Pier Donato Cesi (1583-1656)
Encyclopedia
Pier Donato Cesi was an Italian
Catholic
Cardinal
. He is sometimes referred to as Pier Donato Cesi, iuniore (junior) to differentiate between him and his predecessor Pier Donato Cesi seniore (1521–1586).
Cesi was born in 1583 in Rome; the son of Federico Cesi (of Oliveto
) and Pulcheria Orsini. He was educated by the Fathers of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
and obtained a doctorate
of law. He was made responsible for three wealthy abbeys and was made a referendary
of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signatura of Justice and of Grace. In 1615 he was made a protonotary apostolic
and a cleric of the Apostolic Chamber by 1625. He was made Governor of Civitavecchia
from 1627 to 1630 and Treasurer
-general to Pope Urban VIII
in 1634.
In 1641, Pope Urban elevated Cesi to Cardinal and made him Cardinal-Priest of San Marcello al Corso
the following year. The Pope then appointed him Legate
to Perugia
in 1643 and granted him a dispensation to accept an appointment as canon of the cathedral chapter of Toledo
; a role which had been created by the King of Spain. When Urban died, Cesi participated in the Papal conclave of 1644
which elected Pope Innocent X
. In 1645, Cesi was appointed Crown Cardinal of Sicily
and held the position until 1656.
Between 1651 and 1652 he was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
and he participated in the conclave of 1655
which elected Pope Alexander VII
.
Cesi died the following year on 30 January 1656 in his Roman palace and was buried in the church of Santa Prassede
, Rome.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Catholic
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...
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...
. He is sometimes referred to as Pier Donato Cesi, iuniore (junior) to differentiate between him and his predecessor Pier Donato Cesi seniore (1521–1586).
Cesi was born in 1583 in Rome; the son of Federico Cesi (of Oliveto
Oliveto
Oliveto , meaning olive grove, is a common component of Italian place-names:*Oliveto Citra, in the Province of Salerno*Oliveto Lario, in the Province of Lecco*Oliveto Lucano, in the Province of Matera...
) and Pulcheria Orsini. He was educated by the Fathers of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians...
and obtained a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of law. He was made responsible for three wealthy abbeys and was made a referendary
Referendary
Referendary is the English form or rendering of a number of administrative positions, of various rank, in chanceries and other official organisations.-Secular:...
of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signatura of Justice and of Grace. In 1615 he was made a protonotary apostolic
Protonotary apostolic
In the Roman Catholic Church, protonotary apostolic is the title for a member of the highest non-episcopal college of prelates in the Roman Curia or, outside of Rome, an honorary prelate on whom the pope has conferred this title and its special privileges.-History:In later antiquity there were in...
and a cleric of the Apostolic Chamber by 1625. He was made Governor of Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometers west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbor is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse...
from 1627 to 1630 and Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
-general to Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
in 1634.
In 1641, Pope Urban elevated Cesi to Cardinal and made him Cardinal-Priest of San Marcello al Corso
San Marcello al Corso
San Marcello al Corso is a church in Rome, Italy, devoted to Pope Marcellus I. It is located in via del Corso, the ancient via Lata, connecting Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo....
the following year. The Pope then appointed him 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 Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
in 1643 and granted him a dispensation to accept an appointment as canon of the cathedral chapter of Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
; a role which had been created by the King of Spain. When Urban died, Cesi participated in the Papal conclave of 1644
Papal conclave, 1644
The papal conclave of 1644 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Urban VIII. It lasted from 9 August to 15 September 1644 and eventually chose Giovanni Battista Pamphili, who took office as Pope Innocent X.- Urban's influence :...
which elected Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
. In 1645, Cesi was appointed Crown Cardinal of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and held the position until 1656.
Between 1651 and 1652 he was appointed 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...
and he participated in the conclave of 1655
Papal conclave, 1655
The Papal conclave of 1655 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Innocent X. The conclave elected Fabio Chigi, who took office as Alexander VII.- History :...
which elected 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...
.
Cesi died the following year on 30 January 1656 in his Roman palace and was buried in the church 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...
, Rome.