Antonio Cerdà i Lloscos facts for kids

Antonio Cerdà i Lloscos (born 1390, died 1459) was an important Spanish leader in the Catholic Church. He was known as the Cardinal of Messina or the Cardinal of Lleida. He became a bishop and then a cardinal, which is a very high rank in the Church.

Life of Antonio Cerdà i Lloscos

Early Life and Education

Antonio Cerdà i Lloscos was born in Santa Margalida, Spain, in 1390. He started his studies in Palma, Majorca. Later, he went to the University of Lleida. There, he earned a special degree called a doctorate in Christian theology. This means he studied deeply about religious ideas.

Becoming a Priest and Teacher

After his studies, Antonio became a priest. He worked as a canon at Palma Cathedral. A canon is a type of priest who helps manage a cathedral. He also joined a religious group called the Trinitarian Order. This order focused on helping people.

Antonio became a professor at the University of Lleida. He taught important subjects like moral theology, which is about right and wrong in religion. He also taught about the Bible and church laws.

Travel and Church Work

Antonio Cerdà i Lloscos traveled a lot for his religious order. He visited Trinitarian monasteries in England, Ireland, and Scotland. He also went to Spain and Italy. He helped write new rules for his order. Later, he became a general manager for his order in Rome.

Working with Popes

Antonio became very close to the Pope. Pope Eugene IV invited him to work in the papal household. This meant he worked directly for the Pope. He also became an auditor, which is like a judge, for the Roman Rota, a high court in the Church.

Later, Pope Nicholas V asked Antonio to be his advisor. Antonio helped the Pope with important ideas about religion and philosophy.

Becoming an Archbishop and Cardinal

In 1447, Antonio was chosen to be the Archbishop of Messina. An archbishop is a very important bishop who leads a large area. Pope Nicholas V approved this choice.

The next year, in 1448, Pope Nicholas V made Antonio a cardinal. This is one of the highest positions in the Catholic Church, just below the Pope. He received a special red hat and was given a church in Rome to oversee.

Later Years and Death

In 1449, Antonio became the bishop of Lleida, his home region. Even though he was the bishop there, he continued to live in Rome. He attended important meetings with the Pope and other cardinals.

He helped manage other church areas, like Giovinazzo and Ravenna, for a few years. He also served as the Camerlengo, a special role where he managed the finances of the College of Cardinals for a year. He helped make peace between different groups, like Florence and Alfonso V of Aragon.

Antonio was present when Pope Callixtus III died in 1458. He then helped choose the next Pope, Pius II. Antonio Cerdà i Lloscos died in Rome on September 12, 1459. He was buried in St. Peter's Basilica, a very famous church in Rome.

See also

In Spanish: Antonio Cerdá y Lloscos para niños