Juan Benlloch y Vivó
Encyclopedia
Joan Baptista Benlloch i Vivó (29 December 1864 – 14 February 1926) was a Valencian
Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
who served as Archbishop of Burgos
from 1919 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1921.
, and obtained his doctorate in theology
and in canon law
in October 1887. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on 25 February 1888, and then served as an auxiliary professor
at the Valenica seminary and coadjutor in Almàssera
, teaching humanities
and metaphysics
. From 1893 to 1898, Benlloch was pastor
of the parish
of Santos Juan Evangelista y Bautista in Valencia. He then taught at the seminary of Segovia
, where he was also chantre of the cathedral
chapter
, provisor and vicar general
(1899-1900), and vicar capitular
(1900-1901).
On 16 December 1901, Benlloch was appointed Apostolic Administrator
of Solsona
and Titular Bishop
of Hermopolis Maior. He received his episcopal consecration
on 2 February 1902 from Bishop Jaime Cardona y Tur, with Bishops José Cadena y Eleta and Salvador Castellote y Pinazo serving as co-consecrators
, in Madrid
. Benlloch was later named Bishop of Urgell
on 6 December 1906; in this position, he was also Co-Prince of Andorra and composed the text for its national anthem
. His tenure saw his country enter World War I
on the side of the Allies
, but Andorra
was not included in the Treaty of Versailles
and officially remained in a state of belligerency until 1957. The French Co-Princes of Andorra during Benlloch's leadership include Armand Fallières
and Raymond Poincaré
.
Benlloch was eventually advanced to Archbishop of Burgos
on 7 January 1919. Pope Benedict XV
created him Cardinal Priest
of Santa Maria in Aracoeli
in the consistory
of 7 March 1921. Benlloch was one of the cardinal electors
who participated in the 1922 papal conclave
, which selected Pope Pius XI
. He served as a special envoy of the Spanish Government
to the Latin America
n republic
s from September 1923 to January 1924.
He wrote the music to "El Gran Carlemany
", the national anthem
of Andorra.
The Cardinal died in Madrid, at the age of 61. He is buried in the Real Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados in Valencia, Spain
Valencian people
The Valencians are an ethnic group or nationality whose homeland is the Valencian Community, which is a historical region in eastern Spain. The official languages of Valencia are Catalan , and Spanish ....
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...
who served as Archbishop of Burgos
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Burgos
The Archdiocese of Burgos has been since the tenth century an episcopal see of Spain, to which in the eleventh century the ancient Sees of Oca and Valpuesta were transferred. In 1574 Pope Gregory XIII raised it to metropolitan rank, at the request of King Philip II...
from 1919 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate
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...
in 1921.
Biography
Born in Valencia, Joan Benlloch i Vivó studied at its seminarySeminary
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...
, and obtained his doctorate in theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
and in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
in October 1887. He was ordained
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....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 25 February 1888, and then served as an auxiliary 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...
at the Valenica seminary and coadjutor in Almàssera
Almàssera
Almàssera is a municipality in the comarca of Horta Nord in the Valencian Community, Spain. The name is Arabic for "mill", meaning the olive mills that were established there. In Spanish it's called 'Almácera'....
, teaching humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
and metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
. From 1893 to 1898, Benlloch was pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of the parish
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
of Santos Juan Evangelista y Bautista in Valencia. He then taught at the seminary of Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
, where he was also chantre of the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
, provisor and vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
(1899-1900), and vicar capitular
Vicar capitular
A diocesan administrator is a provisional ordinary of a Roman Catholic particular church. The college of consultors elects an administrator within eight days after the see is known to be vacant. The college must elect as administrator a priest or bishop at least 35 years old...
(1900-1901).
On 16 December 1901, Benlloch was appointed Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Solsona
Solsona, Lleida
Solsona is a municipality and capital of the comarca of the Solsonès in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the centre of the comarca in the Central Catalan Depression. It is served by the C-55 road to Manresa, and is linked to Berga and Bassella by the C-26.The old town is known as the Clos antic...
and Titular Bishop
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...
of Hermopolis Maior. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on 2 February 1902 from Bishop Jaime Cardona y Tur, with Bishops José Cadena y Eleta and Salvador Castellote y Pinazo serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Benlloch was later named Bishop of Urgell
Diocese of Urgell
The Diocese of Urgell is a Roman Catholic diocese in Catalonia, Spain, with origins in the fifth century AD or possibly earlier. It is based in the region of the historical Catalan county of Urgell, though it has different borders...
on 6 December 1906; in this position, he was also Co-Prince of Andorra and composed the text for its national anthem
El Gran Carlemany
El Gran Carlemany is the national anthem of Andorra. Written by Enric Marfany Bons and composed by Joan Benlloch i Vivó , it was adopted in 1921.-Lyrics:-External links:...
. His tenure saw his country enter World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on the side of the Allies
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
, but Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
was not included in the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
and officially remained in a state of belligerency until 1957. The French Co-Princes of Andorra during Benlloch's leadership include Armand Fallières
Armand Fallières
Clément Armand Fallières was a French politician, president of the French republic from 1906 to 1913.He was born at Mézin in the département of Lot-et-Garonne, France, where his father was clerk of the peace...
and Raymond Poincaré
Raymond Poincaré
Raymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five separate occasions and as President of France from 1913 to 1920. Poincaré was a conservative leader primarily committed to political and social stability...
.
Benlloch was eventually advanced to Archbishop of Burgos
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Burgos
The Archdiocese of Burgos has been since the tenth century an episcopal see of Spain, to which in the eleventh century the ancient Sees of Oca and Valpuesta were transferred. In 1574 Pope Gregory XIII raised it to metropolitan rank, at the request of King Philip II...
on 7 January 1919. Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
created him Cardinal Priest
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 Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is a titular basilica in Rome, located on the highest summit of the Campidoglio. It is still the designated Church of the city council of Rome, which uses the ancient title of Senatus Populusque Romanus...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of 7 March 1921. Benlloch was one of the cardinal electors
Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 1922
The following were the cardinal electors in the 1922 papal conclave. Arranged by region , and within each alphabetically...
who participated in the 1922 papal conclave
Papal conclave, 1922
After a reign of just eight years, Pope Benedict XV died on 22 January 1922 of pneumonia. At his death there were 61 members of the College of Cardinals. However, later that same day, Enrique Almaraz y Santos, the Archbishop of Toledo, died, leaving a college of 60 cardinals to elect Pope...
, which selected 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 served as a special envoy of the Spanish Government
Spanish Government
Spain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978...
to the Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
s from September 1923 to January 1924.
He wrote the music to "El Gran Carlemany
El Gran Carlemany
El Gran Carlemany is the national anthem of Andorra. Written by Enric Marfany Bons and composed by Joan Benlloch i Vivó , it was adopted in 1921.-Lyrics:-External links:...
", the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Andorra.
The Cardinal died in Madrid, at the age of 61. He is buried in the Real Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados in Valencia, Spain