Alessandro Bichi

Alessandro Bichi (30 September 1596 – 25 May 1657) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and papal nuncio to France.[1]

Alessandro Bichi
Cardinal, Bishop of Carpentras
ChurchCatholic Church
SeeBishop of Carpentras
AppointedSeptember 9, 1630
Term endedMay 25, 1657
Other postsApostolic Nuncio to France
Orders
ConsecrationMay 7, 1628 (Bishop)
by Luigi Cardinal Caetani
Created cardinalNovember 28, 1633
Personal details
Born(1596-09-30)September 30, 1596
Siena
DiedMay 25, 1657(1657-05-25) (aged 60)
Rome
BuriedBasilica di Santa Sabina

Biography

Bichi was born in Siena in 1596, the son of Vincenzo Bichi and nephew of Cardinal Metello Bichi. At an early age he became Lieutenant of the Auditor of the Apostolic Chamber during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII and was then appointed Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signatura of Justice and of Grace.[2]

Bichi was elected Bishop of Isola on 5 May 1628)[3] and was immediately sent to Naples as papal nuncio.[4] In 1630 he became nuncio to France and on 9 September 1630 he was appointed Bishop of Carpentras.[5][6] He was elevated to Cardinal in 1633 and was made Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina

Palace in Carpentras made built by Alessandro Bichi

In 1640 Alessadro Bichi made build by the Avignon architect François Royers de la Valfenière the new episcopal palace of Carpentras, which in 1801 became the Courthouse of the town.[7]

In 1644, Pope Urban VIII died and the College of Cardinals came together in conclave to elected a new Pope. As nuncio to France, Bichi naturally sided with the Cardinals of the French delegation led by Antonio Barberini.

Bichi participated in the conclave of 1655 which elected Pope Alexander VII. Bichi, who was already at odds with Innocent's powerful sister-in-law Olimpia Maidalchini, was said to have exclaimed, "We will elect a female pope".[8]

He died on 25 May 1657 in Rome and he was buried in the Basilica di Santa Sabina.[2].

Episcopal succession

While bishop, he was the principal consecrator of:[6]

  • Jean de Sponde (bishop), Titular Bishop of Megara and Coadjutor Bishop of Pamiers (1634);
  • Cristoforo Tolomei, Bishop of Sovana (1637);
  • Giovanni Spennazzi, Bishop of Pienza (1637);
  • Francesco Romolo Mileti, Bishop of Segni (1640); and
  • Annibale Bentivoglio, Titular Archbishop of Thebae and Apostolic Nuncio to Florence (1645).
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References
  1. De Caro, Gaspare (1968). "Bichi, Alessandro". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). 10. Treccani.
  2. Salvador Miranda. "Bichi, Alessandro". Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  3. Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice). HIERARCHIA CATHOLICA MEDII ET RECENTIORIS AEVI Vol IV. pp. 209–210.
  4. "Avviso di Roma" (May 13, 1628). Avvisi e Notizie dall'Estero, File: 136. Archivio di Stato di Modena.
  5. Biaudet, Henry (1910). Les nonciatures apostoliques permanentes jusqu'en 1648. Helsinki. p. 254.
  6. David Cheney. "Alessandro Cardinal Bichi". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  7. "Le Palais de justice". Ville de Carpentras. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  8. Coville, Henry (1914). Étude sur Mazarin et ses démêles avec le pape Innocent X. Paris. p. 31.
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