The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical Dictionary

The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Biographical Dictionary
Pope Pius IX (1846-1878)
Consistory of June 22, 1866 (XV)

(68) 1. CULLEN, Paul (1803-1878)

Birth. April 29 (1), 1803, Prospect, diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Ireland. He was the third son of fifteen siblings (eight boys and seven girls). Uncle of Cardinal Francis Patrick Moran, archbishop of Sydney, first Australian cardinal.

Education. Carlow College, Carlow; Pontifical Urban Athenaeum of Propaganda Fide, Rome.

Priesthood. Ordained, 1829, Rome, by Cardinal Pietro Caprano. Professor of Hebrew and Sacred Scripture in the schools of the S.C. of Propaganda Fide, Rome, and director of the publishing branch of the S.C. of Propaganda Fide; edited and published a standard edition of the Greek and Latin Lexicon of Hedericus, and also the Acts of the Congregation of Propaganda in seven volumes as well as other important works. Rector of the Irish College, Rome, 1832-1850. During the Roman Revolution, appointed rector of the Pontifical Urban Athenaeum of Propaganda Fide, retaining the rectorship of the Irish College.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Armagh, January 8, 1850. Consecrated, February 24, 1850, church of S. Agata dei Goti, Rome, by Cardinal Castruccio Castracane degli Antelminelli, bishop of Palestrina, assisted by Carlo Luigi Morichini, titular archbishop of Nisibi, and by John Thomas Hynes, O.P., titular bishop of Leros and apostolic vicar of Demerara. Apostolic visitor to all religious orders in Ireland, April 3, 1850. Apostolic delegate for the convocation and celebration of the Irish Synod of Bishops of Thurles, April 6, 1850. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Dublin, May 3, 1852. Apostolic administrator of Armagh, ad beneplacitum Sanctae Sedis, until October 4, 1852. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, November 2, 1854.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 22, 1866; received the red hat and the title of S. Pietro in Montorio, June 25, 1866. First Irish cardinal resident in Ireland. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870; proposed the precise and accurate formula for the definition of papal infallibility which was accepted by the council. Granted faculty to convoke and preside over the Second Plenary Synod of the Irish Bishops, to be held in Maynooth in 1875, and appointed apostolic delegate to the same, May 30, 1873. Arrived in Rome after Pope Leo XIII had been elected in the conclave of 1878. He was the first Irish cardinal.

Death. October 24, 1878, in the archbishop's residence, Eccles street, Dublin. Exposed in the metropolitan cathedral of Dublin, and buried behind the main altar, chapel of Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, Dublin (1). This college, founded by him, has been since 1859 the seminary for the archdiocese of Dublin.

Bibliography. Bowen, Desmond. Paul Cardinal Cullen and the shaping of modern Irish Catholicism. Dublin : Gill and Macmillan ; Waterloo, Ont., Canada : Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1983; "Cardinali defunti." La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1903. Città del Vaticano : Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1903, p. 172; Cullen, Paul. The pastoral letters and other writings of Cardinal Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin. 3 v. Edited by Patrick Francis Moran. Dublin : Browne & Nolan, 1882. Other Titles: Writings of Cardinal Cullen ; The writings of Cardinal Cullen by the Bishop of Ossory; MacSuibhne, Peadar. The good Cardinal Cullen. Dublin : Irish Messenger Publications, 1979; 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. 17 and 122-123; Swayne, Peter ; Cullen, Paul. Paul Cullen and his contemporaries : with their letters from 1820-1902. 5 v. Naas, Ire. : Leinster Leader, 1961-1977. Reponsibility: by Peadar Mac Suibhne ; pref. by Dr. Keogh.

Links. Biography, in English; another biography, in English; portrait and biography, in English; portrait and biographical entry, in English.

(1) This is according to all the sources consulted, printed and electronic, except Ritzler, Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi, VIII, 17, which says that he was born on April 27, 1803 but adds that other sources, which he does not name, say that he was born on April 29, 1803.
(2) Holy Cross College at Clonliffe is no longer operating as a seminary. It closed as such in 2001. Dublin students for the priesthood now pursue their studies at St Patricks College in Maynooth. Part of the college is now used by the growing "Mater Dei Institute of Education", a college of Dublin City University and a foundation of the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin for the training of religious education teachers and others who will work in the front line of Irish life as mediators, opinion formers etc. It has approx 500 students (mostly lay).

