(36) 1. MELCHERS, S.J., Paul Ludolf (1813-1895)
Birth. January 6, 1813, Münster, Westphalia, Germany. Son of Franz Melchers and Maria Anna Holtermann. Received the sacrament of confirmation, May 24, 1825.
Education. Studied law in Bonn, 1830-1833, and practiced in Münster. Received the insignias of the clerical character and the minor orders, March 3, 1841; subdiaconate, March 6, 1841; diaconate, April 14, 1841. Doctorate in theology in Münich, May 13, 1857.
Priesthood. Ordained, June 5, 1841. In Münster, assistant pastor of Haltren for two years; vice rector of the seminary, 1844-1851 and rector, 1851-1852; canon of the cathedral chapter, 1852; vicar general, 1854-1857.
Episcopate. Elected bishop of Osnabrück, August 3, 1857. Consecrated, April 20, 1858, cathedral of Osnabrück, by Eduard Jakob Wedekin, bishop of Hildeshein. Promoted to metropolitan see of Cologne, January 8, 1866. Chairman of the Fulda Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1867-1883. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870; opposed the definition of the dogma of papal infallibility; when the dogma was defined, he strongly supported it. Firmly resisted the Kulturkampf and because he excommunicated, June 1873, two priests who had joined the Old Catholics movement, he was fined and imprisoned for six months, March 12 - October 1874. On December 2, 1875, the President of the Rhine Province demanded his resignation threatening to depose him if he did not comply; the archbishop refused and on learning that the local government was preparing to deport him to Küstrin, West Poland, escaped on December 13 to Maestritch, Holland, and took refuge with the Franciscans. From there he governed his archdiocese until July 3, 1885 when he resigned its pastoral government. In several occasions he had expressed his willingness to resign for the good of the church in Cologne but Pope Leo XIII had not accepted his resignation. Then the pope reluctantly agreed and called the archbishop to Rome and created him a cardinal.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 27, 1885; received red hat and title of S. Stefano al Monte Celio, July 30, 1885. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, December 30, 1889 to June 1, 1891. Joined the Society of Jesus, February 10, 1892.
Death. December 14, 1895, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Bernardo alle Terme, Rome; and buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Cologne.
Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti." Annuario pontificio per l'anno 1903, Città del Vaticano : Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1903, p. 107-108; Ritzler, Gatz, Erwin. "Melchers, Paul Ludolf." Die Bischöfe der deutschsprachigen Länder, 1785/1803 bis 1945 : ein biographisches Lexikon. Herausgegeben von Erwin Gatz. Berlin : Duncker & Humblot, 1983, pp. 493-497; Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 31, 53, 63, 215 and 429-430.
Links. Biography, in English; his portrait and biographical entry, in English; his photograph; his burial chamber in the metropolitan cathedral of Cologne; and his burial place, with his successors, in the metropolitan cathedral of Cologne, Germany.
(37) 2. CAPECELATRO DI CASTELPAGANO, Orat., Alfonso (1824-1912)
Birth. February 5, 1824, Marseille, France. His father, Francesco Capecelatro, duke of Castelpagano, had voluntarily exiled the family from Naples to Marseille when Ferdinand of Naples started the repression of political Liberalism. The family returned to Naples in 1830.
Education. Joined the Oratory of St. Philip of Neri in Naples, April 1, 1840. He received the sacrament of confirmation on May 26, 1841. (No schooling information found).
Priesthood. Ordained, May 23, 1847, Naples. Pastoral work in Naples, 1847-1870. Superior of the Oratory of Naples for fifteen years. He obtained that the church of the Girolamini and the cloister with the famous library were given the status of national monument and he was elected their superintendent. Examiner of the clergy of Naples. Domestic prelate of His Holiness, May 6, 1879. Vice-librarian of the Holy Roman Church, May 15, 1879. He was an elegant and prolific writer who published numerous works in Catholic doctrine and morals, and especially in ecclesiastical history and biographies of leading Catholic figures.
Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Capua, Italy, August 20, 1880. Consecrated, October 28, 1880, Rome, by Cardinal Raffaele Monaco La Valletta.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 27, 1885; received red hat and title of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo, July 30, 1885. Opted for title of S. Maria del Popolo, January 15, 1886. Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, April 29, 1890 until his death. Participated in the conclave of 1903, which elected Pope Pius X.
Death. November 14, 1912, Capua. Buried in the church of the Benedictine abbey of Monte Cassino.
Link. Biography, in English; another biography, also in English; and his portrait by S. Avati, Museo di Roma, Rome.
(38) 3. BATTAGLINI, Francesco (1823-1892)
Birth. March 13, 1823, Mirabello, Comune di S. Agostino di Piano, archdiocese of Bologna. Received the sacrament of confirmation, October 7, 1827.
Education. University of Bologna (doctorate in theology, January 27, 1848).
Priesthood. Ordained, September 20, 1845. Further studies, 1845-1848. Prosynodal examiner; professor of philosophy and theology, Seminary of Bologna, 1848-1878. Privy chamberlain of His Holiness.
Episcopate. Elected bishop of Rimini, February 28, 1879. Consecrated, March 9, 1879, Rome, by Cardinal Raffaele Monaco La Valletta. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Bologna, July 3, 1882.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 27, 1885; received red hat and title of S. Bernardo alle Terme, July 30, 1885.
Death. July 8, 1892, Villa Guastavillani, Barbiano, Bologna. Exposed in the metropolitan cathedral of Bologna and buried, temporarily, in the chapel of the Counts Bentivoglio in the Carthusian monastery of Bologna; transferred to the Bentivoglio Chapel, cemetery of Mirabello, October 1893; transferred to a new tomb in the parish church of Mirabello, February 2000; the tomb was blessed by Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, archbishop of Bologna, March 5, 2000.
Link. Blessing of his new tomb and biographical data, in Italian.
(39) 4. MORAN, Francis Patrick (1830-1911)
Birth. December 16, 1830, Leighlinbridge, diocese of Kildare, Ireland. Son of Patrick Moran and AliciaMary Cullen. One of his sisters, Teresa, was a Dominican nun. Nephew of Cardinal Paul Cullen (1866), who was his mother's stepbrother.
Education. Irish College, Rome (humanities and theology); Urbanian Athenaeum of Propaganda Fide, Rome (doctorate in theology).
Priesthood. Ordained, March 19, 1853, Rome. In Rome, professor, 1853-1856; vice-rector, 1856-1866, Irish College; professor of Hebrew in the Pontifical Urbanian Athenaeum of Propaganda Fide; and vice-rector of the Scottish College. Returned to Ireland in 1866 as secretary of Cardinal Cullen, 1866-1872; and professor of Scripture, Clonliffe College. Founder of the Irish Ecclesiastical Record. Accompanied Cardinal Cullen to the Vatican Council, 1869-1870.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Olba and appointed coadjutor of Ossory, December 22, 1871. Consecrated, March 5, 1872, Dublin, by Cardinal Paul Cullen, archbishop of Dublin. Succeeded to the see of Ossory, August 11, 1872. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Sydney, Australia, March 14, 1884. He travelled thousands of miles visiting the churches and dioceses of his metropolitan province.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 27, 1885; received red hat and title of S. Susanna, July 30, 1885. He arrived in Rome after the new Pope Pius X had been elected in the conclave of 1903.
Death. August 16 (1), 1911, Manly, Sydney. Buried in St. Mary's metropolitan cathedral, Sydney.
Bibliography. La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1914, Città del Vaticano : Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1913, p. 62; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 32, 53, 423, 430 and 530;
Link. Biography, in English; his photograph and biography, in English; biography and bibliography, in English; biography and bibliography, in English; and his photograph and biography in English; his photograph and biographical data, in English.
(1) This is according to Ritzler, Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, VIII, 32; his first biography in English, linked above; his biographical data in English, linked above; and his last biography in English, also linked above; La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1914, p. 63, says that he died on August 17, 1911.
(40) 5. SCHIAFFINO, O.S.B.Oliv., Placido Maria (1829-1889)
Birth. September 5 (1), 1829, Genoa.
Education. Completed his studies and then entered the Order of St. Benedict Olivetana, 1846.
