician family. Fifth of the six children of Marquis Filippo De Simone (1720-1792), marquis of Corvacchini (1781), first chamberlain of the king of Naples, and Vicenza Capece Scondito. The other children were Nicola, Giovanni, Onofrio, Francesco and Filippo, who married the niece of Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca (1801). Nephew of Cardinal Gennaro Antonio de Simone (1773). His last name is also listed as De Simoni.
Education. Initial education at Collegio S. Carlo a Mortella, Naples; went to Rome under the tutelage of his uncle the cardinal and studied at Collegio Nazareno, 1781-1788; and later at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, 1789-1792.
Early life. Entered the Roman prelature as domestic prelate and referendary of the tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace, December 13, 1792 (1). Governor of Fabriano, March 7, 1794; he kept his post until the French occupation of Rome and the Papal States; he sought refuge in Naples and later in Benevento with his uncle. After the first restoration of the papal government, Pope Pius VII named him relator of the S.C. of Good Government, October 30, 1800. Governor of Orvieto, August 31, 1802 until 1807. Governor of Montalto, February 17, 1807. Governor of Viterbo, March 24, 1809; he retired to Orvieto during the second French occupation. After the restoration of the papal government, Pope Pius VII named him apostolic delegate of Spoleto, July 6, 1815. Apostolic delegate in Perugia, February 17, 1816. Cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, October 1, 1817. Assessor of the military congregation before July 10, 1820. Prefect of the Annona, December 18, 1825. Prefect of chamber of His Holiness, December 15, 1828; he kept the post until his promotion to the cardinalate. Protonotary apostolic non participant, December 28, 1828.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of March 15, 1830; received the red hat, March 18, 1830; and the deaconry of S. Angelo in Pescheria, July 5, 1830. Apostolic legate in Ferrara, July 30, 1830.
Sacred orders. Received the diaconate, December 18, 1830. Participated in the conclave of 1830-1831, which elected Pope Gregory XVI. He did not return to Ferrara because of an insurrection. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, February 24, 1832 to April 15, 1833.
Death. November 9, 1837, Rome, after a long illness. Exposed in the church of S. Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome, where his funeral took place, and buried in his deaconry.
Bibliography. Boutry, Philippe Souverain et Pontife : recherches prosopographiques sur la curie romaine à l'âge de la restauration, 1814-1846. Rome : Ecole française de Rome, 2002, pp. 365-366; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les pontificats 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. 884-885; 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. 23 and 45; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), III, 475; Weber, Christoph. Legati e governatori dello Stato Pontificio : 1550-1809. Roma : Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali, Ufficio centrale per i beni archivistici, 1994. (Pubblicazioni degli archivi di Stato. Sussidi; 7) pp. 226, 299, 324, 434 and 639-640.
Webgraphy. His engraving and arms, Araldica Vaticana.
(1) This is according to Boutry, Souverain et Pontife, p. 366; Weber, Legati e governatori dello Stato Pontificio : 1550-1809, p. 639, says that he was named on September 13, 1792.
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