(69) 2. HOHENLOHE-SCHILLINGSFÜRST, Gustav Adolf von (1823-1896)

Birth. February 26, 1823, Rothenburg, diocese of Fulda, Germany. Son of Franz Joseph von Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst and Konstanze von Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

Education. Studied humanities at the gymnasiums of Ansbach and Erfürt; studied law in Bonn; Seminary of Breslau, Breslau (theology); Seminary of Münich, Münich (theology); Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome, Autumn 1846 to 1847.

Priesthood. Ordained, January 1849, Gaeta. Privy chamberlain participantium, 1850 to 1866. Secret almoner of His Holiness, November 7, 1857.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Edessa in Osrhoëne, November 13, 1857. Consecrated, November 22, 1857, Vatican, by Pope Pius IX. Canon of the chapter of the patriarchal Vatican basilica, November 30, 1857. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, December 1, 1857. Plans for his appointment to a diocese in Germany could not be carried out.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 22, 1866; received the red hat and the title of S. Maria in Traspontina, June 25, 1866. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870; opposed the definiton of the dogma of papal infallibility but when the council passed the declaration, he accepted and supported it. After the dissolution of the Papal States in 1870, went to Germany. Otto von Bismarck tried 1872 to appoint him German ambassador to the Holy See but failed because of the opposition of the Curia. Participated in the conclave of 1878, which elected Pope Leo XIII. He strived for the reconciliation between church and state in the cultural fight. Named archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian basilica, July 15, 1878. Opted for the order of cardinal bishops and suburbicarian see of Albano, May 12, 1879. Differences with the Curia made him resign his diocese in September 1883. Pope Leo XIII accepted the resignation in December 1883 and allowed him to return to the order of cardinal priests occupying the place in seniority he had after Cardinal Antonio Maria Panebianco before opting for the order of cardinal bishops. Opted for the title of S. Callisto, November 10, 1884. Opted for the title of S. Lorenzo in Lucina, December 2, 1895. Cardinal primo prete.

Death. October 30, 1896, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Lorenzo in Lucina and buried in the Germanic cemetery Sanctæ Marthæ (Teutonic cemetery) in the Vatican.

Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti." La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1903, Città del Vaticano : Tipografia poliglotta vaticana, 1903, p. 200; 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. 17, 43, 47, 49, 51 and 256; Weber, Christoph. Kardinäle und Prälaten in den letzten Jahrzehnten des Kirchenstaates : Elite-Rekrutierung, Karriere-Muster u. soziale Zusammensetzung d. kurialen Führungsschicht zur Zeit Pius' IX. (1846-1878). Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1978. (Päpste und Papsttum; Bd. 13, I-II), II, 473-474, 548, 690, 704, 714, 715, 728, 737, 747 and 762.

Links. Biography, in German; biography, also in German; his genealogy, Section 4, 11a, 6b.

(70) 3. BILIO, C.R.S.P., Luigi Maria (1826-1884)

Birth. March 25, 1826, Alessandria, Piedmont.

Education. Joined the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Barnabites) when he was fourteen years old; professed in Genoa, 1842.

Priesthood. Ordained, 1849, Vercelli. Professor of Greek and philosophy, Collegio Ducale, Parma; and in Naples. Professor of philosophy, theology and canon law, S. Carlo ai Catinari, Rome. Assistant general of his order. Consultor of the S.C. of the Inquisition, 1864; of the S.C. of the Index, 1865. Had an important role in the preparation of the Syllabus and of the encyclical Quanta Cura.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 22, 1866 (1); received the red hat and the title of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna, June 25, 1866. Participated in the First Vatican Council, 1869-1870; alternate president, December 29, 1869.

Episcopate. Opted for the order of bishops and the suburbicarian see of Sabina, December 22, 1873. Consecrated, January 12, 1874, Rome, by Pope Pius IX. Participated in the conclave of 1878, which elected Pope Leo XIII. Prefect of the S.C. of Indulgences and Relics, July 12, 1876. Prefect of the S.C. of Rites, December 20, 1876. Grand penitentiary, October 18, 1877 until his death. Secretary of the Supreme S.C. of the Universal and Roman Inquisition, January 25, 1883 until his death.

