Apostolic Nuncio to Cologne
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Nunciature
to Cologne (also , ie Nunciature of Lower Germany) was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church
established in 1584. The nuncios were accredited to the Achbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz and Trier. It was a diplomat
ic post of the Holy See
, whose representative was called the Apostolic Nuncio
at Cologne, one of the states of the Holy Roman Empire
. The office of the nunciature has been located in Cologne
until 1795, when France occupied the city. The last nuncio officiating until 1804, resided in Augsburg
, while the Archbishop-Electorate had been dissolved in 1803.
Two nuncios and one apostolic delegate at Cologne later became popes, to wit Pope Urban VII
, Pope Alexander VII
and Pope Leo XII
.
in the Empire. The Archbishop-Electorate of Cologne was chosen for being a stronghold of Catholicism in the northwest of the Empire in vicinity to areas, where Calvinism
(Bremen
, Dutch Republic
, East Frisia
, Lippe
) and Lutheranism
(elsewhere in Northern Germany
) were gaining more and more support. The Rhenish Archbishop-Electorates were further important as providing already three of the then seven votes within the election body for the imperial successors.
The political role of the apostolic nuncio at Cologne was essential for participating in some events of political life of the Empire such as the imperial diets
(in 1594 and 1622) and the imperial elections in Frankfurt upon Main (in 1612 and 1658). The nuncio also participated in the negotiations of the Peace of Westphalia
(1644-1648) in Münster
and Osnabrück
, ending the Thirty Years' War
, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)
, Cologne's abandon in the Franco–Dutch War (1673-1674), and the Peace of Utrecht (1713).
Besides Cologne, Mainz and Trier the nuncios could wield their jurisdiction undisputedly for the prince-bishoprics of Hildesheim, Liège, Osnabrück
, Paderborn, and Würzburg. In 1596, the Low Countries (Netherlands)
were detached from the nunciature of Cologne, receiving their own nuncio in Brussels.
On the instigation Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
another nunciature was established by Pope Pius VI
in Munich
. This caused a conflict between the nunciature at Cologne and the Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria
as to their competences. The appointment of Giulio Cesare Zoglio as Bavarian nuncio angered the archbishop-electors of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier, who considered the Nuncio to Cologne to be competent for all the Empire. Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
sided with the electors, and declared he would recognise nuncios in their "political character" only. The nunciature at Cologne ceased to exist in 1804. After the Congress of Vienna
, the nunciature was not reestablished, while the Bavarian nunciature, also interrupted in 1800 during the Napoleonic Wars
, resurged in 1818 and persisted until 1934. Germany
as a whole concluded diplomatic ties with the Holy See on 1 May 1920, establishing the Apostolic Nunciature to Germany.
Apostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
to Cologne (also , ie Nunciature of Lower Germany) was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church
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...
established in 1584. The nuncios were accredited to the Achbishop-Electorates of Cologne, Mainz and Trier. It was a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
ic post of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, whose representative was called the Apostolic Nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
at Cologne, one of the states of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. The office of the nunciature has been located in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
until 1795, when France occupied the city. The last nuncio officiating until 1804, resided in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, while the Archbishop-Electorate had been dissolved in 1803.
Two nuncios and one apostolic delegate at Cologne later became popes, to wit Pope Urban VII
Pope Urban VII
Pope Urban VII , born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was Pope for thirteen days in September 1590. He was of Genoese origin, although born in Rome. He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcello in 1584...
, Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
and Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
.
History
An Apostolic Nuncio at Cologne was appointed in 1584 on the instigation of Emperor Rudolph II of the Holy Roman Empire. Following the Council of Trient, apostolic delegates had already earlier been appointed at Cologne in order to contain the spreading of ProtestantismProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
in the Empire. The Archbishop-Electorate of Cologne was chosen for being a stronghold of Catholicism in the northwest of the Empire in vicinity to areas, where Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
(Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
, East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
, Lippe
Principality of Lippe
Lippe was a historical state in Germany. It was located between the Weser River and the southeast part of the Teutoburg forest.-History:...
) and Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
(elsewhere in Northern Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
) were gaining more and more support. The Rhenish Archbishop-Electorates were further important as providing already three of the then seven votes within the election body for the imperial successors.
The political role of the apostolic nuncio at Cologne was essential for participating in some events of political life of the Empire such as the imperial diets
Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)
The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...
(in 1594 and 1622) and the imperial elections in Frankfurt upon Main (in 1612 and 1658). The nuncio also participated in the negotiations of the Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
(1644-1648) in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
and Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
, ending the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle or Treaty of Aachen was signed on May 2, 1668 in Aachen. It ended the war of Devolution between France and Spain. It was mediated by the Triple Alliance of England, the Dutch Republic and Sweden at the first Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle...
, Cologne's abandon in the Franco–Dutch War (1673-1674), and the Peace of Utrecht (1713).
