Antonio Sanseverino facts for kids

Antonio Sanseverino (died 1543) was an important Italian leader in the Catholic Church. He was a cardinal and a bishop.

Antonio Sanseverino's Life Story

Antonio Sanseverino was born around 1477 in Naples, Italy. His father, Giovanni Antonio Sanseverino, was a respected noble from Naples. His mother was Enrichetta Carafa.

Early in his life, Antonio joined the Knights Hospitaller. This was a religious military order.

Becoming a Cardinal

Pope Leo X wanted to make Antonio a cardinal. A cardinal is a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church. However, Antonio did not meet all the conditions. So, Pope Leo X and the next pope, Pope Adrian VI, did not officially recognize him as a cardinal.

Later, Pope Clement VII officially made him a cardinal priest. This happened on November 21, 1527. He received his cardinal's red hat on April 27, 1528. He also received a "titular church," which is a church in Rome that a cardinal is linked to. His first one was Santa Susanna.

Antonio also received the "tonsure." This was a special haircut that showed he was becoming a clergyman. Cardinal Alessandro Farnese performed this for him.

His Roles and Duties

On August 31, 1528, Antonio was chosen as the Archbishop of Taranto. An archbishop leads a large area of churches called an archdiocese. He stayed in this role until he died.

He also managed the see of Conversano for a few years. From 1530 to 1531, he was the "Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals." This means he was in charge of the cardinals' money and property.

On December 21, 1531, Pope Clement VII officially made him a bishop. This ceremony took place in the famous Sistine Chapel.

Important Meetings and Councils

In 1534, Antonio took part in the "papal conclave." This is a special meeting where cardinals choose a new pope. In this conclave, Pope Paul III was elected.

Antonio was also the "cardinal protector" for the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. This meant he looked after their interests. He helped them stay separate from other Franciscan groups.

In 1537, he became a "cardinal bishop." This is an even higher rank among cardinals. He was given the suburbicarian see of Palestrina. A suburbicarian see is one of the seven dioceses closest to Rome.

He also served as a "papal legate." This means he was a special representative of the pope. He helped lead a big church meeting called a "general council." This council was first planned for Mantua and then for Vicenza.

Later Life and Death

Antonio continued to move to different suburbicarian sees. In 1539, he moved to Sabina. Then, in 1543, he moved to Porto e Santa Rufina. He also became the Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals. This means he was second in command of all the cardinals.

Antonio Sanseverino died in Rome in August 1543. He was buried in the church of Trinità dei Monti.

See also

In Spanish: Antonio Sanseverino para niños