Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
Encyclopedia
Paolo Burali d'Arezzo was an Italian Theatine, bishop and cardinal
of the Catholic Church. He was beatified in 1772,
, he was the second son of Paolo Burali d’Arezzo and his wife Vittoria Olivares. Paolo was a petty bureaucrat, who was for a time in the service of King Ferdinand the Catholic, performed some diplomatic duties for Pope Clement VII
, and was later a member of the entourage of Prospero Colonna
, the Count of Fondi
. When his wife died, Paolo became a priest. He subsequently became a chamberlain to Pope Clement VII, and served on diplomatic missions to the Emperor Charles V, the King of France, and Duke Francesco Sforza of Milan.
When Scipione was 13 he entered the University of Salerno
, and later studied law at Bologna
, where he was a star pupil of Ugo Buoncompagni. For about a decade Scipione worked as a lawyer in Naples, earning the nickname “Principe del foro napolitano – Prince of Neapolitan Rights,” for his devotion to championing the people against their Spanish overlords, while acquiring a reputation for his legal knowledge, professionalism, and honesty. In 1548 he was named a member of the Royal Council, the principal advisory body to the viceroy, Pedro de Toledo
. Scipione undertook many important tasks in this connection, defining the legal relationship between the crown and the nobles, clarifying the rights of the king and those of the pope within the kingdom, and so forth. In 1555 he so impressed Pope Paul IV
that he was offered a job at the papal court. Scipione accepted, while at the same time he served as a high official in the civil administration of the Neapolitan army. Not yet 44 years old, he had already attained a considerable measure of success and wealth. But Scipione apparently found that his worldly accomplishments were not spiritually rewarding. He became increasingly religious as the years went by, adopting an austere live-style. This process culminated on January 25, 1557, when Scipione entered the Theatines, the most intellectually demanding of all Catholic orders, adopting the name Paolo Burali d’Arezzo.
Having become a priest, Paolo spent many years working on commissions charged with revising the education and discipline of the clergy, serving on diplomatic missions for the Holy See
, attending the Council of Trent
, at which he played an important role, and as head of the principal Teatine house in Rome. Perhaps his most important accomplishment was in helping to prevent the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition
in Naples, a matter about which the Neapolitans were very adamant. Neapolitan feelings about the Spanish Inquisition were so strong that a baronial rebellion in 1547 liberated hundreds of people from inquisititorial prisons..
The obvious popular hostility, combined with persuasive arguments by Paolo and other opponents of the “Holy Office,” led to the Crown backing down, at least for the time being. Over the years he was offered several bishoprics, but had humbly refused them al. Finally, in 1568, when Pope Pius V
– later canonized – forced Paolo to accept the See of Piacenza
“on penalty of mortal sin.” The pope went on to make Paolo a cardinal on May 15, 1570, over the objections of the Spanish government. When Pius V died in 1572, Paolo was considered a leading candidate for papacy. Although his cause was championed by Carlo Borromeo, later canonized, and many others, the consistory elected Ugo Buonacompagni, Paolo’s former Professor of Jurisprudence. Taking the name Gregory XIII, the new pope made Paolo Archbishop of Naples in 1576, again over Spanish objections.
As Archbishop of Naples, Paolo implemented numerous reforms, ensuring compliance with the decisions of the Council of Trent, while continuing to clash with the Spanish authorities over the Inquisition and other matters. A distinguished scholar, as well as a notable clergyman, Paolo died June 17, 1578 at the age of 67, with much of his work unfinished, a “mournful loss for all Christendom” in the words of St. Filippo Neri. In life an acquaintance of the later Saints Carlo Borromeo, Andrea Avellino, and Roberto Bellarmino, on the tenth anniversary of his death Paolo was elevated to the status of Venerable, and in 1772 he was beatified by Clement XIV. His application for sainthood in still pending.
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 Catholic Church. He was beatified in 1772,
Biography
Born Scipione Burali d’Arezzo in ItriItri
Itri is a small city and comune in the central Italian region of Latium and the Province of Latina.Itri is an agricultural centre divided in two parts by a small river, the Pontone. It lies in a valley between the Monti Aurunci and the sea, not far from the Gulf of Gaeta...
