Antonelli, Giacomo
Antonelli, Giacomo
(1806 -1876 ) Cardinal , secretary of state to Pius IX, born Sonnino, Italy ; died Rome, Italy . He held various offices under Gregory XVI, and became cardinal , minister of finance, and prefect of the sacred palaces under Pius IX. He arranged the flight of the pope to Gaeta, where he was made secretary of state, and returned to Rome with the pope, 1850 . Until 1870 he was practically the temporal ruler of Rome, and vigorously defended the rights of the Holy See. He has been much praised and severely criticized; he was a statesman rather than a churchman, never having been ordained priest, although zealous in his religious duties.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Antonelli, Giacomo
Cardinal; Secretary of State to Pius IX, b. at Sonnino, in the Papal States, 2 April 1806; d. in Rome, 6 November, 1876. Of well-to-do parents later ennobled by Gregory XVI, he made his preliminary studies at the Roman Seminary and took up the law course at the Sapienza, obtaining the degree of Doctor of both Laws in his twenty-first year. On entering the diplomatic service of the Holy See he was appointed by Gregory XVI successively secular prelate (1830), referendary of the superior law court, assessor of the criminal tribunal, delegate to Orvieto, Viterbo, and Macerata, canon of St. Peter’s (made deacon, 1840). In 1841 he was made Minister of the Interior and in 1845 Treasurer of the Apostolic Camera. Pius IX on his accession to the pontifical throne (1846) made him cardinal with the diaconal title of St. Agatha alla Suburra (1847), and later the title of St. Maria in Viâ latâ. The Pope created him in turn Minister of Finance in the first ministerial council; president of the newly-organized Council of State; member of the ecclesiastical commission for civil reform (February, 1848), and premier of his first constitutional ministry (10 March, 1848), in which there was a preponderance of the lay element. Resigning this office (3 May, 1848) to Count Mamiani, who organized a new liberal ministry, Antonelli became Prefect of Sacred Palaces, and after the death of Rossi arranged the flight of the Pope to Gaeta, where he was made Secretary of State and conducted the negotiations for the restoration of papal rule. Returning to Rome with the Pope (12 April, 1850), he retained the reins of power which he held until his death, twenty-seven years later. His life during this period is inextricably bound up with the history of the reign of Pius IX. Until 1870 he was practically the temporal ruler of Rome, being charged by Pius IX with the care of public interests, that the Pontiff might devote himself more exclusively to his spiritual duties. It is impossible as yet to form a just estimate of the works of Antonelli, or to reconcile the extravagant praise of his admirers with the vituperations of his enemies. It must be said that he defended vigorously the rights of the Holy See, won the respect of princes and statesmen for his diplomatic ability, and showed himself fearless, braving alike public opinion and private jealousy. In extenuation of the charge that his aim was to a large extent personal aggrandizement, it must be recalled that he was a statesman rather than a prelate, and that he was not a priest, although most assiduous in the discharge of his religious duties.
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DE WAAL in Kirchenlex.
F.M. RUDGE Transcribed by John Fobian In honor of 99th Men’s Cursillo of Arlington, Va.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume ICopyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Antonelli, Giacomo
an Italian cardinal and statesman, was born at Sonnino, on the Neapolitian frontier, April 2, 1806. Though of an ancient family, he was the son of a herdsman. and was educated at the Grand Seminary of Rome, where he attracted the attention of Gregory XVI, who raised him to the prelacy and appointed him to several important offices, and in 1845 to that of minister of finance. After the accession of Pius IX, he became cardinal, June 12, 1847, and in 1848 prime-minister, in which position he won at first the- favor of the popular party. After the assassination of the pope’s political adviser, Rossi, Antonelli urged Pius IX to leave Rome, and joined him at Gaeta in November, 1848, where he conducted the negotiations which resulted in the pope’s return to his capital under the protection of the French army, April 12, 1850. He now became secretary of foreign affairs, and maintained a conservative policy, to the great exasperation of the Liberals. He, however, maintained his position against his opponents, and did all in his power to stem the tide of events in Italy. In 1867 he became curator ad interim of the University of Rome. After the death of cardinal Ugolino, he became dean of the Order of Cardinal Deacons in January, 1868. He remonstrated against the success of Victor Emmanuel, who entered Rome formally Nov. 21,1871. After the (Ecumenical Council of 1870, he came prominently forward in defence of papal interests. He died Nov. 6, 1876.