Teodoro Valfre di Bonzo

Teodoro Valfrè di Bonzo J.C.D. S.T.D. (21 August 1853 – 25 June 1922) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Religious.


Teodoro Valfrè di Bonzo
Prefect of the Congregation for Religious
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed6 March 1920
Term ended25 June 1922
PredecessorRaffaele Scapinelli di Leguigno
SuccessorCamillo Laurenti
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (1919–22)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination10 June 1876
Consecration3 May 1885
by Gaetano Alimonda
Created cardinal15 December 1919
by Pope Benedict XV
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Teodoro Valfrè

21 August 1853
Died25 June 1922(1922-06-25) (aged 68)
Rome, Kingdom of Italy
ParentsGiacinto Valfrè
Erminia del Carretto
Alma materUniversity of Turin
Roman Seminary
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Coat of armsTeodoro Valfrè di Bonzo's coat of arms
Styles of
Teodoro Valfre di Bonzo
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeTrebizonda (titular see)

Early life

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He was born in Cavour, Italy as the son of Count Giacinto Valfrè and Erminia del Carretto. He was educated at the Seminary of Turin and later at the University of Turin where he earned a doctorate in theology in 1876. He received minor orders on 7 March 1875 and the subdiaconate on 18 December 1875 and the diaconate on 1 April 1876. He was a classmate and friend of Giacomo della Chiesa[1] who was to be the future Pope Benedict XV. He was ordained on 10 June 1876 and earned a doctorate in canon law in 1880.

He was created Domestic prelate of His Holiness and was appointed as Apostolic delegate and extraordinary envoy to Costa Rica on 11 July 1884. However, his mission was delayed because of the outbreak of the antireligious movement prevalent at the time with diplomatic relations not normalized until 1908.

Episcopate

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He was appointed Bishop of Cuneo on 27 March 1885 by Pope Leo XIII. He was transferred to the diocese of Como on 18 March 1895.[2] He was promoted to the metropolitan see of Vercelli by Pope Pius X on 27 March 1905. He was transferred to the titular see of Trebizonda in 1916 and appointed as Nuncio to Austria-Hungary[3] on 14 September that year. He represented the Pope Benedict XV at the coronation of the new Austrian Emperor Karl I and Empress Zita.

Cardinalate

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He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in the consistory of 15 December 1919 by Pope Benedict.[2]

On 3 February 1920, he was appointed cardinal protector of the Trinitarians.[4]

He was appointed as Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Religious on 6 March 1920. He took part in the conclave of 1922 that elected Pope Pius XI. He died in 1922.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Vatican Press website, Intervento del Cardinale Segretario di Stato all’apertura dei lavori del Convegno Internazionale di Studi “Santa Sede e Cattolici nel mondo postbellico (1918-1922)”, page 6
  2. ^ a b c Florida International University, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church section, Biographical Dictionary of Pope Benedict XV (1814-1922), Consistory of December 15, 1919
  3. ^ Chiesa website, Vatican Diary / Priests against celibacy. Austria's rerun, article dated March 11, 2012
  4. ^ Herbermann, Charles George (1922). The Catholic Encyclopedia: Supplement. I-. Encyclopedia Press, Incorporated. p. 741. Retrieved 7 February 2024.


Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Religious
6 March 1920 – 25 June 1922
Succeeded by