Roberto Vicentini (30 June 1878 – 10 October 1953) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who spent his career in the Roman Curia. He also worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1921 to 1924.

Biography

Roberto Vicentini was born on 30 June 1878 in L'Aquila, Italy. He taught at the

Pontifical Lateran University The Pontifical Lateran University ( it, Pontificia Università Lateranense; la, Pontificia Universitas Lateranensis), also known as Lateranum, is a pontifical university based in Rome. The university also hosts the central session of the Pont ...

. He held positions in the

Tribunal of the Roman Rota The Roman Rota, formally the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota ( la, Tribunal Apostolicum Rotae Romanae), and anciently the Apostolic Court of Audience, is the highest appellate tribunal of the Catholic Church, with respect to both Latin-r ...

, as substitute beginning 2 August 1910 and as promoter of justice beginning 20 December 1915. On 3 May 1921,

Pope Benedict XV Pope Benedict XV (Latin: ''Benedictus XV''; it, Benedetto XV), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, name=, group= (; 21 November 185422 January 1922), was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his death in January 1922. His ...

named him Apostolic Internuncio to the Netherlands and titular archbishop of Helenopolis in Palaestina. He received his episcopal consecration on 19 May 1921 from Cardinal

Pietro Gasparri Pietro Gasparri, GCTE (5 May 1852 – 18 November 1934) was a Roman Catholic cardinal, diplomat and politician in the Roman Curia and the signatory of the Lateran Pacts. He served also as Cardinal Secretary of State under Popes Benedict XV and ...

. On 2 May 1922, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia. He resigned from that post on 28 October 1924. On 14 December 1925, Pope Pius XI gave him the title

Patriarchate of Antioch Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the bishop of Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey). As the traditional "overseer" (ἐπίσκοπος, ''episkopos'', from which the word ''bishop'' is derived) of the first gentile Christian c ...

. He also became vicar of

St. Peter's Basilica The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican ( it, Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or simply Saint Peter's Basilica ( la, Basilica Sancti Petri), is a church built in the Renaissance style located in Vatican City, the papal e ...

, which gave him a prominent role in the funeral of Pius XI and the inauguration of

Pius XII Pius ( , ) Latin for "pious", is a masculine given name. Its feminine form is Pia. It may refer to: People Popes * Pope Pius (disambiguation) * Antipope Pius XIII (1918-2009), who led the breakaway True Catholic Church sect Given name * Pius ...

, especially in the latter since he substituted for the archpriest of the basilica, a post that had just been vacated by the new pope. Vicentini died in Vatican City on 10 October 1953 at the age of 75. He was the last person to hold the title Latin Patriarch of Antioch. It remained vacant from his death until it was suppressed in 1964.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vicentini, Roberto 1878 births 1953 deaths People from L'Aquila Officials of the Roman Curia Apostolic Nuncios to Colombia Apostolic Nuncios to the Netherlands