Camillo di Pietro
Encyclopedia
Camillo di Pietro J.U.D. (10 January 1806 - 6 March 1884) was an Italian Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
and both Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
and later Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
. His father's family was one of merchants of the countryside that became rich and entered the patriciate of Terni
and Spoleto
; his mother was from the Dukes of Sermoneta
, who were eminent members of the Roman aristocracy and descendents of Pope Boniface VIII
. He was the second of the four children of Domenico di Pietro and Faustina Caetani. He was a nephew of Michele di Pietro
, who served as Cardinal and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
.
He was educated at the Collegio Romano in Rome
where he studied the humanities
and philosophy
. He entered the Seminario Romano where he studied theology
and finally the Collegio di Protonotari Apostolici, Rome where he received a doctorate utroque iuris (in both canon
and civil law
) on May 10, 1829. He received the subdiaconate on 19 May 1839 and the diaconate on 2 June 1839.
He entered the priesthood as domestic prelate
on 15 January 1829. He served as Prelate adjunct of the Congregation of the Tridentine Council
from 1829 until 1832. He was created Protonotary apostolic
. On 13 December 1830, he pronounced, before the cardinals gathered for the conclave, the oration for Pope Pius VIII
. He was appointed as Apostolic delegate in Orvieto
in 1832, and in Spoleto
from 1834 until 1835. Pope Gregory XVI
recalled him to Rome and named him Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota on 6 April 1835. He was confirmed in his post by motu proprio
of 27 April 1835. He took the oath on 16 November 1835 and entered the office on the following 23 November. He resigned the post on 19 August 1839. He was ordained to the priesthood on 16 June 1839.
He was appointed titular archbishop of Berut by Pope Gregory XVI
on 8 July 1839. He served as Nuncio
to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
from 1839. He was appointed as Internuncio extraordinary and apostolic delegate to Portugal
on 29 June 1844.
He was created Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni a Porta Latina
by Pope Pius IX
in the consistory of 19 December 1853 and reserved in pectore
. It was published in the consistory of 16 June 1856. He was appointed President of the Supreme Council of Public Affairs on 10 August 1859. He was appointed to the office of Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura
on 29 August 1863 to 1867. Pope Pius appointed him as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
on 8 January 1866. He opted for the order of cardinal bishops, taking the suburbicarian see of Albano
on 20 September 1867. When the vacancy in the suburbicarian see of Porto
-Santa-Rufina opened he took that see also on 12 March 1877. He was elected as Vice-dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He played an essential role in its organisation and obtained the necessary guarantees from the Italian government not to interfere with the conclave
of 1878 when Pius IX died. It was the first conclave after the Holy See had lost the Papal States
. He participated in the conclave of 1878
that elected Pope Leo XIII
. Pope Leo appointed him as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on 28 March 1878, and he held the post until his death. He opted for the suburbicarian see of Ostia on 15 July 1878 and thus was the Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He died in Rome in 1884 and is buried in the Campo Verano cemetery.
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 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...
and both Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
The Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals was the treasurer of that body.He administered all property, fees, funds and revenue belonging to the College of Cardinals, celebrated the requiem Mass for a deceased cardinal and was charged with the registry of the Acta Consistoralia.It is...
and later Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
Biography
Camillo di Pietro was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His father's family was one of merchants of the countryside that became rich and entered the patriciate of Terni
Terni
Terni is a city in southern Umbria, central Italy, capital of the province of Terni, located in the plain of the Nera river. It is 104 km N of Rome, 36 km NW of Rieti, and 29 km S of Spoleto.-History:...
and Spoleto
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
; his mother was from the Dukes of Sermoneta
Sermoneta
Sermoneta is a hill town and comune in the province of Latina , central Italy.It is a walled hill town, with a 13th-century Romanesque cathedral called Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta and a massive castle, built by the Caetani family. The Cistercian Valvisciolo Abbey is located nearby...
, who were eminent members of the Roman aristocracy and descendents of Pope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII , born Benedetto Gaetani, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1294 to 1303. Today, Boniface VIII is probably best remembered for his feuds with Dante, who placed him in the Eighth circle of Hell in his Divina Commedia, among the Simonists.- Biography :Gaetani was born in 1235 in...
