Frédéric-François-Xavier Ghislain de Mérode
Encyclopedia
Xavier de Mérode was a Belgian prelate
, archbishop and statesman of the Papal states
.
, and of Rosalie de Grammont, he was allied through the House of Mérode
to the aristocracy of France. Losing his mother at the age of three, Xavier was brought up at Villersexel
, in Franche-Comté
, by his aunt Philippine de Grammont, second wife of his father.
He attended for a time the Jesuit
High School of Namur
, then entered the Collège de Juilly presided over by de Salinis, whence he passed (1839) to the Military Academy of Brussels. Graduating with the rank of second lieutenant
, after a short service at the armoury of Liège
, he joined (1844) as foreign attaché the staff of Maréchal Bugeaud in Algeria
, winning the cross of the Légion d'honneur.
In 1847, he abruptly resigned the military career and went to study for the priesthood at the Gregorian University, in Rome, where he was ordained (1849). Assigned, after his ordination, as chaplain to the French garrison of Viterbo
, he was being pressed by his family to return to Belgium when Pope Pius IX
, with a view to attach him permanently to his court, made him cameriere segreto (1850), an office which entailed the direction of the Roman prisons. The work done by Mérode for the penitentiary system in Rome is described by Lefebvre and Maguire; de Rayneval, the French envoy at Rome, praised it in an official report to his government; Gioacchino Pecci, Archbishop of Perugia, wanted the young cameriere to inaugurate similar work in his metropolis.
In 1860 Mérode, much against the views of the Roman Prelature, headed by Cardinal Antonelli
, persuaded Pius IX to form corps of Catholic volunteers that would later become the Papal Zouaves
. He succeeded in enlisting the services of Lamoricière as commander-in-chief and was himself appointed minister of war. The task assumed by Mérode and Lamoricière was well-nigh impossible.
The ensuing years of comparative quiet Mérode spent in public works; the building at his own expense of the 'Campo pretoriano' outside the Porta Pia
, the clearing of the approaches of Santa Maria degli Angeli
, the opening of streets in the new section of Rome, the sanitation of the old quarters by the Tiber, etc. His temperament and progressive views made him enemies among the old traditional Roman element just as the vehemence with which he branded the French Emperor's duplicity turned against him the heads of the French army of occupation. Lamoricière's death (19 September 1865) became the signal of open hostility. Pius IX was forced to discharge his minister.
Reduced to a simple cameriere,Mérode, on Hohenlohe
's promotion to the cardinalate, was given the vacant place of papal almoner and (22 June 1866) consecrated titular Archbishop of Melitene. His new duties were to distribute the papal alms and to confirm children in danger of death. At the First Vatican Council
, he showed the influence exercised over him by his brother-in-law, de Montalembert, and sided with the minority that deemed the definition of papal infallibility
inopportune and even dangerous, but submitted the day the dogma
was defined.
After the capture of Rome by the Piedmontese (20 September 1870) he followed his master into the retirement of the Vatican, leaving it only to fight the Piedmontese government's pretensions on the campo pretoriano or to share de Rossi
's work in the excavations of Tor Marancino which resulted in the discovery of the Basilica of St. Petronilla.
He died of acute pneumonia
in the arms of Pius IX, only a few months before the Consistory
in which he was to have been made a cardinal. His remains were laid to rest in a cemetery near the Vatican.
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, archbishop and statesman of the Papal states
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
.
Biography
The son of Félix de Mérode-Westerloo who held successively the portfolios of foreign affairs, war, and finances under Leopold I of BelgiumLeopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, and of Rosalie de Grammont, he was allied through the House of Mérode
House of Merode
The princely house of Merode is one of the most important houses of the Belgian nobility.The surname of the family and the name of the House is mostly written de Mérode in but was originally von Merode due to the German descent of the House...
to the aristocracy of France. Losing his mother at the age of three, Xavier was brought up at Villersexel
Villersexel
Villersexel is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.-City:The city, or commune of Villersexel is located within the Haute-Saône department, located within the Franche-Comté region of France. As noted, the current population is less than 2,000...
, in Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
, by his aunt Philippine de Grammont, second wife of his father.
