Francesco Borgongini Duca
Encyclopedia
Francesco Borgongini Duca (February 26, 1884 – October 4, 1954) was an Italian
Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Italy from 1929 to 1953, and was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1953 by Pope Pius XII
.
, and studied at the Pontifical Roman Seminary
, from where he obtained his doctorates in theology
and in canon and civil law. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on December 22, 1906, and then taught theology
at both the Pontifical North American College
and the Pontifical Urbanian Athenaeum De Propaganda Fide
from 1907 to 1909. He was favorably impressed by a young American seminarian named Francis Spellman, whom Duca would later assist in consecrating as auxiliary bishop
of Boston
in 1932.
Duca entered the service of the Roman Curia
upon being made an official of the Apostolic Penitentiary
in 1909, of which he became Secretary on February 24, 1917. He was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness
on March 2, 1917, and was named Pro
-Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
on June 28, 1921, rising to become full Secretary on October 14, 1922 (the Pope was the nominal head of that dicastery
). He was made an Domestic Prelate of His Holiness
(July 7, 1921) and apostolic protonotary (January 11, 1927) before being named to the commission to negotiate the Lateran Treaty.
On June 7, 1929, Duca was appointed Titular Archbishop
of Heraclea in Europa by Pope Pius XI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following June 29 from Cardinal Pietro Gasparri
, with Archbishop Carlo Cremonesi
and Bishop Agostino Zampini, OSA
, serving as co-consecrators
, in the Hall of Benedictions at St. Peter's Basilica
. Duca was named Apostolic Nuncio to Italy, the first after the Lateran Treaty, the next day, on June 30. In addition to his diplomatic duties, he was also made pontifical administrator of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
on April 1, 1933, and of the Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto on March 25, 1934.
In early 1937, he bestowed the Golden Rose
on Queen Elena of Italy
, on the occasion of her fortieth wedding anniversary to Victor Emmanuel III
. During World War II
, Benito Mussolini
clashed with Duca over the issue of restricting Jewish converts to Catholicism. In 1952, he wrote The Seventy Weeks of Daniel and the Messianic Date, in which he determined the date of the crucifixion of Jesus
as April 7, 30 AD
, by using the cryptographic
prophecies contained in the Book of Daniel
. Pope Pius XII
created him Cardinal Priest
of Santa Maria in Vallicella
in the consistory
of January 12, 1953, whereupon he ceased to be Nuncio
.
Cardinal Duca died from a heart ailment at his apartment in the Palace of the Holy Office
in Rome at age 70, having also received Extreme Unction
. He was initially buried in the chapel of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide
, but his remains were later transferred to the church of San Salvatore in Ossibus in Vatican City
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
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 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...
who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Italy from 1929 to 1953, and was elevated to the cardinalate
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...
in 1953 by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The 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....
.
Biography
Francesco Borgongini Duca 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...
, and studied at the Pontifical Roman Seminary
Pontifical Roman Seminary
The Pontifical Roman Seminary is a seminary in Rome, Italy located at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.Its teachings are based on the Roman Pontifical.-History:...
, from where he obtained his doctorates in theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
and in canon and civil law. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on December 22, 1906, and then taught 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...
at both the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
and the Pontifical Urbanian Athenaeum De Propaganda Fide
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
from 1907 to 1909. He was favorably impressed by a young American seminarian named Francis Spellman, whom Duca would later assist in consecrating as auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
in 1932.
Duca entered the service of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
upon being made an official of the Apostolic Penitentiary
Apostolic Penitentiary
The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.The...
in 1909, of which he became Secretary on February 24, 1917. He was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness
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 March 2, 1917, and was named Pro
Promagistrate
A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
-Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
The Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs was a congregation of the Roman Curia, erected by Pope Pius VII on 19 July 1814 by extending the competence to the Sacred Congregation for the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Kingdom of France , which Pope Pius VI had set up in 1793...
on June 28, 1921, rising to become full Secretary on October 14, 1922 (the Pope was the nominal head of that dicastery
Dicastery
Dicastery is an Italicism sometimes used in English to refer to the Departments of the Roman Curia....
). He was made an Domestic Prelate of His Holiness
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"...
(July 7, 1921) and apostolic protonotary (January 11, 1927) before being named to the commission to negotiate the Lateran Treaty.
On June 7, 1929, Duca was appointed Titular Archbishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Heraclea in Europa by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following June 29 from Cardinal Pietro Gasparri
Pietro Gasparri
Pietro Gasparri was a Roman Catholic archbishop, diplomat and politician in the Roman Curia and signatory of the Lateran Pacts.- Biography :...
, with Archbishop Carlo Cremonesi
Carlo Cremonesi
Carlo Cremonesi was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Territorial Prelate of Pompei from 1926 to 1928, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1935.-Biography:...
and Bishop Agostino Zampini, OSA
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
, serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, in the Hall of Benedictions at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
. Duca was named Apostolic Nuncio to Italy, the first after the Lateran Treaty, the next day, on June 30. In addition to his diplomatic duties, he was also made pontifical administrator of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
on April 1, 1933, and of the Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto on March 25, 1934.
In early 1937, he bestowed the Golden Rose
Golden Rose
The Golden Rose is a gold ornament, which popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed annually. It is occasionally conferred as a token of reverence or affection...
on Queen Elena of Italy
Elena of Montenegro
Elena of Montenegro was the daughter of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro and his wife, Milena Vukotić...
, on the occasion of her fortieth wedding anniversary to Victor Emmanuel III
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
clashed with Duca over the issue of restricting Jewish converts to Catholicism. In 1952, he wrote The Seventy Weeks of Daniel and the Messianic Date, in which he determined the date of the crucifixion of Jesus
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
as April 7, 30 AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
, by using the cryptographic
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
prophecies contained in the Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
. Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The 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....
created him Cardinal Priest
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 Santa Maria in Vallicella
Santa Maria in Vallicella
Santa Maria in Vallicella, also called Chiesa Nuova, is a church in Rome, Italy, which today faces onto the main thoroughfare of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of January 12, 1953, whereupon he ceased to be 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...
.
Cardinal Duca died from a heart ailment at his apartment in the Palace of the Holy Office
Palace of the Holy Office
The Palace of the Holy Office is a building in Vatican City which houses the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.Built in the 1920s, the palace is situated south of St Peter's Basilica near the Petriano Entrance to Vatican City....
in Rome at age 70, having also received Extreme Unction
Anointing of the Sick (Catholic Church)
Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of the Catholic Church that is administered to Catholics who because of sickness or old age are in danger of death, even if the danger is not proximate...
. He was initially buried in the chapel of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
, but his remains were later transferred to the church of San Salvatore in Ossibus in Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
.