Alessandro Verde
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Verde was an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal and former Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
.
He was born in Sant'Antimo
, and educated at the Seminary
of Aversa
, where he was ordained. Later, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Roman Seminary
of "S. Apollinare", where he received doctorate
s in theology
in 1890 and a doctorate utroque iuris (in both canon
and civil law
) 1893.
He worked in the Roman Curia
after his studies and worked in the Diocese of Rome
. He served as a professor
of civil law
at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum "S. Apollinare" from 1896 until 1897. He was created Privy chamberlain of His Holiness
on 1897. He worked as an assessor of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
from 1897. He was elevated to the level of Domestic prelate of His Holiness on 16 January 1902. He was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
on 26 June 1915.
of 14 December 1925 by Pope Pius XI
. He opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice
in 1935. He participated in the conclave of 1939
that elected Pope Pius XII
. He was appointed Archpriest
of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
. When Verde died, he was both the oldest living cardinal and the Cardinal protoprete
as the longest-serving member of the College (which is actually a relatively rare occurrence).
He died in 1958 two days after his 93rd birthday and is buried in his family's tomb in Sant'Antimo.
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major , known also by other names, is the largest Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.There are other churches in Rome dedicated to Mary, such as Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, but the greater size of the...
.
He was born in Sant'Antimo
Sant'Antimo
Sant'Antimo is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 13 km north of Naples.-External links:*...
, and educated at the Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Aversa
Aversa
Aversa is a town and comune in the Province of Caserta in Campania southern Italy, about 15 kilometres north of Naples. It is the centre of an agricultural district, the agro aversano, producing wine and cheese...
, where he was ordained. Later, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Roman Seminary
Pontifical Roman Seminary
The Pontifical Roman Seminary is a seminary in Rome, Italy located at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.Its teachings are based on the Roman Pontifical.-History:...
of "S. Apollinare", where he received doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in 1890 and a doctorate utroque iuris (in both canon
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and civil law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
) 1893.
He worked in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
after his studies and worked in the Diocese of Rome
Diocese of Rome
The Diocese of Rome is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy. The bishop of Rome is the Pope, who is the Supreme Pontiff and leader of the Catholic Church...
. He served as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of civil law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum "S. Apollinare" from 1896 until 1897. He was created Privy chamberlain of His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
on 1897. He worked as an assessor of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
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...
from 1897. He was elevated to the level of Domestic prelate of His Holiness on 16 January 1902. He was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
on 26 June 1915.
Cardinal
He was created Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin in the consistoryConsistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of 14 December 1925 by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. He opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice
Pro hac vice
Pro hac vice , Latin: "for this occasion" or "for this event", is a legal term usually referring to a lawyer who has not been admitted to practice in a certain jurisdiction but has been allowed to participate in a particular case in that jurisdiction.The right to appear pro hac vice is not...
in 1935. He participated in the conclave of 1939
Papal conclave, 1939
The Papal conclave of 1939 was convoked on the brink of World War II with the death of Pope Pius XI on 10 February that year in the Apostolic Palace. With all 62 living cardinals in attendance, the conclave to elect Pius' successor began on 1 March and ended a day later, on 2 March, after three...
that elected Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He was appointed Archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major , known also by other names, is the largest Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.There are other churches in Rome dedicated to Mary, such as Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, but the greater size of the...
. When Verde died, he was both the oldest living cardinal and the Cardinal protoprete
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...
as the longest-serving member of the College (which is actually a relatively rare occurrence).
He died in 1958 two days after his 93rd birthday and is buried in his family's tomb in Sant'Antimo.