Alessandro Barnabò
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Barnabò was an Italian
Catholic
Cardinal
and Prefect of the Congregation Propaganda Fide
.
.
At the age of 10, the French administration in Italy sent him to the Prytanée National Militaire
in La Flèche
but he return to Italy in 1814 to study for the priesthood.
He joined the priesthood and was ordained in March 1833. Between his ordinary and 1856 he held a number of official positions including Privy chamberlain supernumerary, Consultor to the Propaganda Fide
, Keeper of the Seals of the Apostolic Penitentiary
and served as a domestic prelate to the Pope.
, a position he held until his death.
Between 1856 and 1874, Barnabò served as the Prefect of the Congregation Propaganda Fide
. Some records suggest Barnabò's administered the Congregation with almost totalitarian gusto and "controlled the missions like an empire" and ran the Congregation itself "like a dictator".
As Prefect, Barnabò was responsible for arranging a meeting between Pope Pius IX
and Isaac Hecker
. Hecker had been expelled from his Redemptorist
order but Barnabò recognised his valuable missionary work and helped him appeal to the Pope who overturned the expulsion.
For a year (1868–1869; as was customary for the office), Barnabò was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
. He succeeded friend and fellow papal power-broker, Cardinal Karl-August von Reisach
.
He participated in the First Vatican Council
between 1869 and 1870.
In 1873, Mary MacKillop
travelled to Rome and met, among others, Barnabò who encouraged her "warmly" and took great interest in her travels.
Barnabò died on 24 February 1874.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Catholic
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...
Cardinal
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...
and Prefect of the Congregation Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
.
Early life
Barnabò was born on 2 March 1801 in FolignoFoligno
Foligno is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system...
.
At the age of 10, the French administration in Italy sent him to the Prytanée National Militaire
Prytanée National Militaire
The Prytanée National Militaire, originally Collège Royal Henry-Le-Grand, is a French school managed by the military, offering regular secondary education as well as special preparatory school classes, equivalent in level to the first years of university, for students who wish to enter French...
in La Flèche
La Flèche
La Flèche is a municipality located in the French department of Sarthe and the region of Pays de la Loire in the Loire Valley. This is the sub-prefecture of the South-Sarthe, the chief district and the chief city of a canton. This is the second most populous city of the department. The city is part...
but he return to Italy in 1814 to study for the priesthood.
He joined the priesthood and was ordained in March 1833. Between his ordinary and 1856 he held a number of official positions including Privy chamberlain supernumerary, Consultor to the Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
, Keeper of the Seals of the Apostolic 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...
and served as a domestic prelate to the Pope.
Cardinalate
Barnabò was elevated to cardinal on 16 June 1856 and was appointed Cardinal Priest of Santa SusannaSanta Susanna
The Church of Saint Susanna at the baths of Diocletian is a Roman Catholic parish church on the Quirinal Hill in Rome, with a titulus associated to its site that dates back to about 280...
, a position he held until his death.
Between 1856 and 1874, Barnabò served as the Prefect of the Congregation Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
. Some records suggest Barnabò's administered the Congregation with almost totalitarian gusto and "controlled the missions like an empire" and ran the Congregation itself "like a dictator".
As Prefect, Barnabò was responsible for arranging a meeting between Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
and Isaac Hecker
Isaac Hecker
Isaac Thomas Hecker was an American Roman Catholic Priest and founder of the Paulist Fathers, the North American religious society of men; he is named a Servant of God by the Catholic Church....
. Hecker had been expelled from his Redemptorist
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
order but Barnabò recognised his valuable missionary work and helped him appeal to the Pope who overturned the expulsion.
For a year (1868–1869; as was customary for the office), Barnabò was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
The Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals was the treasurer of that body.He administered all property, fees, funds and revenue belonging to the College of Cardinals, celebrated the requiem Mass for a deceased cardinal and was charged with the registry of the Acta Consistoralia.It is...
. He succeeded friend and fellow papal power-broker, Cardinal Karl-August von Reisach
Karl-August von Reisach
Karl-August von Reisach was a German Catholic theologian and Cardinal .-Education:...
.
He participated in the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
between 1869 and 1870.
In 1873, Mary MacKillop
Mary MacKillop
Mary Helen MacKillop , also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on...
travelled to Rome and met, among others, Barnabò who encouraged her "warmly" and took great interest in her travels.
Barnabò died on 24 February 1874.