Gabriele Paleotti
Encyclopedia
Gabriele Paleotti was an Italian Cardinal
and Archbishop of Bologna.
. Having acquired, in 1546, the title of Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, he was appointed to teach civil law
. In 1549 he became a canon of the cathedral
, but he did not become a priest until later. He gave up teaching in 1555, and although he had many times refused the episcopal dignity, he became in 1556 auditor of the Rota.
Pope Pius IV
sent him to the Council of Trent
, where he played an important role. His Diarium, or journal, on the proceedings of the council, forms one of the most important documents for its history. The complete text is published in the third volume of the Concilium Tridentinum. He was, with Molanus
and Charles Borromeo
, one of the most influential writers to write filling out the brief decree of the Council on religious images with detailed instructions on their iconography
, proscribing as sin any frivolity, indecorum, and use of traditional depictions without scriptural foundation.
After the council Paleotti became one of the commission of cardinals and prelates that served as a basis of the Congregation of the Council. On 12 March 1565, he became cardinal, and on 13 January 1567, was made Bishop of Bologna; he was made the latter's first archbishop, when in 1582 that see became an archdiocese.
His biographers praise his introduction of the Tridentine reforms in his diocese, comparing his activity at Bologna to that of Charles Borromeo at Milan. The latter held him in high esteem. In 1589 Paleotti became Bishop of Albano and in 1591 Bishop of Sabina. There also he distinguished himself by his zeal for reform.
At the conclave
in 1590 which elected Pope Gregory XIV
, he obtained the votes of an important minority. He died in Rome in 1597.
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...
and Archbishop of Bologna.
Life
Paleotti was born at BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. Having acquired, in 1546, the title of Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, he was appointed to teach civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
. In 1549 he became a canon of the cathedral
Bologna Cathedral
Bologna Cathedral , dedicated to Saint Peter, is the cathedral of Bologna in Italy, and the seat and the metropolitan cathedral of the Archbishop of Bologna...
, but he did not become a priest until later. He gave up teaching in 1555, and although he had many times refused the episcopal dignity, he became in 1556 auditor of the Rota.
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV , born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was Pope from 1559 to 1565. He is notable for presiding over the culmination of the Council of Trent.-Biography:...
sent him to the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
, where he played an important role. His Diarium, or journal, on the proceedings of the council, forms one of the most important documents for its history. The complete text is published in the third volume of the Concilium Tridentinum. He was, with Molanus
Molanus
Jan Vermeulen or Jan van der Meulen, also known as Molanus was an influential Counter Reformation Flemish Catholic theologian of Louvain University, where he was Professor of Theology, and Rector from 1578...
and Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
, one of the most influential writers to write filling out the brief decree of the Council on religious images with detailed instructions on their iconography
Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
, proscribing as sin any frivolity, indecorum, and use of traditional depictions without scriptural foundation.
After the council Paleotti became one of the commission of cardinals and prelates that served as a basis of the Congregation of the Council. On 12 March 1565, he became cardinal, and on 13 January 1567, was made Bishop of Bologna; he was made the latter's first archbishop, when in 1582 that see became an archdiocese.
His biographers praise his introduction of the Tridentine reforms in his diocese, comparing his activity at Bologna to that of Charles Borromeo at Milan. The latter held him in high esteem. In 1589 Paleotti became Bishop of Albano and in 1591 Bishop of Sabina. There also he distinguished himself by his zeal for reform.
At the conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
in 1590 which elected Pope Gregory XIV
Pope Gregory XIV
Pope Gregory XIV , born Niccolò Sfondrati, was Pope from 5 December 1590 until his death in 1591.- Early career :...
, he obtained the votes of an important minority. He died in Rome in 1597.
Selected Works
- De nothis spuriisque filiis liber (1573)
- De sacris et profanis imaginibus libri V (1582)
- Episcopale Bononiensis civitatis (1580)
- Archiepiscopale Bonoiensis civitatis (1594)
- De sacris consistorii consultationibusìì (1594)
- De bono senectutis (1595).