Raffaele Scapinelli di Léguigno
Encyclopedia
Raffaele Scapinelli di Leguigno (April 25, 1858—September 16, 1933) was an Italian
Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Prefect of the Congregation of the Affairs of Religious
from 1918 to 1920, and was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1915.
, Raffaele Scapinelli di Leguigno studied at the seminary
in Reggio-Emilia
before being ordained
to the priesthood
in 1884. He then entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
in Rome
in 1887, eventually obtaining his doctorate in canon and civil law. From 1887 to 1889, Scapinelli was Professor
of Canon Law
at the Reggio-Emilia seminary.
Subsequently entering the Roman Curia
, he served as an official of the Vatican Secretariat of State until 1891. Scapinelli was secretary
of the nunciature
to Portugal
from July 25, 1891 to 1894, whence he was named Auditor
of the nunciature to the Netherlands
on February 13, remaining in that position until 1905. He was appointed a canon
of St. Peter's Basilica
on April 11, 1902.
Scapinelli taught at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy before becoming Secretary of the Commission for Administration of Wealth of Holy See on November 26, 1904. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness
on July 25, 1905, and a protonotary apostolic
supra numerum on the following August 29. On December 16, 1907, Scapinelli was placed in charge of the secretariat of the Sacred Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
. He was made Secretary of the Commission for Codification of Canon Law in 1908, and of the Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesisatical Affairs on March 18 of that same year. Before being appointed Nuncio
to Austria-Hungary
on January 27, 1912, he was made Consultor
of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office
(April 23, 1908) and of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation
(November 4, 1908).
On January 30, 1912, Scapinelli was appointed Titular Archbishop
of Laodicea ad Libanum in association with his diplomatic post to Austria-Hungary. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following February 25 from Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, with Archbishop Vittorio Ranuzzi de' Bianchi
and Bishop Agostino Zampini, OSA
serving as co-consecrators
, in the Matilda chapel of the Apostolic Palace
.
Pope Benedict XV
created him a Cardinal Priest
in the consistory
of December 6, 1915, bestowing upon him the title of S. Girolamo degli Schiavoni
on December 7, 1916. Scapinelli remained in Vienna
until the end of 1916, and was awarded with the Grand Cross
of the Austrian Order of Sankt Stefan that same year. The Cardinal later returned to the Roman Curia, serving as Prefect
of the Sacred Congregation of the Affairs of Religious
from December 19, 1918 until his resignation on March 6, 1920. He was one of the cardinal electors
who participated in the 1922 papal conclave
, which selected Pope Pius XI
.
Scapinelli was appointed Apostolic Datary
on July 22, 1930, and remained in that position until his death three years later, at the age of 75 in Forte dei Marmi
. He is buried in the chapel
of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
in Rome's Campo Verano cemetery.
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...
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...
. He served as Prefect of the Congregation of the Affairs of Religious
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
from 1918 to 1920, 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 1915.
Biography
Born in ModenaModena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, Raffaele Scapinelli di Leguigno studied at the seminary
Seminary
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...
in Reggio-Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
before being 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....
in 1884. He then entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See....
in 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...
in 1887, eventually obtaining his doctorate in canon and civil law. From 1887 to 1889, Scapinelli was 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...
of Canon Law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
at the Reggio-Emilia seminary.
Subsequently entering the Roman Curia
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...
, he served as an official of the Vatican Secretariat of State until 1891. Scapinelli was secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the nunciature
Apostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
from July 25, 1891 to 1894, whence he was named Auditor
Auditor (ecclesiastical)
In ecclesiastical terminology, an Auditor is a person given authority to hear cases in an ecclesiastical court.- Roman Catholic Church :...
of the nunciature to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on February 13, remaining in that position until 1905. He was appointed a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
on April 11, 1902.
Scapinelli taught at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy before becoming Secretary of the Commission for Administration of Wealth of Holy See on November 26, 1904. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
on July 25, 1905, and 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...
supra numerum on the following August 29. On December 16, 1907, Scapinelli was placed in charge of the secretariat of the Sacred Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
The Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs was a congregation of the Roman Curia, erected by Pope Pius VII on 19 July 1814 by extending the competence to the Sacred Congregation for the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Kingdom of France , which Pope Pius VI had set up in 1793...
. He was made Secretary of the Commission for Codification of Canon Law in 1908, and of the Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesisatical Affairs on March 18 of that same year. Before being appointed 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 Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
on January 27, 1912, he was made Consultor
Consultor
A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e. a counselor.In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions:*in the Roman Curia, a consultor is a specially appointed expert who may be called upon for advice desired by a department...
of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office
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...
(April 23, 1908) and of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation
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...
(November 4, 1908).
On January 30, 1912, Scapinelli was appointed Titular Archbishop
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 Laodicea ad Libanum in association with his diplomatic post to Austria-Hungary. 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 the following February 25 from Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, with Archbishop Vittorio Ranuzzi de' Bianchi
Vittorio Ranuzzi de' Bianchi
Vittorio Amedeo Ranuzzi de' Bianchi was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as papal majordomo from 1914 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1916.-Biography:...
and Bishop Agostino Zampini, OSA
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
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 the Matilda chapel of the Apostolic Palace
Apostolic Palace
The Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, which is located in Vatican City. It is also known as the Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace and the Palace of the Vatican...
.
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 a 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...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of December 6, 1915, bestowing upon him the title of S. Girolamo degli Schiavoni
San Girolamo dei Croati
Saint Jerome of the Croats , is the national Catholic church of Croatia on Via Tomacelli in the Campus Martius of Rome.-Characteristics:...
on December 7, 1916. Scapinelli remained in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
until the end of 1916, and was awarded with the Grand Cross
Grand Cross
The phrase Grand Cross is used to denote the highest grade in many orders of knighthood. Sometimes the holders of the highest grade are referred to "knights grand cross" or just "grand crosses"; in other cases the actual insignia itself is called "the grand cross".Alternatively, in some other...
of the Austrian Order of Sankt Stefan that same year. The Cardinal later returned to the Roman Curia, serving as Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the Sacred Congregation of the Affairs of Religious
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
from December 19, 1918 until his resignation on March 6, 1920. He 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...
.
Scapinelli was appointed Apostolic Datary
Apostolic Dataria
The Apostolic dataria was one of the five Ufficii di Curia in the Roman Curia. It was abolished by Pope Paul VI in 1967.-History:...
on July 22, 1930, and remained in that position until his death three years later, at the age of 75 in Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi is a sea town and comune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany . It is the birthplace of Paola Ruffo di Calabria, Queen of the Belgians....
. He is buried in the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
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...
in Rome's Campo Verano cemetery.