Death. January 30, 1884, Rome. Exposed in the church of Ss. Carlo e Biagio ai Catinari, Rome; and buried in the tomb of his order 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. 178-179; 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. 17, 45 and 49; Weber, Christoph. Kardinäle und Prälaten in den letzten Jahrzehnten des Kirchenstaates : Elite-Rekrutierung, Karriere-Muster u. soziale Zusammensetzung d. kurialen Führungsschicht zur Zeit Pius' IX. (1846-1878). Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1978. (Päpste und Papsttum; Bd. 13, I-II), II, 440, 679, 690, 714, 718, 741, 748 and 751-753.

(1) He was created a cardinal at the suggestion of Fr. Giuseppe Carlo Vercellone, C.R.S.P., who declined the promotion offered to him by the pope.

(71) 4. MATTEUCCI, Antonio (1802-1866)

Birth. March 15, 1802, Fermo.

Education. (No information found).

Sacred orders. Ordained a deacon. Referendary prelate, May 7, 1829. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government, 1830. Judge of the Reverend Fabric of St. Peter's, 1830-1836. First assessor of the tribunal del Governo, 1832-1835. Prelate adjunct of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council, 1833-1846. Relator of the Sacred Consulta, 1836. Economous and secretary of the Reverend Fabric of St. Peter's, 1837-1843. Secretary of the Sacred Consulta, 1844-1853. Director general of police, November 8, 1852 to 1865. Vice-camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church and supreme moderator of public security in Rome and all pontifical jurisdiction, April 15, 1853.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 22, 1866; received the red hat and the deaconry of S. Giorgio in Velabro, June 25, 1866. Died before taking possession of his deaconry.

Death. July 9, 1866, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Salvatore in Lauro, Rome, where the funeral took place on July 12, 1866, with the participation of Pope Pius IX, and buried in that same church.

Bibliography. "Cardinali defunti." La Gerarchia Cattolica e la Famiglia Pontificia per l'anno 1876. Roma : Tipografia dei Fratelli Monaldi, 1875, p. 126; 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. 17 and 54; Weber, Christoph. Kardinäle und Prälaten in den letzten Jahrzehnten des Kirchenstaates : Elite-Rekrutierung, Karriere-Muster u. soziale Zusammensetzung d. kurialen Führungsschicht zur Zeit Pius' IX. (1846-1878). Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1978. (Päpste und Papsttum; Bd. 13, I-II), II, 484, 547 and 699.

(72) 5. CONSOLINI, Domenico (1806-1884)

Birth. June 7, 1806, Senigallia. Of the marchises of Consolini.

Education. Studied in Senigallia; and later at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, Rome, 1830-1832.

Sacred orders. Ordained (no information found; never ordained a priest). Referendary prelate, December 20, 1832. Relator of the S.C. of Good Government, 1833-1834. First assessor of the tribunal of the Apostolic Chamber, 1834. Apostolic delegate in Camerino, 1835-1837. Apostolic delegate in Fermo, 1838-1842. Auditor of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice, 1843-1847. Apostolic delegate in Perugia, end of 1846. Vice-president of the Council of State, 1851-1866.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 22, 1866; received red hat and the deaconry of S. Maria in Domnica, June 25, 1866. Prefect of economy of the S.C. of Propaganda Fide and of the Chamber of Despoilments, December 20, 1867. Participated in the conclave of 1878, which elected Pope Leo XIII. Archchancellor of the Roman University, Rome. Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, March 24, 1884 until his death.

Death. December 20, 1884, Rome. Exposed in the church of S. Eustachio and buried, temporarily, 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. 180; 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. 17 and 55; Weber, Christoph. Kardinäle und Prälaten in den letzten Jahrzehnten des Kirchenstaates : Elite-Rekrutierung, Karriere-Muster u. soziale Zusammensetzung d. kurialen Führungsschicht zur Zeit Pius' IX. (1846-1878). Stuttgart : Hiersemann, 1978. (Päpste und Papsttum; Bd. 13, I-II), II, 452-453, 677, 692, 730, 742, 748 and 754.