, he was the second son of Paolo Burali d’Arezzo and his wife Vittoria Olivares. Paolo was a petty bureaucrat, who was for a time in the service of King Ferdinand the Catholic, performed some diplomatic duties for Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
, and was later a member of the entourage of Prospero Colonna
Prospero Colonna
Prospero Colonna , sometimes referred to as Prosper Colonna, was an Italian condottiero in the service of the Papal States and the Holy Roman Empire during the Italian Wars.-Biography:...
, the Count of Fondi
Fondi
Fondi is a city and comune in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy, halfway between Rome and Naples. Before the construction of the highway between the latter cities in the late 1950s, Fondi had been an important settlement on the Roman Via Appia, which was the main connection from Rome to...
. When his wife died, Paolo became a priest. He subsequently became a chamberlain to Pope Clement VII, and served on diplomatic missions to the Emperor Charles V, the King of France, and Duke Francesco Sforza of Milan.
When Scipione was 13 he entered the University of Salerno
University of Salerno
The University of Salerno is a university located in Salerno, Italy. It is organized in 10 Faculties.-History:Salerno, a city in which, as Michelet said, “emperors, kings, popes, and the richest barons all had their own doctor”, developed during the Middle Ages around its prestigious School of...
, and later studied law at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, where he was a star pupil of Ugo Buoncompagni. For about a decade Scipione worked as a lawyer in Naples, earning the nickname “Principe del foro napolitano – Prince of Neapolitan Rights,” for his devotion to championing the people against their Spanish overlords, while acquiring a reputation for his legal knowledge, professionalism, and honesty. In 1548 he was named a member of the Royal Council, the principal advisory body to the viceroy, Pedro de Toledo
Pedro de Toledo
Pedro de Toledo is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 9,880, the density is 14.69/km² and the area is 672.62 km². The elevation is 45 m. The southern part of the municipality is heavily forested and is part of the Serra do Mar mountain range. In the rest...
. Scipione undertook many important tasks in this connection, defining the legal relationship between the crown and the nobles, clarifying the rights of the king and those of the pope within the kingdom, and so forth. In 1555 he so impressed Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
that he was offered a job at the papal court. Scipione accepted, while at the same time he served as a high official in the civil administration of the Neapolitan army. Not yet 44 years old, he had already attained a considerable measure of success and wealth. But Scipione apparently found that his worldly accomplishments were not spiritually rewarding. He became increasingly religious as the years went by, adopting an austere live-style. This process culminated on January 25, 1557, when Scipione entered the Theatines, the most intellectually demanding of all Catholic orders, adopting the name Paolo Burali d’Arezzo.
Having become a priest, Paolo spent many years working on commissions charged with revising the education and discipline of the clergy, serving on diplomatic missions for 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...
, attending the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
, at which he played an important role, and as head of the principal Teatine house in Rome. Perhaps his most important accomplishment was in helping to prevent the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
in Naples, a matter about which the Neapolitans were very adamant. Neapolitan feelings about the Spanish Inquisition were so strong that a baronial rebellion in 1547 liberated hundreds of people from inquisititorial prisons..
The obvious popular hostility, combined with persuasive arguments by Paolo and other opponents of the “Holy Office,” led to the Crown backing down, at least for the time being. Over the years he was offered several bishoprics, but had humbly refused them al. Finally, in 1568, when Pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
– later canonized – forced Paolo to accept the See of Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
“on penalty of mortal sin.” The pope went on to make Paolo a cardinal on May 15, 1570, over the objections of the Spanish government. When Pius V died in 1572, Paolo was considered a leading candidate for papacy. Although his cause was championed by Carlo Borromeo, later canonized, and many others, the consistory elected Ugo Buonacompagni, Paolo’s former Professor of Jurisprudence. Taking the name Gregory XIII, the new pope made Paolo Archbishop of Naples in 1576, again over Spanish objections.
As Archbishop of Naples, Paolo implemented numerous reforms, ensuring compliance with the decisions of the Council of Trent, while continuing to clash with the Spanish authorities over the Inquisition and other matters. A distinguished scholar, as well as a notable clergyman, Paolo died June 17, 1578 at the age of 67, with much of his work unfinished, a “mournful loss for all Christendom” in the words of St. Filippo Neri. In life an acquaintance of the later Saints Carlo Borromeo, Andrea Avellino, and Roberto Bellarmino, on the tenth anniversary of his death Paolo was elevated to the status of Venerable, and in 1772 he was beatified by Clement XIV. His application for sainthood in still pending.