Bartolomeo D’Avanzo
Encyclopedia
Bartolomeo D’Avanzo was an Italian Catholic
Cardinal
of the 19th century.
. He was ordained as a priest on 20 September 1834 and was placed in the service of the Diocese of Nola where he remained until 1851 under Bishop Gennaro Pasca.
tried to assassinate him by firing four bullets into his carriage. The first bullet struck the inside of the carriage, the second struck him in the right wrist and the third under his left arm. The fourth bullet, which would likely have been fatal, hit D'Avanzo's pectoral cross
and he survived the attempt. Fearing further attack he transferred to the Diocese of Teano-Calvi
where he served for a further 16 years. He attended the First Vatican Council
(1869–1870).
and was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Susanna
. He participated in the Papal Conclave of 1878
which elected Pope Leo XIII
. Throughout his career he was a strong advocate against Freemasonry
and led a number of Church campaigns against the society.
He died on 10 October 1884 in Avella
and was buried in the D’Avanzo family tomb.
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...
Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the 19th century.
Early life
D'Avanzo was born 3 July 1811 in AvellaAvella
Avella is a city and comune in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of Italy.-History:The ancient Abella was a medium importance center of the Samnites, and then the Romans, about 10 km northeast of Nola...
. He was ordained as a priest on 20 September 1834 and was placed in the service of the Diocese of Nola where he remained until 1851 under Bishop Gennaro Pasca.
Assassination attempt
In 1851 he was ordained Bishop of Castellaneta and served the diocese for 9 years until, in 1860, anticlericalistsAnti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
tried to assassinate him by firing four bullets into his carriage. The first bullet struck the inside of the carriage, the second struck him in the right wrist and the third under his left arm. The fourth bullet, which would likely have been fatal, hit D'Avanzo's pectoral cross
Pectoral cross
A pectoral cross or pectorale is a cross, usually relatively large, suspended from the neck by a cord or chain that reaches well down the chest. It is worn by the clergy as an indication of their position, and is different from the small crosses worn on necklaces by many Christians, which have no...
and he survived the attempt. Fearing further attack he transferred to the Diocese of Teano-Calvi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Teano-Calvi
The diocese of Teano-Calvi is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Campania, southern Italy, created in 1986. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Naples. The historic diocese of Calvi and diocese of Calvi were united in 1818, forming the diocese of Calvi e Teano.-History:Calvi is the...
where he served for a further 16 years. He attended the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
(1869–1870).
Cardinalate
In 1876 he was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
and was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Susanna
Santa Susanna
The Church of Saint Susanna at the baths of Diocletian is a Roman Catholic parish church on the Quirinal Hill in Rome, with a titulus associated to its site that dates back to about 280...
. He participated in the Papal Conclave of 1878
Papal conclave, 1878
The Papal conclave of 1878 resulted from the death of Pope Pius IX in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on 7 February 1878. The conclave occurred in circumstances different from those of any previous conclave.-Unique circumstances:...
which elected Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. Throughout his career he was a strong advocate against Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and led a number of Church campaigns against the society.
He died on 10 October 1884 in Avella
Avella
Avella is a city and comune in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of Italy.-History:The ancient Abella was a medium importance center of the Samnites, and then the Romans, about 10 km northeast of Nola...
and was buried in the D’Avanzo family tomb.