Carlo Agostini
Encyclopedia
Carlo Agostini was an Italian
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Patriarch of Venice
from 1949 until his death, and died shortly after the announcement for his elevation to the cardinalate
in 1952.
, Carlo Agostini studied at the seminary
in Treviso
, and was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Andrea Longhin, OFM Cap
, on 24 September 1910. He then furthered his studies in Rome
at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and Pontifical Gregorian University
until 1913. Agostini was a professor
(1913–1925) and the rector
(1925–1932) of the Treviso seminary, and was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness
in 1925.
On 30 January 1932, he was appointed Bishop of Padua by Pope Pius XI
. Agostini received his episcopal consecration
on the following 10 April from Bishop Longhin, with Archbishop Elia dalla Costa
and Bishop Eugenio Beccegato serving as co-consecrators
. He was Apostolic Administrator
of Treviso from March 8 to December 6, 1936, and later named Patriarch of Venice
on 5 February 1949.
Pope Pius XII
announced on 29 November 1952 that he would elevate Agostini and twenty-three others to the College of Cardinals
. However, the Patriarch died, from Parkinson's disease
at the age of 64, before the consistory
could take place on January 12, 1953. Agostini was initially buried in S. Michele cemetery, but his remains were later transferred to the crypt
of St Mark's Basilica
in November 1957.
The unexpected vacancy in Venice
opened the way for the elevation of Angelo Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Patriarch of Venice
Patriarch of Venice
The Patriarch of Venice is the ordinary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. The bishop is one of the few Patriarchs in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church...
from 1949 until his death, and died shortly after the announcement for his elevation to the cardinalate
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in 1952.
Biography
Born in San Martino di LupariSan Martino di Lupari
San Martino di Lupari is a comune in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about 45 km northwest of Venice and about 25 km north of Padua...
, Carlo Agostini studied at the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Andrea Longhin, OFM Cap
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, on 24 September 1910. He then furthered his studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
until 1913. Agostini was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
(1913–1925) and the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
(1925–1932) of the Treviso seminary, and was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1925.
On 30 January 1932, he was appointed Bishop of Padua by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. Agostini received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following 10 April from Bishop Longhin, with Archbishop Elia dalla Costa
Elia Dalla Costa
Elia Angelo Dalla Costa was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of Florence from 1931 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1933.-Biography:...
and Bishop Eugenio Beccegato serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He was Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Treviso from March 8 to December 6, 1936, and later named Patriarch of Venice
Patriarch of Venice
The Patriarch of Venice is the ordinary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. The bishop is one of the few Patriarchs in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church...
on 5 February 1949.
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
announced on 29 November 1952 that he would elevate Agostini and twenty-three others to the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
. However, the Patriarch died, from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
at the age of 64, before the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
could take place on January 12, 1953. Agostini was initially buried in S. Michele cemetery, but his remains were later transferred to the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of St Mark's Basilica
St Mark's Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture...
in November 1957.
The unexpected vacancy in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
opened the way for the elevation of Angelo Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
.