Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Nunciature
to Bavaria was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church
in Bavaria
. It was a diplomat
ic post of the Holy See
, whose representative was called the Apostolic Nuncio
to Bavaria, a state – consecutively during the nunciature's existence – of the Holy Roman Empire
, of its own sovereignty, and then of Imperial
, Weimar
and finally Nazi Germany
. The office of the nunciature has been located in Munich
since 1785. Prior to this, there was one nunciature in the Holy Roman Empire
, which was the nunciature in Cologne
, accredited to the Achbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz and Trier.
in Munich in 1785, requested by Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
The appointment of Giulio Cesare Zoglio as nuncio angered the archbishop-electors of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier, who considered the Nuncio to Cologne
to be competent for all the Empire. Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
sided with the electors, and declared he would recognise nuncios in their "political character" only. Thus, there were two nuncios: one in Cologne, and one in Munich, the division of whose jurisdictions was a matter of contention.
With the Archbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier occupied by France and dissolved in 1795 and 1803, respectively, the last nuncio to Cologne, Annibale della Genga
, had to reside in Augsburg
, which was annexed to Bavaria in 1803. With the dissolution of the Empire in 1806 Bavaria gained full sovereignty, and the tradition of the nuncio to Cologne was continued by the nuncio to Austria
in Vienna, competent for the Empire of Austria only.
In the years 1800–1818 the nunciature was suppressed due to Napoléon's pressure on the Vatican. However, after the Bavarian Concordat (1817) the ties were revitalised in 1818. Thus Austria and the Kingdom of Bavaria
maintained their separate relations to the Pope, also after both had joined the German Confederation
in 1815, which was no state, but a mere confederacy
. Whereas the prevailingly Lutheran or Calvinist German states within the confederacy, disestablished in 1866, had no diplomatic ties with the Holy See. None of the states of the North German Confederation
, a confederacy without Austria and Southern Germany
, had ties to the Vatican. When most German states, but not Austria, merged with the North German Confederation in order to form the federal united German Empire
in 1871, Bavaria was the only member state with a nuntiature.
When the Bavarian monarchy became the Free State of Bavaria after the abdication of the king, like all German monarchies and the Empire became republics, the diplomatic ties continued as German states are generally allowed to have foreign relationships. In 1920 Germany concluded formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican, so that Eugenio Pacelli, Nuncio to Bavaria, was appointed the first nuncio to Germany in personal union. However, the nunciature to Germany remained seated in Munich, since Berlin
, simultaneously the capital of Germany and Prussia, was located in the latter, not holding official ties with the Holy See. Pacelli concluded the new Bavarian Concordat (1924) with the Free State.
In 1925 the Free State of Prussia, the biggest German state, concluded diplomatic relations with the Vatican, so that Pacelli resigned as Nuncio to Bavaria in order to become the first nuncio to Prussia in personal union with nuncio to Germany, opening a nunciature in Berlin. He then negotiated the Prussian Concordat (1930), before he was appointed Cardinal Secretary of State
negotiating the Reichskonkordat
, finally concluded with Nazi Germany
in 1933.
When the streamlining Nazi Gleichschaltung
did formally away with statehood of the German states and established a centralised dictatorship in 1934, Bavaria was not to hold diplomatic ties of its own any more. While Pacelli managed to continue the nunciature to Bavaria as a kind of outpost of the nunciature to Germany, the Nazi government prompted the expulsion of the last nuncio to Bavaria in 1936.
Apostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
to Bavaria was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. It was a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
ic post of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, whose representative was called the Apostolic Nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
to Bavaria, a state – consecutively during the nunciature's existence – of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, of its own sovereignty, and then of Imperial
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, Weimar
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
and finally Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. The office of the nunciature has been located in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
since 1785. Prior to this, there was one nunciature in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, which was the nunciature in Cologne
Apostolic Nuncio to Cologne
The Apostolic Nunciature to Cologne was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church established in 1584. The nuncios were accredited to the Achbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz and Trier...
, accredited to the Achbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz and Trier.