VERCELLONE, C.R.S.P., Carlo Giuseppe (1814-1869)

Birth. January 10, 1814, Sordevolo, diocese of Biella, Piedmont.

Education. Entered the Order of the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Barnabites); took the habit, November 3, 1829, Genoa; professed, November 4, 1830; studied philosophy and theology in Turin, 1830; and in Rome under Aloysius Ungarelli, starting from 1832.

Priesthood. Ordained, July 17, 1836, Turin. He worked in different schools of his order, mostly as a lecturer in theology Turin, 1835; Alessandria, 1836; Perugia, 1837; Parma 1839; and again Turin, 1843. From 1844, he lived in the Barnabite Collegio S. Carlo in Rome; he was first a lecturer in theology; and then provost, 1847-1850. Since 1850, he functioned in the Roman general curia of the Barnabite order, first as a general assistant, April 30, 1850 until April 1853; then as general procurator, April 30, 1853 until May 18, 1865; and because of the absence of the superior general, also as vicar general of the order (1), May until October 1853; finally, again as a general assistant, August 8, 1866 until his death. In the years starting from 1850, he exercised his activity, besides his offices in the order's curia, also as a professor, 1844-1864, at Collegio S. Carlo; he read exegeses, Hebrew language, church history (using the texts of the Barnabite Cardinal Hyacinthe Sigismond Gerdil), moral theology and dogmatics. During the occupation of the Collegio by the soldiers of the Roman Republic in 1849, he remained in the house, in order to protect its precious library. His daily chronicle concerning this endeavor was published 1935. He became a member of several Roman academies such as the Pontificia Accademia dell'Immaculata Concezione, the Accademia di Archeologia, the Accademia di Religione Cattolica, and the Accademia Tiberina. Pope Pius IX appointed him consultor of the S.C. of the Index on July 11, 1850 and of the S.C. of Propaganda Fide for the Eastern Churches when it was established on January 6, 1862. From August 11, 1867 up to his death, he was consultor of the preparatory commission of the First Vatican Council for Eastern missions questions. At the Roman University of La Sapienza, he functioned as a member of the college of philosophy. He owes his celebrity to his research on Biblical manuscripts, such as his critical studies on the text of the Latin Vulgate, and especially, his editing of the Codex Vaticanus (B). As a consultor of the S.C. of the Index, he participated in the controversy concerning the emergence in France, Belgium and Italy, of the ideas frequently known under the name "Ontologismus" or "Traditionalismus" (passing on as source of realization of the ideas) which were opposed by the Neoscholastics .

Cardinalate. According to his biography in German, linked below; and to the article by Luigi M. Cagni, "Pie IX donne la pourpre à un Barnabite", in the French edition of L'Osservatore Romano, March 16, 1962, p. 4-5, Pope Pius IX wanted to name a Barnabite cardinal before the First Vatican Council opened on December 8, 1869. The best known Barnabite at that time was Father Vercellone but he refused because of his age and his state of health, and proposed the name of his pupil Father Luigi Bilio, C.R.S.P.

Death. January 29 (2), 1869, Rome. Exposed and buried (no information found).

Bibliography. Martin, Daniel William. "Vercellone, Carlo." The New Catholic Encyclopedia. 19 vols. Prepared by an editorial staff at the Catholic University of America. New York : McGraw-Hill, 1967-2001, XIV, 611; Penna, Angelo. "Vercellone, Carlo Giuseppe." Enciclopedia Cattolica. 12 vols. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l'Enciclopedia cattolica e per il Libro cattolico, 1948-54, XII, cols. 1253-1254.

Links. Biography, in English; biography, in German with his bibliography.

(1) This is according to his biography in German linked above; Martin, "Vercellone, Carlo", 610; Penna, Angelo. "Vercellone, Carlo Giuseppe" , col. 1253; and his biography in English, also linked above, indicates that he was superior general of his order.
(2) This is according to his biography in German linked above; his biography in English, also linked above, indicates that he died on January 19, 1869.