He attended for a time the Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
High School of Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
, then entered the Collège de Juilly presided over by de Salinis, whence he passed (1839) to the Military Academy of Brussels. Graduating with the rank of second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, after a short service at the armoury of Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, he joined (1844) as foreign attaché the staff of Maréchal Bugeaud in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, winning the cross of the Légion d'honneur.
In 1847, he abruptly resigned the military career and went to study for the priesthood at the Gregorian University, in Rome, where he was ordained (1849). Assigned, after his ordination, as chaplain to the French garrison of Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
, he was being pressed by his family to return to Belgium when 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...
, with a view to attach him permanently to his court, made him cameriere segreto (1850), an office which entailed the direction of the Roman prisons. The work done by Mérode for the penitentiary system in Rome is described by Lefebvre and Maguire; de Rayneval, the French envoy at Rome, praised it in an official report to his government; Gioacchino Pecci, Archbishop of Perugia, wanted the young cameriere to inaugurate similar work in his metropolis.
In 1860 Mérode, much against the views of the Roman Prelature, headed by Cardinal Antonelli
Cardinal Antonelli
Cardinal Antonelli may refer to:*Giacomo Antonelli , Italian cardinal deacon*Ennio Antonelli , Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church...
, persuaded Pius IX to form corps of Catholic volunteers that would later become the Papal Zouaves
Papal Zouaves
The Papal Zouaves were an infantry force formed in defence of the Papal States.-Origin:The Zouaves evolved out of a unit formed by Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de Lamoricière...
. He succeeded in enlisting the services of Lamoricière as commander-in-chief and was himself appointed minister of war. The task assumed by Mérode and Lamoricière was well-nigh impossible.
The ensuing years of comparative quiet Mérode spent in public works; the building at his own expense of the 'Campo pretoriano' outside the Porta Pia
Porta Pia
Porta Pia is a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome, Italy. One of Pope Pius IV's civic improvements to the city, it is named after him. Situated at the end of a new street, the Via Pia, it was designed by Michelangelo in replacement for the Porta Nomentana situated several hundred meters...
, the clearing of the approaches of Santa Maria degli Angeli
Santa Maria degli Angeli
Santa Maria degli Angeli is the name of several churches in Italy. They include:*Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, a basilica in Rome, created by Michelangelo in the Baths of Diocletian...
, the opening of streets in the new section of Rome, the sanitation of the old quarters by the Tiber, etc. His temperament and progressive views made him enemies among the old traditional Roman element just as the vehemence with which he branded the French Emperor's duplicity turned against him the heads of the French army of occupation. Lamoricière's death (19 September 1865) became the signal of open hostility. Pius IX was forced to discharge his minister.
Reduced to a simple cameriere,Mérode, on Hohenlohe
Hohenlohe
Hohenlohe is the name of a German princely family and the name of their principality.At first rulers of a county, its two branches were raised to the rank of principalities of the Holy Roman Empire in 1744 and 1764 respectively; in 1806 they lost their independence and their lands formed part of...
's promotion to the cardinalate, was given the vacant place of papal almoner and (22 June 1866) consecrated titular Archbishop of Melitene. His new duties were to distribute the papal alms and to confirm children in danger of death. At 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...
, he showed the influence exercised over him by his brother-in-law, de Montalembert, and sided with the minority that deemed the definition of papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
inopportune and even dangerous, but submitted the day the dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
was defined.
After the capture of Rome by the Piedmontese (20 September 1870) he followed his master into the retirement of the Vatican, leaving it only to fight the Piedmontese government's pretensions on the campo pretoriano or to share de Rossi
De Rossi
de Rossi is a surname, and may refer to:*Bernardo de Rossi, Italian theologian and historian*Bernardo de' Rossi, Italian bishop*Properzia de' Rossi, Italian Renaissance sculptor*Fabrizio De Rossi, a fictional character in the 1997 film Titanic...
's work in the excavations of Tor Marancino which resulted in the discovery of the Basilica of St. Petronilla.
He died of acute pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in the arms of Pius IX, only a few months before the Consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
in which he was to have been made a cardinal. His remains were laid to rest in a cemetery near the Vatican.