History
A new nunciature was established by Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
in Munich in 1785, requested by Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
The appointment of Giulio Cesare Zoglio as nuncio angered the archbishop-electors of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier, who considered the Nuncio to Cologne
Apostolic Nuncio to Cologne
The Apostolic Nunciature to Cologne was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church established in 1584. The nuncios were accredited to the Achbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz and Trier...
to be competent for all the Empire. Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
sided with the electors, and declared he would recognise nuncios in their "political character" only. Thus, there were two nuncios: one in Cologne, and one in Munich, the division of whose jurisdictions was a matter of contention.
With the Archbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier occupied by France and dissolved in 1795 and 1803, respectively, the last nuncio to Cologne, Annibale della Genga
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
, had to reside in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, which was annexed to Bavaria in 1803. With the dissolution of the Empire in 1806 Bavaria gained full sovereignty, and the tradition of the nuncio to Cologne was continued by the nuncio to Austria
Apostolic Nuncio to Austria
The Apostolic Nuncio to the Austria is an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador....
in Vienna, competent for the Empire of Austria only.
In the years 1800–1818 the nunciature was suppressed due to Napoléon's pressure on the Vatican. However, after the Bavarian Concordat (1817) the ties were revitalised in 1818. Thus Austria and the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
maintained their separate relations to the Pope, also after both had joined the German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
in 1815, which was no state, but a mere confederacy
Confederation
A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...
. Whereas the prevailingly Lutheran or Calvinist German states within the confederacy, disestablished in 1866, had no diplomatic ties with the Holy See. None of the states of the North German Confederation
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation 1866–71, was a federation of 22 independent states of northern Germany. It was formed by a constitution accepted by the member states in 1867 and controlled military and foreign policy. It included the new Reichstag, a parliament elected by universal manhood...
, a confederacy without Austria and Southern Germany
Southern Germany
The term Southern Germany is used to describe a region in the south of Germany. There is no specific boundary to the region, but it usually includes all of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and the southern part of Hesse...
, had ties to the Vatican. When most German states, but not Austria, merged with the North German Confederation in order to form the federal united German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1871, Bavaria was the only member state with a nuntiature.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, simultaneously the capital of Germany and Prussia, was located in the latter, not holding official ties with the Holy See. Pacelli concluded the new Bavarian Concordat (1924) with the Free State.
In 1925 the Free State of Prussia, the biggest German state, concluded diplomatic relations with the Vatican, so that Pacelli resigned as Nuncio to Bavaria in order to become the first nuncio to Prussia in personal union with nuncio to Germany, opening a nunciature in Berlin. He then negotiated the Prussian Concordat (1930), before he was appointed Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
negotiating the Reichskonkordat
Reichskonkordat
The Reichskonkordat is a treaty that was agreed between the Holy See and Nazi government, that guarantees the rights of the Catholic Church in Germany. It was signed on July 20, 1933 by Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli and Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen on behalf of Pope Pius XI and President...
, finally concluded with Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1933.
When the streamlining Nazi Gleichschaltung
Gleichschaltung
Gleichschaltung , meaning "coordination", "making the same", "bringing into line", is a Nazi term for the process by which the Nazi regime successively established a system of totalitarian control and tight coordination over all aspects of society. The historian Richard J...
did formally away with statehood of the German states and established a centralised dictatorship in 1934, Bavaria was not to hold diplomatic ties of its own any more. While Pacelli managed to continue the nunciature to Bavaria as a kind of outpost of the nunciature to Germany, the Nazi government prompted the expulsion of the last nuncio to Bavaria in 1936.
Nuncios to Bavaria
- 1785–1794: Nuncio Giulio Cesare Zoglio
- 1795–1796: Internuncio Annibale Della GengaPope Leo XIIPope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
, future Pope Leo XII - 1796–1800: Emidio Ziucci
- 1800–1818: vacancy
- 1818–1826: Francesco Serra Cassano
- 1826–1837: Carlo Giuseppe Benedetto Mercy d'Argenteau
- 1838–1841: vacancy
- 1838–1841: Michele Viale Prelà, as internuncio per pro
- 1841–1845: Michele Viale-Prelà
- 1845–1847: Carlo Morichini
- 1848–1851: vacancy
- 1848–1851: Carlo Sacconi, as internuncio per pro
- 1851–1853: Carlo SacconiCarlo SacconiCarlo Sacconi J.U.D. was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Dean of the College of Cardinals.Carlo Sacconi was born in Montalto...
