(15) 1. BRASCHI, Giovanni Angelo (1717-1799)

Birth. December 25, 1717, Cesena. The eldest of eight children of Count Marco Aurelio Tommaso Braschi and Ana Teresa, of the counts Bandi, an aristocratic but poor family. His baptismal name was Angelo Onofrio Melchiorre Natale Giovanni Antonio. Nephew of Cardinal Giovanni Bandi (1775), and uncle of Cardinal Romoaldo Braschi-Onesti (1786)

Education. Jesuit College, Cesena (doctorate in law, 1734); University of Ferrara, Ferrara.

Early life. Secretary to Cardinal Tommaso Ruffo, legate in Ferrara; his assistant at the 1740 conclave; when the cardinal became bishop of Ostia and Velletri, he was appointed auditor, representing the cardinal in those dioceses. Sent in a diplomatic mission to Naples. Private secretary to Pope Benedict XIV, 1753. Canon of the chapter of the patriarchal Vatican basilica, January 17, 1755 (1).

Priesthood. Ordained, 1755. Domestic prelate of His Holiness, 1758. Referendary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, 1758. Auditor civile of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, 1759. Auditor of Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico, nephew of Pope Clement XIII, 1759. Treasurer general of the Apostolic Chamber, 1766.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of April 26, 1773; received the red hat and the title of S.Onofrio, May 10, 1773. Abbot commendatario of the Camaldolese monastery of S. Gregorio al Celio, Rome; and of the monastery of Subiaco,1773. Participated in the conclave of 1774-1775 and was elected pope.

Papacy. Elected pope, February 15, 1775; took the name Pius VI.

Episcopate. Consecrated bishop of Rome, February 22, 1775, by Cardinal Gian Francesco Albani, bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina, sub-dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals, assisted by Cardinals Henry Benedict Mary Stuart, duke of York, bishop of Frascati, and Carlo Rezzonico, bishop of Sabina. Crowned, February 22, 1775, by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, protodeacon of S. Maria in Via Lata. The French took Rome on February 10, 1798, and proclaimed the Roman Republic five days later. Pope Pius VI refused to submit and was taken by force from Rome on February 20, at night. He was taken first to Siena and then to Florence, where he lived at the Charterhouse until March 28, 1799. Although he was seriously ill, the pope was moved to Parma, Piacenza, Turin, then across the Alps to Briançon (April 30, 1799), Grenoble, and finally to Valence (July 13, 1799), where he died. His death certificate, issued by the French authorities, referred to him as "Citizen Braschi".

Death. August 29, 1799, imprisoned by the French in the citadel of Valence; kept unburied in that citadel until January 29, 1800; buried in the local cemetery. Transferred to Rome, February 17, 1802; his funeral took place on February 18, 1802, in the patriarchal Vatican basilica, attended by Pope Pius VII; buried in the grotto of that same basilica.

Bibliography. Caffiero, Marina. "Pio VI." Enciclopedia dei papi. 3 vols. Roma : Istituto della Enciclopedia italiana, 2000, III, 492-509.

Links. Biography, in English; his episcopal lineage, in English; portrait, arms and biographical information, in English; his portrait by Pompeo Girolamo, Museo di Roma, Rome; his portrait by Giandomenico Porta, Museo di Roma, Rome; his portrait receiving the medal of his pontificate, by an anonymous artist, Museo di Roma, Rome; his bust by Giuseppe Ceracchi, Museo di Roma, Rome; his bust by Antonio Canova, Collezione Braschi, Rome; his bust by Vincenzo Pacetti, Museo di Palazzo Venezia, Rome; and his statue by Antonio Canova and Adamo Cadolini, patriarchal Vatican basilica, Rome.

(1) According to Ludwig von Pastor, The History of the popes from the close of the Middle Ages (St. Louis : Herder, 1952), vol. XXXI, p. 23, Braschi hesitated to accept the canonry in St. Peter's basilica either because he was planning to marry but he "abandoned this intention and with the agreement of his fiancée, who took the veil, he decided to enter the Church." In that same page, note 2, Pastor cites other accounts that indicate the marriage did not take place either because of his poverty, or because his fiancée had died.

(16) 2. D'ELCI, Francesco (1707-1787)

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of April 26, 1773; received the red hat and the deaconry of S. Angelo in Pescheria, May 10, 1773. Participated in the conclave of 1774-1775, which elected Pope Pius VI.

Death. April 4, 1787, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Marcello, Rome, where the funeral took place; and buried in his family's tomb in the basilica of S. Sabina, Rome.

Link. His tomb in the basilica of S. Sabina.

Note. In this consistory the pope created and reserved in pectore eleven cardinals whose names were never published.

©1998-2008 Salvador Miranda.