Fabrizio Spada
Encyclopedia
Fabrizio Spada was an Italian Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
, and served as Secretary of State under Pope Innocent XII
.
of the House of Mattei.
Spada completed his studies as a doctor of law ("in utroque iure") at the University of Perugia
in 1664; after which he took holy orders
in 1669. He was subsequently appointed referendary to the Apostolic Signatura
and Lay Abbot
of the monastery of Santa Maria d' Attilia, in the diocese of San Severino
.
In 1672 he became titular bishop of Patras
but had to obtain a dispensation because he was still below canonical age, and papal nuncio
to the duchy of Savoy
. Two years later he was appointed nunzio to France
. Pope Clement X created him cardinal-priest in the consistory of 27 May 1675, and he was given the titulus of San Callisto
. This was exchanged in 1689 for that of San Crisogono
and in 1708 for that of Santa Prassede
.
He was appointed legate
to Urbino
in 1686 and seved as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
from 1688 to 1689. Finally he achieved his most senior appointment as Cardinal Secretary of State
, serving from 1691 to 1700 under the papacy of Innocent XII. In 1710 he become cardinal-bishop of the Roman see of Palestrina
. Other titles included Prefect for the Congregation of Good Government (now suppressed), archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
, and Secretary for the Holy Office or Inquisition
from 1716 until to his death. As cardinal he also participated in the papal conclaves of 1676, 1689, 1691 and 1700.
He died in the family palace in Rome, and his body was laid out for viewing in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella
before being interred within the Spada family chapel.
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...
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...
, and served as Secretary of State under Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII , born Antonio Pignatelli, was Pope from 1691 to 1700.-Biography:He was born in Spinazzola to one of the most aristocratic families of the Kingdom of Naples, which included many Viceroys, and ministers to the crown, and was educated at the Jesuit college in Rome.In his twentieth...
.
Life
He was the son of Orazio Spada and Veralli Maria, he was also a great-nephew of Cardinal Bernardino Spada and a nephew of Cardinal Giambattista Spada on his father's side, and a nephew of Cardinal Fabrizio Verallo on his mother's side. His sister, Eugenia Spada (1639 - 1717) married Girolamo Mattei, Duca di GioveGirolamo Mattei, Duca di Giove
Girolamo Mattei was an Italian nobleman of the House of Mattei and Duke of Giove.Mattei was born in 1606, the son of Asdrubale Mattei, Marquis di Giove, and his wife Costanza Gonzaga . He was the older brother of Luigi Mattei; Marquis di Belmonte and military ally of the Barberini and Pope Urban...
of the House of Mattei.
Spada completed his studies as a doctor of law ("in utroque iure") at the University of Perugia
University of Perugia
University of Perugia is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale....
in 1664; after which he took holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in 1669. He was subsequently appointed referendary to the Apostolic Signatura
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church...
and Lay Abbot
Lay abbot
Lay abbot is a name used to designate a layman on whom a king or someone in authority bestowed an abbey as a reward for services rendered; he had charge of the estate belonging to it, and was entitled to part of the income.This custom existed principally in the Frankish Empire from the eighth...
of the monastery of Santa Maria d' Attilia, in the diocese of San Severino
San Severino Marche
San Severino Marche is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 50 km southwest of Ancona and about 25 km southwest of Macerata.-From prehistory to Roman age:...
.
In 1672 he became titular bishop of Patras
Patras (titular see)
Patras was a metropolitan see in Achaia, Greece. It is now a Catholic titular see.-History:Patras was dependent on Rome until 733, when it became subject to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Nothing is known of the beginning of Christianity in the city of Patras, unless we accept the tradition...
but had to obtain a dispensation because he was still below canonical age, and papal 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...
to the duchy of Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
. Two years later he was appointed nunzio to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Pope Clement X created him cardinal-priest in the consistory of 27 May 1675, and he was given the titulus of San Callisto
San Callisto
San Callisto is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, Italy, built over the site of Saint Pope Callistus I and the location of his martyrdom. The original building dates form the time of Pope Gregory III who order the building of a church on the site. The church has been rebuilt twice since,...
. This was exchanged in 1689 for that of San Crisogono
San Crisogono
San Crisogono is a church in Rome dedicated to the martyr Saint Chrysogonus.-History:The church was one of the tituli, the first parish churches of Rome...
and in 1708 for that of Santa Prassede
Santa Prassede
The Basilica of Saint Praxedes , commonly known in Italian as Santa Prassede, is an ancient titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, located near the papal basilica of Saint Mary Major...
.
He was appointed legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
in 1686 and seved as 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...
from 1688 to 1689. Finally he achieved his most senior appointment as Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
, serving from 1691 to 1700 under the papacy of Innocent XII. In 1710 he become cardinal-bishop of the Roman see of Palestrina
Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina
thumb|250 px|The Cathedral of Sant'Agapito in Palestrina.The Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina, , is a Roman Catholic suburbicarian diocese centered on the comune of Palestrina in Italy....
. Other titles included Prefect for the Congregation of Good Government (now suppressed), archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran
The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , commonly known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica and St. John Lateran's Basilica, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope...
, and Secretary for the Holy Office or Inquisition
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
from 1716 until to his death. As cardinal he also participated in the papal conclaves of 1676, 1689, 1691 and 1700.
He died in the family palace in Rome, and his body was laid out for viewing in the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella
Santa Maria in Vallicella
Santa Maria in Vallicella, also called Chiesa Nuova, is a church in Rome, Italy, which today faces onto the main thoroughfare of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele...
before being interred within the Spada family chapel.
Sources
- Renata Ago, Carriere e clientele nella Roma barocca, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1990.
- Catholic Hierarchy: Fabrizio Cardinal Spada
- Cardinals of the Catholic Church