Gregorio Panzani
Encyclopedia
Gregorio Panzani was an Italian
Catholic
priest, who became Bishop of Mileto and a papal emissary to England during the reign of King Charles I of England
.
Panzani was a secular priest of Arezzo
, having left the Congregation of the Oratory on account of ill-health, when in 1634 he was chosen by Cardinal Antonio Barberini
for the important and delicate task of a secret agency in London
. He is described by the writer of his memoirs as a man:
Having already sent incognito Count Charles Rossetti
to London, Barberini was keen to gain more information about the progress of Catholics in England and Panzani's commission was to gain first-hand information as to the state of English Catholics. English Catholics were then much divided on the question of the oath of allegiance and the appointment of a vicar Apostolic and moves were afoot to settle the differences that had arisen on these points between the seculars and regulars and to establish informal relations between Barberini's uncle Pope Urban VIII
and the Government.
Panzani himself realized that the appointment of a bishop was necessary, and he resented the efforts of the Jesuits to hinder this. Though he was successful in reconciling seculars with the Benedictine
s and other catholics, the Jesuits were left out of the settlement, and Panzani's subsequent efforts to bring them in were fruitless.
He had repeated interviews with Windebank and Lord Cottington
, the secretaries of state, enjoyed (like Rossetti) the confidence of the Queen, Henrietta Maria
, and was admitted to secret audience with King Charles
. He was also in communication with Richard Montagu
, the Anglican Bishop of Chichester
on the subject of corporate reunion.
He was recalled in 1634 when a scheme of reciprocal agency was established between Pope Urban VIII
and the Queen. Returning to Rome he was made a canon of S. Lorenzo in Damaso, and obtained a judicial position in the civil courts. On 13 August 1640, he was elected Bishop of Mileto
, in the Province of Catanzaro.
published a translation of them with an historical introduction and supplement. Their authenticity was immediately called in question by Father Charles Plowden
, S.J., who regarded them as a forgery by Dodd. The subsequent researches by M. A. Tierney, however, conclusively proved that the Memoirs were genuine. The original manuscript, then in the possession of Cardinal Filippo Antonio Gualterio
, was purchased by the British Museum
in 1854 (Add. Manuscripts 15389).
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Catholic
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...
priest, who became Bishop of Mileto and a papal emissary to England during the reign of King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.
Panzani was a secular priest of Arezzo
Arezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
, having left the Congregation of the Oratory on account of ill-health, when in 1634 he was chosen by Cardinal Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini was an Italian Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Reims, military leader, patron of the arts and a prominent member of the House of Barberini. As one of the cardinal-nephews of Pope Urban VIII and a supporter of France, he played a significant role at a number of the papal...
for the important and delicate task of a secret agency in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He is described by the writer of his memoirs as a man:
Having already sent incognito Count Charles Rossetti
Carlo Rossetti
thumb|200 px|Carlo Rossetti after his return to Rome.Carlo Rossetti was an Italian Catholic Cardinal who went to London as a secret nuncio on behalf of Pope Urban VIII...
to London, Barberini was keen to gain more information about the progress of Catholics in England and Panzani's commission was to gain first-hand information as to the state of English Catholics. English Catholics were then much divided on the question of the oath of allegiance and the appointment of a vicar Apostolic and moves were afoot to settle the differences that had arisen on these points between the seculars and regulars and to establish informal relations between Barberini's uncle Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
and the Government.
Panzani himself realized that the appointment of a bishop was necessary, and he resented the efforts of the Jesuits to hinder this. Though he was successful in reconciling seculars with the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
s and other catholics, the Jesuits were left out of the settlement, and Panzani's subsequent efforts to bring them in were fruitless.
He had repeated interviews with Windebank and Lord Cottington
Francis Cottington, Baron Cottington
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington was the English lord treasurer and ambassador and leader of the pro-Spanish, pro-Roman Catholic faction in the court of Charles I. He was the fourth son of Philip Cottington of Godmonston in Somersetshire...
, the secretaries of state, enjoyed (like Rossetti) the confidence of the Queen, Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
, and was admitted to secret audience with King Charles
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. He was also in communication with Richard Montagu
Richard Montagu
Richard Montagu was an English cleric and prelate.-Early life:He was born during Christmastide 1577 at Dorney, Buckinghamshire, where his father Laurence Mountague was vicar, and was educated at Eton. He was elected from Eton to a scholarship at King's College, Cambridge, and admitted on 24...
, the Anglican Bishop of Chichester
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
on the subject of corporate reunion.
He was recalled in 1634 when a scheme of reciprocal agency was established between Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
and the Queen. Returning to Rome he was made a canon of S. Lorenzo in Damaso, and obtained a judicial position in the civil courts. On 13 August 1640, he was elected Bishop of Mileto
Mileto
Mileto is a comune in the Province of Vibo Valentia in the Italian region Calabria, located about 60 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 6 km south of Vibo Valentia.Mileto is the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Mileto....
, in the Province of Catanzaro.
Account of his mission
An account of his English mission was written in Italian by someone who had access to his papers, and a copy of this was used by Charles Dodd, who, however, thought it imprudent to publish these memoirs in full. But in 1793 the Rev. Joseph BeringtonJoseph Berington
Joseph Berington was one of the prominent British Catholic writers of his day.- Life :Joseph Berington, born at Winsley, Herefordshire, was educated at the English College at Douai. After his ordination to the priesthood he was promoted to the chair of philosophy in the university there...
published a translation of them with an historical introduction and supplement. Their authenticity was immediately called in question by Father Charles Plowden
Charles Plowden
Charles Plowden was an English Jesuit teacher, writer and administrator.-Life:He was descended from Edmund Plowden, in a Catholic family...
, S.J., who regarded them as a forgery by Dodd. The subsequent researches by M. A. Tierney, however, conclusively proved that the Memoirs were genuine. The original manuscript, then in the possession of Cardinal Filippo Antonio Gualterio
Filippo Antonio Gualterio (cardinal)
Filippo Antonio Gualterio was made a papal nuncio to France and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church from 1706....
, was purchased by the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in 1854 (Add. Manuscripts 15389).