Teodoro Valfrè di Bonzo
J.C.D. S.T.D.
The Doctor of Sacred Theology ( la, Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, abbreviated STD), also sometimes known as Professor of Sacred Theology (, abbreviated STP), is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Roman Catholic C ...
(21 August 1853 – 25 June 1922) was a
Cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
of the
Roman Catholic Church and was former
Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Religious.
Early life
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 sub
diaconate on 18 December 1875 and the diaconate on 1 April 1876. He was a classmate and friend of
Giacomo della Chiesa
Giacomo Della Chiesa (born 7 February 1962) is an Italian equestrian. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 ...
who was to be the future Pope Benedict XV. He was ordained on 10 June 1876 and earned a
doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law ( la, Juris Canonici Doctor, JCD) is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church. It can also be an honorary degree awarded by Anglican colleges. It may also be abbreviated ICD ...
in 1880.
He was created
Domestic prelate of His Holiness
A Prelate of Honour of His Holiness is a Catholic prelate to whom the Pope has granted this title of honour.
They are addressed as Monsignor and have certain privileges as regards clerical clothing.[Costa Rica
Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...]
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
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.
[Florida International University, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church section, ''Biographical Dictionary of Pope Benedict XV (1814-1922), Consistory of December 15, 1919'']
/ref> He was promoted to the metropolitan see of Vercelli by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X ( it, Pio X; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing modernist interpretations of C ...
on 27 March 1905. He was transferred to the titular see of Trebizonda in 1916 and appointed as Nuncio
An apostolic nuncio ( la, nuntius apostolicus; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international or ...
to Austria-Hungary on 14 September that year. He represented the Pope Benedict XV at the coronation of the new Austrian Emperor Karl I
Charles I or Karl I (german: Karl Franz Josef Ludwig Hubert Georg Otto Maria, hu, Károly Ferenc József Lajos Hubert György Ottó Mária; 17 August 18871 April 1922) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary (as Charles IV, ), King of Croatia, ...
and Empress
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
Zita.
Cardinalate
He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest of '' Santa Maria sopra Minerva'' in the consistory of 15 December 1919 by Pope Benedict.Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City fro ...
. He died in 1922.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonzo, Teodoro Valfre Di
1853 births
1922 deaths
Apostolic nuncios to Austria
20th-century Italian cardinals
Members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
Pontifical Roman Seminary alumni