Giambattista Altieri

Giambattista Altieri or Giovanni Battista Altieri (20 June 1589 – 26 November 1654) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal.

His Eminence

Giambattista Altieri
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Bishop of Todi
ChurchCatholic Church
Orders
Consecration12 Mar 1624
by Scipione Caffarelli-Borghese
Personal details
Born20 Jun 1589
Rome, Italy
Died26 Nov 1654 (age 65)

Early life

Giambattista Altieri was born 20 June 1589 in Rome, the son of Lorenzo Altieri and Victoria Delphini, a Venetian lady. The Altieri family belonged to the ancient Roman nobility and had enjoyed the highest consideration at Rome for several centuries; they had occasionally contracted alliances with the Colonnas and the Orsinis. Altieri was the older brother of Emilio Bonaventura Altieri who was elected to the papal throne as Pope Clement X in 1670.[1] He was educated in Rome and received a doctorate in theology and utroque iure.

Ecclesiastic career
The Palazzo Altieri; commissioned by Giambattista Altieri.

He was ordained on 1 December 1613 and became a theologian of the patriarchal Vatican basilica.

In 1624 he was elected Bishop of Camerino and consecrated by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, Cardinal-Priest of San Crisogono, with Raffaele Inviziati, Bishop Emeritus of Cefalonia e Zante, and Vincenzo Landinelli, Bishop Emeritus of Albenga, serving as co-consecrators.[1][2] He remained bishop of that diocese until he resigned to allow for his brother Emilio to be appointed. He became Custode del Sigillo of the Apostolic Penitentiary and an Apostolic visitor; travelling representative of the Holy See to at least six suburbicarian dioceses. In 1637 he was appointed Vice-Regent of Rome and held the position until 1643.

Altieri was elevated to cardinal by Pope Urban VIII on 13 July 1643 and was installed, the following month, as Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. He also transferred to the Diocese of Todi. When Pope Urban died, Altieri participated in the Papal conclave of 1644 which elected Pope Innocent X.

Death and burial

Altieri died on 26 November 1654 at Narni while travelling to Rome. News of his death reached Rome two days later. He was buried at the Altieri family chapel in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

Episcopal succession

While bishop, he was the principal consecrator of:[2]

  • Augustinus Basrci (Bagesius), Titular Archbishop of Myra and Coadjutor Archbishop of Nachitschewan (1630);
  • Ruggero Tritonio, Bishop of Poreč (1633);
  • Marcello Cervini (bishop), Bishop of Sovana (1645);

and the principal co-consecrator of:[2]

References
  1. Miranda, Salvador. "ALTIERI, seniore, Giambattista (1589-1654)". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Florida International University. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  2. Cheney, David M. "Giovanni Battista Cardinal Altieri (Sr.)". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018. [self-published]
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Cesare Gherardi		 Bishop of Camerino
1624–1627		 Succeeded by
Emilio Bonaventura Altieri
Preceded by
 Vice-Regent of Rome
1637–1643		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
Giulio Roma		 Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva
1643–1654		 Succeeded by
Jean-François-Paul de Gondi de Retz
Preceded by
Ulderico Carpegna		 Bishop of Todi
1643–1654		 Succeeded by
Gerolamo Lomellini
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