Orazio Giustiniani
Encyclopedia
Orazio Giustiniani was an Italian Catholic Cardinal
.
, then part of the Republic of Genoa
, to the powerful Giustiniani family
. He was a relative of two Bishops of Chio
- Girolamo Giustiniani (1599–1604) and Marco Giustiniani (1604–1640). He entered the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
in 1603, only 8 years after the death of Philip Neri
.
He was named, by Cardinal Antonio Barberini
(brother of then-Pope Urban VIII
), superintendent of the abbey of Farfa
and custodian of the Vatican Library
in 1630.
In 1627, the Congregation of Propaganda Fide proposed sending Giustiniani to Ancona for secret talks with Cyril Lucaris
, patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church
. Church leaders were concerned by news Lucaris was trying to reform his reform of Orthodox church
along Protestant and Calvinist lines. Lucaris had already been opposed by those within his own communion and by the Jesuits but the Church planned to send Giusitniani to secretly negotiate recognition of Lucaris as the legitimate Roman Catholic Church
-backed patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church .
Giustiniani refused, citing a desire to remain with his Oratory congregation. He refused the mission again on at least one other occasion but was finally convinced to travel to Ancona in 1635.
However, by the time Giustiniani arrived, Lucaris had made a confession of faith which concerned Roman Church leadership and he was met by Atanasio Patelerio, a rival of Lucaris who claimed to have control of Constantinople and the Eastern Church. He returned later that year to Rome
(via Venice
) to present Patelerio to the Pope to be recognized as legitimate patriarch. Pope Urban VIII was not convinced and instead entrusted the decision to a panel of advisors including his brother (and Giustiniani mentor), Antonio Barberini
.
There are reports Patelerio hurt his own chances by later going into Rome and blessing the people with a cross raised above his head; actions that created confusion and concern among the citizenry.
Giustiniani returned to Ancona with Patelerio and suggested he should make his own confession to gain favour with the Pope. Patelerio did so but it did not prevent Lucaris from being restored as Patriarch yet again.
Giustiniani returned to Rome and to his position as custodian of the Vatican Library. He was consecrated on 16 September 1640, in Rome, by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphili
and was appointed Bishop of Nocera. Four years later, Pamphili was elected to the Papal Throne as Pope Innocent X
and Giustiniani was elevated to Cardinal on 6 March 1645. He served as Librarian of the Holy Roman Church from 25 September 1646 until his death and Major Penitentiary
from 4 December 1647 until his death.
Giustiniani died on 25 July 1649 and was buried in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella
, a church of his Congregation of the Oratory.
, her grandmother Olimpia Maidalchini
and grand-uncle Giovanni Battista Pamphili (later Pope Innocent X
who elevated Orazio Giustiniani to cardinal). Olimpia married Maffeo Barbergini, great-nephew of Antonio Barberini
and Pope Urban VIII
.
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...
.
Biography
Giustiniani was born the Island of ChiosChios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, then part of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
, to the powerful Giustiniani family
Giustiniani
Giustiniani is the name of a prominent Italian family which originally belonged to Venice, but also established itself subsequently in Genoa, and at various times had representatives in Naples, Corsica and in the islands of the Archipelago, where they had been the last Genoese rulers of the Aegean...
. He was a relative of two Bishops of Chio
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chios
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chios is a diocese located on the island of Chios in the Ecclesiastical province of Naxos, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos in Greece.-Leadership:* Bishops of Chios...
- Girolamo Giustiniani (1599–1604) and Marco Giustiniani (1604–1640). He entered the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians...
in 1603, only 8 years after the death of Philip Neri
Philip Neri
Saint Philip Romolo Neri , also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".-Early life:...
.
He was named, by Cardinal Antonio Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini was an Italian cardinal and the younger brother of Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII. He is sometimes referred to as Antonio the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew Antonio Barberini.Born Marcello Barberini in Florence into the Barberini family, he entered the...
(brother of then-Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
), superintendent of the abbey of Farfa
Abbey of Farfa
Farfa Abbey is a territorial abbey in northern Lazio, central Italy. It is one of the most famous abbeys of Europe. It belongs to the Benedictine Order and is located about 60 km from Rome, in the commune of Fara Sabina, not far from the Fara Sabina railway station.-History:A legend in the...
and custodian of the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
in 1630.
In 1627, the Congregation of Propaganda Fide proposed sending Giustiniani to Ancona for secret talks with Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris born Constantine Lukaris or Loucaris was a Greek prelate and theologian, and a native of Candia, Crete . He later became the Greek Patriarch of Alexandria as Cyril III and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I...
, patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
. Church leaders were concerned by news Lucaris was trying to reform his reform of Orthodox church
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
along Protestant and Calvinist lines. Lucaris had already been opposed by those within his own communion and by the Jesuits but the Church planned to send Giusitniani to secretly negotiate recognition of Lucaris as the legitimate 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...
-backed patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church .
Giustiniani refused, citing a desire to remain with his Oratory congregation. He refused the mission again on at least one other occasion but was finally convinced to travel to Ancona in 1635.
However, by the time Giustiniani arrived, Lucaris had made a confession of faith which concerned Roman Church leadership and he was met by Atanasio Patelerio, a rival of Lucaris who claimed to have control of Constantinople and the Eastern Church. He returned later that year to 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...
(via Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
) to present Patelerio to the Pope to be recognized as legitimate patriarch. Pope Urban VIII was not convinced and instead entrusted the decision to a panel of advisors including his brother (and Giustiniani mentor), Antonio Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini was an Italian cardinal and the younger brother of Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII. He is sometimes referred to as Antonio the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew Antonio Barberini.Born Marcello Barberini in Florence into the Barberini family, he entered the...
.
There are reports Patelerio hurt his own chances by later going into Rome and blessing the people with a cross raised above his head; actions that created confusion and concern among the citizenry.
Giustiniani returned to Ancona with Patelerio and suggested he should make his own confession to gain favour with the Pope. Patelerio did so but it did not prevent Lucaris from being restored as Patriarch yet again.
Giustiniani returned to Rome and to his position as custodian of the Vatican Library. He was consecrated on 16 September 1640, in Rome, by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphili
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
and was appointed Bishop of Nocera. Four years later, Pamphili was elected to the Papal Throne as Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
and Giustiniani was elevated to Cardinal on 6 March 1645. He served as Librarian of the Holy Roman Church from 25 September 1646 until his death and Major 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...
from 4 December 1647 until his death.
Giustiniani died on 25 July 1649 and was buried in the church 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...
, a church of his Congregation of the Oratory.
Family connections
Little is known of Giustiniani's immediate family but it seems certain there was some form of familial link to Olimpia GiustinianiOlimpia Giustiniani
Olimpia Giustiniani was an Italian noblewoman of the houses of Giustiniani and Barberini. She was the grand-daughter of Olimpia Maidalchini, niece of Pope Innocent X and wife of Maffeo Barberini, Prince of Palestrina....
, her grandmother Olimpia Maidalchini
Olimpia Maidalchini
Olimpia Maidalchini , also spelled Olympia and known as Donna Olimpia, was the sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X .- Early life :...
and grand-uncle Giovanni Battista Pamphili (later Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
who elevated Orazio Giustiniani to cardinal). Olimpia married Maffeo Barbergini, great-nephew of Antonio Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini
Antonio Marcello Barberini was an Italian cardinal and the younger brother of Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII. He is sometimes referred to as Antonio the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew Antonio Barberini.Born Marcello Barberini in Florence into the Barberini family, he entered the...
and Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
.