. He was the second of the four children of Domenico di Pietro and Faustina Caetani. He was a nephew of Michele di Pietro
Michele di Pietro
Michele di Pietro J.U.D. was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide. He was an uncle of Cardinal Camillo di Pietro.-Biography:Michele di Pietro was born in Albano Laziale,...
, who served as Cardinal and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is the title possessed by the Latin Rite Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem. The Archdiocese of Jerusalem has jurisdiction for all Latin Rite Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Cyprus...
.
He was educated at the Collegio Romano in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he studied the humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He entered the Seminario Romano where he studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and finally the Collegio di Protonotari Apostolici, Rome where he received a doctorate utroque iuris (in both canon
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and civil law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
) on May 10, 1829. He received the subdiaconate on 19 May 1839 and the diaconate on 2 June 1839.
He entered the priesthood as domestic prelate
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
on 15 January 1829. He served as Prelate adjunct of the Congregation of the Tridentine Council
Congregation for the Clergy
The Sacred Congregation for the Clergy is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons not belonging to religious orders...
from 1829 until 1832. He was created Protonotary apostolic
Protonotary apostolic
In the Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college of prelates in the Roman Curia or, outside of Rome, an honorary prelate on whom the pope has conferred this title and its special privileges.-History:In later antiquity there were in...
. On 13 December 1830, he pronounced, before the cardinals gathered for the conclave, the oration for Pope Pius VIII
Pope Pius VIII
Pope Pius VIII , born Francesco Saverio Castiglioni was Pope in 1829 and 1830.-Biography:He was born in Cingoli, Marche, the son of Count Ottavio Castiglioni and his wife Sanzia Ghislieri. He studied Canon law and, in 1800 became bishop of Montalto...
. He was appointed as Apostolic delegate in Orvieto
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
in 1832, and in Spoleto
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
from 1834 until 1835. Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
recalled him to Rome and named him Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota on 6 April 1835. He was confirmed in his post by motu proprio
Motu proprio
A motu proprio is a document issued by the Pope on his own initiative and personally signed by him....
of 27 April 1835. He took the oath on 16 November 1835 and entered the office on the following 23 November. He resigned the post on 19 August 1839. He was ordained to the priesthood on 16 June 1839.
He was appointed titular archbishop of Berut by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
on 8 July 1839. He served as 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 the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, commonly known as the Two Sicilies even before formally coming into being, was the largest and wealthiest of the Italian states before Italian unification...
from 1839. He was appointed as Internuncio extraordinary and apostolic delegate to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
on 29 June 1844.
He was created Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni a Porta Latina
San Giovanni a Porta Latina
San Giovanni a Porta Latina is a Basilica church in Rome, Italy, near the Porta Latina of the Aurelian Wall...
by Pope Pius IX
Pope 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...
in the consistory of 19 December 1853 and reserved in pectore
In pectore
In pectore is a term used in the Catholic Church to refer to appointments to the College of Cardinals by the Pope when the name of the newly appointed cardinal is not publicly revealed...
. It was published in the consistory of 16 June 1856. He was appointed President of the Supreme Council of Public Affairs on 10 August 1859. He was appointed to the office of Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church...
on 29 August 1863 to 1867. Pope Pius appointed him as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
The Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals was the treasurer of that body.He administered all property, fees, funds and revenue belonging to the College of Cardinals, celebrated the requiem Mass for a deceased cardinal and was charged with the registry of the Acta Consistoralia.It is...
on 8 January 1866. He opted for the order of cardinal bishops, taking the suburbicarian see of Albano
Albano Laziale
Albano Laziale is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio...
on 20 September 1867. When the vacancy in the suburbicarian see of Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
-Santa-Rufina opened he took that see also on 12 March 1877. He was elected as Vice-dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He played an essential role in its organisation and obtained the necessary guarantees from the Italian government not to interfere with the conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
of 1878 when Pius IX died. It was the first conclave after the Holy See had lost the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
. He participated in the 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:...
that 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...
. Pope Leo appointed him as Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on 28 March 1878, and he held the post until his death. He opted for the suburbicarian see of Ostia on 15 July 1878 and thus was the Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He died in Rome in 1884 and is buried in the Campo Verano cemetery.