Girolamo Maria Gotti
Encyclopedia
Girolamo Maria Gotti, O.C.D.
(born Giovanni Antonio Benedetto Gotti March 29, 1834, Genoa
, Italy
; died March 19, 1916, Rome
, Italy), sometimes erroneously called Giuseppe Gotti, was a cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
.
Gotti was papabile
at the 1903 papal conclave, when he was generally believed to be the most likely opponent of Pope Leo XIII
's Secretary of State Mariano Rampolla. Although Gotti was Rampolla's main challenger in the first four ballots, eventually after seven ballots Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto was elected as Pope Pius X
. It is noteworthy that there has never been a Carmelite
Pope: indeed Gotti is the only Carmelite cardinal to have been a serious candidate for the papacy since the order was founded around eight centuries ago.
Gotti entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites
in 1850 and, after his profession as a religious a year later, completed his studies for the priesthood by 1856. In the following decades Gotti was a lector of philosophy
and theology
in the local monastery. So able and versatile was he that he also taught mathematics
at the local naval academy during this period. He was already regarded as a tireless student and scholar, as well as an ascetic who, despite the influence he was having, would always sleep on the floor.
At the First Vatican Council
in 1870 Gotti was advisor to the superior-general of his order and by 1881 he had become superior general himself (he was to retain this position until 1897). He became a counsellor to several curial
congregations in Rome during the 1880s and was also Apostolic Examiner of the Roman Clergy during this decade. In 1892 Gotti became titular
Archbishop
of Petra and Internuncio to Brazil
. At the consistory
of November 29, 1895 he was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Leo.
Gotti became Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
(then known as the Congregation for Bishops and Regulars) in 1896, but was transferred to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
(Propaganda Fide) - where most of his curial experience had been concentrated - three years later. His reputation for piety and learning being undiminished meant that, when the seemingly ageless Leo XIII finally seemed in declining health, Gotti was often mentioned as a likely successor, even though he was seen as a very different man (much more deeply pious and ascetic) from Pope Leo.
In the 1903 conclave, when it became clear Rampolla had too many opponents to be able to gain the necessary forty-two votes for election, his supporters turned to Cardinal Sarto, so that Gotti was not elected Pope, even though some, noting opposition to Rampolla just before Leo's death, had said he was likely to win.
Under Pius X, Cardinal Gotti continued in his role as Prefect of Propaganda Fide until his death in 1916. Although he participated in the 1914 conclave, Gotti, at eighty years of age, was clearly far too old to have another chance of becoming Pope and was not again considered papabile.
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
(born Giovanni Antonio Benedetto Gotti March 29, 1834, Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Italy
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...
; died March 19, 1916, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy), sometimes erroneously called Giuseppe Gotti, was a 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...
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...
.
Gotti was papabile
Papabile
Papabile is an unofficial Italian term first coined by Vaticanologists and now used internationally in many languages to describe a cardinal of whom it is thought likely or possible that he will be elected pope. A literal English translation would be "popeable" or "one who might become pope".In...
at the 1903 papal conclave, when he was generally believed to be the most likely opponent of Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
's Secretary of State Mariano Rampolla. Although Gotti was Rampolla's main challenger in the first four ballots, eventually after seven ballots Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto was elected as Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. It is noteworthy that there has never been a Carmelite
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
Pope: indeed Gotti is the only Carmelite cardinal to have been a serious candidate for the papacy since the order was founded around eight centuries ago.
Gotti entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
in 1850 and, after his profession as a religious a year later, completed his studies for the priesthood by 1856. In the following decades Gotti was a lector of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and 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 the local monastery. So able and versatile was he that he also taught mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the local naval academy during this period. He was already regarded as a tireless student and scholar, as well as an ascetic who, despite the influence he was having, would always sleep on the floor.
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...
in 1870 Gotti was advisor to the superior-general of his order and by 1881 he had become superior general himself (he was to retain this position until 1897). He became a counsellor to several curial
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...
congregations in Rome during the 1880s and was also Apostolic Examiner of the Roman Clergy during this decade. In 1892 Gotti became titular
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Petra and Internuncio to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. At the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of November 29, 1895 he was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Leo.
Gotti became Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
(then known as the Congregation for Bishops and Regulars) in 1896, but was transferred to 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...
(Propaganda Fide) - where most of his curial experience had been concentrated - three years later. His reputation for piety and learning being undiminished meant that, when the seemingly ageless Leo XIII finally seemed in declining health, Gotti was often mentioned as a likely successor, even though he was seen as a very different man (much more deeply pious and ascetic) from Pope Leo.
In the 1903 conclave, when it became clear Rampolla had too many opponents to be able to gain the necessary forty-two votes for election, his supporters turned to Cardinal Sarto, so that Gotti was not elected Pope, even though some, noting opposition to Rampolla just before Leo's death, had said he was likely to win.
Under Pius X, Cardinal Gotti continued in his role as Prefect of Propaganda Fide until his death in 1916. Although he participated in the 1914 conclave, Gotti, at eighty years of age, was clearly far too old to have another chance of becoming Pope and was not again considered papabile.