Besides Cologne, Mainz and Trier the nuncios could wield their jurisdiction undisputedly for the prince-bishoprics of Hildesheim, Liège, Osnabrück
Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück
The Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück was a prince-bishopric centred on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück. The diocese was erected in 772 and is the oldest see founded by Charlemagne, in order to Christianize the conquered stem-duchy of Saxony....
, Paderborn, and Würzburg. In 1596, the Low Countries (Netherlands)
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
were detached from the nunciature of Cologne, receiving their own nuncio in Brussels.
On the instigation Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
another nunciature was established by Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. This caused a conflict between the nunciature at Cologne and the Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria
Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria
The Apostolic Nunciature to Bavaria was an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Bavaria. It was a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative was called the Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria, a state – consecutively during the nunciature's existence – of the Holy Roman Empire,...
as to their competences. The appointment of Giulio Cesare Zoglio as Bavarian nuncio angered the archbishop-electors of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier, who considered the Nuncio to Cologne to be competent for all the Empire. Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
sided with the electors, and declared he would recognise nuncios in their "political character" only. The nunciature at Cologne ceased to exist in 1804. After the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, the nunciature was not reestablished, while the Bavarian nunciature, also interrupted in 1800 during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, resurged in 1818 and persisted until 1934. Germany
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
as a whole concluded diplomatic ties with the Holy See on 1 May 1920, establishing the Apostolic Nunciature to Germany.
Apostolic delegates at Cologne
- 1520: Hieronymus Aleander
- 1573–1576: Kaspar Gropper, ranked nuncio
- 1576–1578: Bartolomeo Portia
- 1578–1579: Giovanni Battista CastagnaPope Urban VIIPope Urban VII , born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was Pope for thirteen days in September 1590. He was of Genoese origin, although born in Rome. He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcello in 1584...
, future Pope Urban VII - 1583: Minutio Minucci
- 1583: Giovanni Francesco Bonomi, Bishop of VercelliVercelliVercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
Apostolic nuncios at Cologne
- 1584–1587: Giovanni Francesco Bonomi (= Bonhomini), Bishop of VercelliVercelliVercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
- 1587–1596: Ottavio Mirto Frangipani, bishop of Cajazzo, bishop of TricaricoTricaricoTricarico is a town and comune in the province of Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy.It is home to one of the best preserved medieval historical centres in Lucania.-Origins:The origin of Tricarico is presently unknown...
since 1592 - 1593/98–1606: Coriolano Garzadoro, Bishop of Ossero
- 1606–1610: Attilio Amalteo, archbishop of the titulature of Athens
- 1610–1621: Antonio Albergati, bishop of BisceglieBisceglieBisceglie is a town and comune on the Adriatic Sea, with a population of c. 54,000, in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia , southern Italy....
- 1621–1624: Pietro Francesco Montoro, bishop of NicastroNicastroNicastro was a small town in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy.Since 1968 it constitutes, together with Sambiase and Sant'Eufemia Lamezia, the city of Lamezia Terme.- Geography :...
- 1624–1634: Pier Luigi CarafaPier Luigi CarafaPier Luigi Carafa was a cardinal of the Catholic Church, and a member of the Roman Curia.He was bishop of Tricarico and nuntius of Cologne....
, bishop of Tricarico - 1630–1634: Ciriaco RocciCiriaco RocciCiriaco Rocci was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and papal nuncio to Switzerland, Austria and Cologne.Rocci was born in 1581 in Rome and studied literature before entering the service of the church....
- 1634–1639: Martino Alfieri, archbishop of the titulature of Isola, Archbishop of Cosenza since 1639
- 1639–1651: Fabio ChigiPope Alexander VIIPope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
, bishop of Nardò, future Pope Alexander VII - 1651–1659: Giuseppe Maria Sanfelice, archbishop of Cosenza
- 1659–1666: Marco Gallio, bishop of Rimini
- 1666–1670: Agostino Franciotti, archbishop of the titulature of Trapezunt
- 1670–1672: Francesco Buonvisi, archbishop of the titulature of Thessalonica, later Nuncio to PolandApostolic Nuncio to PolandThe Apostolic Nuncio to Poland is one of the oldest nuncios, appointed by the Pope as apostolic representative to the Roman Catholic Church in Poland. Three nuncios to Poland went on to be elected pope...
and Austria, cardinal - 1672–1680: Opizio Pallavicini, archbishop of the titulature of Ephesus
- 1680–1687 Ercole Visconti, archbishop of the titulature of Damietta
- 1687–1690: Sebastiano Antonio TanaraSebastiano Antonio TanaraSebastiano Antonio Tanara was an Italian cardinal.He studied law at the university of Bologna. He was internuncio in Flanders and as, such, he was sent with secret mission to king James II of England, who had converted to Catholicism...
, archbishop of the titulature of Damascus - 1690–1696: Gianantonio Davia, archbishop of the titulature of Thebae
- 1696–1698: Fabrizio Paolucci di CalboliFabrizio PaolucciFabrizio Paolucci was a Italian cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, appointed by Pope Innocent XII.-Biography:He went to Rome at the age of eight, 1659, to be educated by his grand-uncle, Francesco Paolucci...
, Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino, Archbishop of Ferrara since 1698, future Cardinal Bishop of Ostia - 1698–1702: Orazio Filippo Spada, archbishop of the titulature of Thebae
- 1703–1706: Giulio Piazza, archbishop of the titulature of Rodi
- 1706–1712: Giambattista Bussi, archbishop of the titulature of Tarsos
- 1712/13-1721: Girolamo Archinto, archbishop of the titulature of Tarsos
- 1721–1722: Vincenzo Santini, archbishop of the titulature of Trapezunt
- 1722–1732: Gaetano de'Cavalieri, archbishop of the titulature of Tarsos
- 1732–1735: Jacopo Oddi, archbishop of the titulature of Laodicea
- 1735–1738: Fabrizio SerbelloniFabrizio SerbelloniFabrizio Serbelloni was an Italian Cardinal. He was from a prominent family in Milan.He was a graduate of the University of Pavia, becoming doctor in utroque iure. He served as inquisitor general in Malta, in 1726....
, archbishop of the titulature of Patrasso - 1740–1744: Ignazio Michele Crivelli, archbishop of the titulature of Caesarea
- 1744–1754: Girolamo Spinola, archbishop of the titulature of Laodicea
- 1754–1760: Niccolò Oddi, archbishop of the titulature of Trajanopolis
- 1760–1767: Cesare Alberico Lucini, archbishop of the titulature of Nicaea
- 1766/67–1775: Giovanni Battista Caprara MontecuccoliGiovanni Battista CapraraGiovanni Battista Caprara was an Italian statesman and cardinal, legate of Pius VII in France,concluded the Concordat of 1801.-Life:...
, archbishop of the titulature of Iconium, nuncio to Vienna and Paris, later archbishop of Milano and cardinal - 1775–1785: Carlo Antonio Giuseppe Bellisomi, archbishop of the titulature of Tyana, Nuncio to PortugalApostolic Nuncio to PortugalThe Apostolic Nunciature to the Republic of Portugal is an ecclesiastical office of the Catholic Church in Portugal. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador...
- 1786–1794: Bartolomeo Pacca, archbishop of the titulature of Damiette
- 1794–1804: Annibale della GengaPope Leo XIIPope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
, archbishop of the titulature of Tyrus, last nuncio to Cologne and future Pope Leo XII, due to the French occupation and annexation of Cologne (1795, 1801) last officiating from AugsburgAugsburgAugsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
- Became the Apostolic Nunciature to Austria
Literature
- Michael F. FeldkampMichael F. FeldkampMichael F. Feldkamp, is a German historian and journalist.-Career:Feldkamp was born in Kiel. After completing his high school studies at the Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück, he studied history, Catholic theology, teaching, and philosophy at the Rhineland Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn...
, "Die Erforschung der Kölner Nuntiatur: Geschichte und Ausblick. Mit einem Verzeichnis der Amtsdaten der Nuntien und Administratoren (Interimsverwalter) der Kölner Nuntiatur (1584–1794)", in: Archivum Historiae Pontificiae, Pontif. Univ. Gregoriana (ed.), vol. 28 (1990), pp. 201–283. - Michael F. FeldkampMichael F. FeldkampMichael F. Feldkamp, is a German historian and journalist.-Career:Feldkamp was born in Kiel. After completing his high school studies at the Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück, he studied history, Catholic theology, teaching, and philosophy at the Rhineland Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn...
, Studien und Texte zur Geschichte der Kölner Nuntiatur: 4 vols., vol. 1: 'Die Kölner Nuntiatur und ihr Archiv. Eine archiv- und quellenkundliche Untersuchung' (1993; ISBN 978-88-85042-22-8); vol. 2: 'Dokumente und Materialien über Jurisdiktion, Nuntiatursprengel, Haushalt, Zeremoniell und Verwaltung der Kölner Nuntiatur (1584–1794)' (1995; ISBN 978-88-85042-21); vol. 3: 'Inventar des Fonds »Archivio della Nunziatura di Colonia« im Vatikanischen Archiv' (1995; ISBN 978-88-85042-27-9); vol. 4: 'Die Instruktionen und Finalrelationen der Kölner Nuntien von 1651 bis 1786' (2008; ISBN 978-88-85042-51-3), (=Collectanea Archivi Vaticani, vols. 30–33), Città del Vaticano: Archivio Vaticano, 1993–2008. - Nuntiaturberichte aus Deutschland, nebst ergänzenden Aktenstücken: Die Kölner Nuntiatur: so far 20 vols., edited on behalf of the Preussisches Historisches Institut (Roma; now Deutsches Historisches Institut), Görres-Gesellschaft zur Pflege der Wissenschaft, and Akademie der Wissenschaften (Vienna), Paderborn et al.: Schöningh, 1895 to present.