- 1853–1856: Antonio De LucaAntonio Saverio De LucaAntonio Saverio De Luca was an Italian bishop and prefect of the Pontifical Congregation for Studies as well as Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Damaso and Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina....
- 1857–1861: Flavio Chigi
- 1861–1866: Matteo Eustachio Gonella
- 1866–1874: Pier Meglia
- 1874–1877: Angelo Bianchi
- 1877–1879: Gaetano Aloisi MasellaGaetano Aloisi MasellaGaetano Aloisi Masella was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Congregation of Rites from 1899 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1887.-Biography:...
- 1879–1881: Cesare Roncetti
- 1882–1887: Angelo Di PietroAngelo Di PietroAngelo Di Pietro J.U.D. was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Prefect of the Congregation of the Council.Angelo Di Pietro was born in Vivaro Romano, Tivoli...
- 1887–1889: Fulco Luigi Ruffo-ScillaFulco Luigi Ruffo-ScillaFulco Luigi Ruffo-Scilla was a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He was elevated in 1891.Ruffo-Scilla was born in Palermo, Sicily. He was the son of Fulco Ruffo, 9th prince of Scilla, and Eleonora Galletti.-Early life:...
- 1889–1893: Antonio Agliardi
- 1893–1896: Andrea Aiuti
- 1896–1899: Benedetto LorenzelliBenedetto LorenzelliBenedetto Lorenzelli was am Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Studies from 1914 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1907.-Biography:...
- 1900–1904: Cesare Sambucetti
- 1904–1907: Carlo Caputo
- 1907–1916: Andreas FrühwirthAndreas Franz FrühwirthAndreas Franz Frühwirth was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary....
, OPDominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France... - 1916–1917: Giuseppe Aversa
- 1917–1925: Eugenio PacelliPope Pius XIIThe Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
, simultaneously nuncio to Germany (1920–1930) and then nuncio to Prussia (1925–1930), since 1939 Pope Pius XII - 1925–1934/1936: Alberto Vassallo-Torregrossa, last nuncio to Bavaria
Literature
- Michael F. FeldkampMichael F. FeldkampMichael F. Feldkamp, is a German historian and journalist.-Career:Feldkamp was born in Kiel. After completing his high school studies at the Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück, he studied history, Catholic theology, teaching, and philosophy at the Rhineland Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn...
, "Die Aufhebung der Apostolischen Nuntiatur in München 1934. Mit einem Anhang der Amtsdaten der Nuntien, Internuntien und Geschäftsträger 1786-1934", in: Im Gedächtnis der Kirche neu erwachen. Studien zur Geschichte des Christentums in Mittel- und Osteuropa. Festgabe für Gabriel Adriányi, Reimund Haas, Karl Josef Rivinius, Hermann-Josef Scheidgen (eds.), (=Bonner Beiträge zur Kirchengeschichte; vol. 22), Cologne, Vienna and Weimar: Böhlau, 2000, pp. 185-234. - Egon Johannes Greipl, "Das Archiv der Münchener Nuntiatur in der Zeit von 1904 bis 1934", in: Quellen und Forschungen aus italienischen Archiven und Bibliotheken, No. 66 (1986), pp. 402-406.
- Egon Johannes Greipl, "Die Bestände des Archivs der Münchener Nuntiatur in der Zeit von 1877 bis 1904", in: Römische Quartalschrift für christliche Altertumskunde und Kirchengeschichte, No. 78 (1983), pp. 192-269.
- Rupert Hacker, Die Beziehungen zwischen Bayern und dem Hl. Stuhl in der Regierungszeit Ludwigs I. (1825-1848), Tübingen: Niemeyer, 1967, (=Bibliothek des Deutschen Historischen Instituts in Rom; vol. 27). ISBN 3-484-80026-7.
- Bernhard Zittel, "Die Vertretung des Heiligen Stuhles in München 1785-1934", in: Der Mönch im Wappen. Aus Geschichte und Gegenwart des katholischen München, Munich: Schnell & Steiner, 1960, pp. 419-494.