Priesthood. Ordained (no information found). Abbot of the Order of St. Benedict of Olivetana; vicar general, 1870.
Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Nissa, August 30, 1878. Consecrated, September 1, 1878, Rome, by Cardinal Raffaele Monaco La Valletta. President of the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, November 2, 1878. Secretary of the S.C. for Bishops and Regulars, November 18, 1884.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 27, 1885; received red hat and title of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo, July 30, 1885. Honorary president of the commission for the celebration of the priestly jubilee of Pope Leo XIII, 1887. Prefect of the S.C. of the Index, April 6, 1888. Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, February 20, 1889 until his death. Member of the Council of Historical Studies, April 28, 1889. Administrator of the Benedictine abbey of Subiaco, May 18, 1889.
Death. September 23, 1889, at 8:30 a.m., of acute gastroenteritis, Subiaco. Exposed in the church of the abbey of Subiaco and buried in the city's cemetery. The funeral took place in the church of S. Andrea delle Fratte, Rome, September 28, 1889 at 10:30 a.m.; the mass was celebrated by Giovanni Maria Mantovano, O.F.M., titular bishop of Meloe di Licia; the final absolution was imparted by Cardinal Lucido Maria Parocchi, vicar of Rome; thirteen cardinals were in attendance.
Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti." La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1903, Città del Vaticano : Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1903, p. 187; L'Osservatore Romano [electronic resource]. Città del Vaticano : L'Osservatore Romano, XXIX, n. 221 (September 24, 1889), p. 3; XXIX, n. 223 (September 26, 1889), p. 3; XXIX, n. 226 (September 29, 1889), pp. 1 and 3; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 32, 48 and 422.
(1) This is according to Ritzler, Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, VIII, p. 32; and "Cardinali defunti." La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1903, p. 187; L'Osservatore Romano, XXIX, n. 221 (September 24, 1889), p. 3, says that he was born on September 4, 1829.
(40) 5. CRISTOFORI, Carlo (1813-1891)
Birth. January 5, 1813, Viterbo. Of a noble family. Brother of Count Francesco Cristofori, author of Cronotassi dei cardinali de Santa Romana Chiesa, Rome, 1888.
Education. Initial studies in Viterbo; later, studied in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in utroque iure, both canon and civil law.
Early life. In 1838, he participated in the publication of the synoptical tables of canon law. Secretary and auditor of the dean of the Sacred Roman Rota. Domestic prelate of His Holiness. Referendary of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. Jude of the tribunal of the papal majordome. Archivist of the Holy See, 1874-1877. Named auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota in 1880. President of the first chamber of the Prelatice Judicial Commission of the Apostolic Palaces, 1881-1885. Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 1882-1885. Assistant of the vice-chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Teodolfo Mertel. Auditor general of the Apostolic Chamber, April 18, 1885.
Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of July 27, 1885; received red hat and deaconry of Ss. Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia, July 30, 1885.
Sacred orders. Received the subdiaconate on November 29, 1885; and the diaconate on December 6, 1885. Named prefect of the S.C. of Indulgences and Relics on March 14, 1889. He was the last prelate who had not received the priestly ordination at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate.
Death. January 30, 1891, of a pulmonary fever, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini, Rome; and buried in the chapel of the Archconfraternity of the Most Precious Blood in Campo Verano cemetery, Rome.
Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti." La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1903, Città del Vaticano : Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1903, p. 188; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des cardinaux du XIXe siècle : contribution à l'histoire du Sacré Collège sous les potificats de Pie VII, Léon XII, Pie VIII, Grégoire XVI, Pie IX et Léon XIII, 1800-1903. Montréal : Wilson & Lafleur, 2007. (Collection Gratianus. Série instruments de recherche = Gratianus series. Série Instruments de recherche; Variation: Collection Gratianus.; Série Instruments de recherche), p. 269; Ritzler, Remigium, and Pirminum Sefrin. Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi. Volumen VIII (1846-1903). Patavii : Typis et Sumptibus Domus Editorialis "Il Messaggero di S. Antonio" apud Basilicam S. Antonii, 1979, pp. 32 and 55.
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