Gaetano Cicognani facts for kids
Gaetano Cicognani (born November 26, 1881 – died February 5, 1962) was an important Italian cardinal in the Catholic Church. A cardinal is a high-ranking official who advises the Pope. He served as the head of the Apostolic Signatura, which is like the highest court in the Vatican, from 1954 until he passed away. Pope Pius XII made him a cardinal in 1953. Interestingly, he and his brother, Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, were the last pair of brothers to be cardinals at the same time.
Quick facts for kids Gaetano Cicognani |
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|---|---|
| Pro-Prefect Emeritus of the Apostolic Signatura | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 18 November 1954 |
| Reign ended | 14 November 1959 |
| Predecessor | Vincenzo Macchi |
| Successor | Dino Staffa |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (1959–1962) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 24 September 1904 |
| Consecration | 1 February 1925 by Pietro Gasparri |
| Created Cardinal | 12 January 1953 |
| Rank | Cardinal-priest (1953–1959) Cardinal-bishop (1959–1962) |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Gaetano Cicognani |
| Born | 26 November 1881 Brisighella, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 5 February 1962 (aged 80) Rome, Italy |
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| Alma mater |
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| Motto | Vigilat nec fatiscit |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Gaetano Cicognani |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Frascati (suburbicarain) |
Contents
Who Was Gaetano Cicognani?
Gaetano Cicognani was a significant figure in the Catholic Church during the 20th century. He dedicated his life to serving the Church in various important roles. His journey began in a small Italian town and led him to the highest levels of the Vatican.
Early Life and Education
Gaetano Cicognani was born on November 26, 1881, in Brisighella, Italy. His parents were Guglielmo Cicognani and Anna Ceroni. His younger brother, Amleto, was born a little over a year later in 1883. After their father passed away, their mother ran a small shop to support her two sons.
Gaetano began his studies at the seminary in Faenza. A seminary is a school where people train to become priests. He was ordained as a priest on September 24, 1904, by Bishop Gioacchino Cantagalli. After this, he moved to Rome to continue his education. He attended the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare and was later invited to the special Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. This academy trains future diplomats and high-ranking officials for the Vatican.
A Career in the Church
After finishing his studies, Cicognani worked in important offices within the Vatican. He served in the Sacra Rota Romana, which is a high court, and the Apostolic Signatura. He also taught at the Pontifical Roman Seminary. In 1915, he joined the Secretariat of State, which handles the Vatican's diplomatic relations.
His diplomatic career began on February 1, 1916, when he became a secretary at the Vatican's embassy (called a nunciature) in Spain. He was also named a "privy chamberlain" to the Pope, a special title, on March 9, 1916. Later, on February 3, 1920, he became an "auditor" at the nunciature in Belgium.
Becoming an Archbishop and Nuncio
On January 10, 1925, Gaetano Cicognani was appointed as the Vatican's representative (called an Apostolic Internuncio) to Bolivia. At the same time, he was named a Titular Archbishop of Ancyra. This means he held the title of an archbishop for a historical diocese that no longer exists.
He received his official consecration as a bishop on February 1, 1925. This ceremony was performed by Cardinal Pietro Gasparri in Rome. After Bolivia, Archbishop Cicognani continued his diplomatic work. He was appointed as the Vatican's ambassador (Apostolic Nuncio) to Peru on June 15, 1928. Later, he served as Nuncio to Austria from June 13, 1936, and then to Spain from May 16, 1938. In April 1934, while serving in Peru, he visited his brother Amleto, who was the Vatican's representative in the United States. They had not seen each other for seven years.
Becoming a Cardinal
Pope Pius XII made Gaetano Cicognani a Cardinal-Priest on January 12, 1953. His assigned church in Rome was Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. After becoming a cardinal, he returned to work in the Roman Curia, which is the administrative body of the Holy See.
On December 7, 1953, he was appointed as the head (prefect) of the Congregation of Rites. This office was responsible for matters related to Catholic worship and the process of making saints. On November 18, 1954, he became the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court in the Vatican.
Cardinal Cicognani was one of the cardinals who voted in the 1958 papal conclave. This was the election that chose Pope John XXIII as the new Pope. In December of that same year, his brother, Amleto, also became a cardinal. This was a special event because, at the time, there was a rule that usually prevented brothers from both being cardinals. On December 14, 1959, Pope John XXIII named Gaetano Cicognani the Cardinal Bishop of Frascati, a higher rank within the College of Cardinals.
Cardinal Gaetano Cicognani passed away in Rome at the age of 80. He is buried in the church of S. Michele in his hometown of Brisighella.
See also
In Spanish: Gaetano Cicognani para niños
