Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi
Encyclopedia
Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi (12 July 1859 - 22 August 1914) was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bergamo
. Today he is famous for his strong involvement in social issues at the beginning of 20th century.
, the son of a wealthy and noble family. Ordined as a priest in 1879, he became professor of canon law
in the diocesan seminary
of Piacenza. In 1890 he joined the Secretariat of State in the Vatican and was involved in many diplomatic missions. In 1905 after the death of Pope Leo XIII, he was named Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bergamo on 5 January and consecrated by Pope Pius X in the Sistine Chapel. A strong supporter of Catholic trade union
s, he helped, through charity and prayer, the workers of a textile plant in Ranica
.
He fell ill with cancer and died in the early days of the World War I
.
His last words were, "Angelo," (referring to his secretary) "pray for peace". During his episcopal ministry in Bergamo, he was helped by a young priest named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli who later became Pope John XXIII
. For the late Pope John XXIII, Radini-Tedeschi was a teacher who was never forgotten by his one time follower.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bergamo
The Diocese of Bergamo is a see of the Catholic Church in Italy, and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milan. It was founded in the fourth century CE, and its first bishop was Saint Narno...
. Today he is famous for his strong involvement in social issues at the beginning of 20th century.
Biography
He was born in PiacenzaPiacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, the son of a wealthy and noble family. Ordined as a priest in 1879, he became professor of canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in the diocesan 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...
of Piacenza. In 1890 he joined the Secretariat of State in the Vatican and was involved in many diplomatic missions. In 1905 after the death of Pope Leo XIII, he was named Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bergamo on 5 January and consecrated by Pope Pius X in the Sistine Chapel. A strong supporter of Catholic trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s, he helped, through charity and prayer, the workers of a textile plant in Ranica
Ranica
Ranica is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 50 km northeast of Milan and about 5 km northeast of Bergamo...
.
He fell ill with cancer and died in the early days of the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
His last words were, "Angelo," (referring to his secretary) "pray for peace". During his episcopal ministry in Bergamo, he was helped by a young priest named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli who later became 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...
. For the late Pope John XXIII, Radini-Tedeschi was a teacher who was never forgotten by his one time follower.