Prospero Caterini
Encyclopedia
Prospero Caterini was an Italian Cardinal
. As protodeacon
, he announced at the end of the conclave
of 1878 the election of Cardinal Gioacchino Pecci as Pope Leo XIII
. Due to illness however, he was unable to crown
the new pope at his papal coronation, the honor instead went to Cardinal Teodolfo Mertel
.
Cardinal Caterini was a relative of the Pacelli family, whose claim to fame comes from having produced Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII.
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...
. As protodeacon
Protodeacon
Protodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern...
, he announced at the end of 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...
of 1878 the election of Cardinal Gioacchino Pecci as Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. Due to illness however, he was unable to crown
Papal Coronation
A papal coronation was the ceremony of the placing of the Papal Tiara on a newly elected pope. The first recorded papal coronation was that of Pope Celestine II in 1143. Soon after his coronation in 1963, Pope Paul VI abandoned the practice of wearing the tiara. His successors have chosen not to...
the new pope at his papal coronation, the honor instead went to Cardinal Teodolfo Mertel
Teodolfo Mertel
Teodolfo Mertel was a lawyer and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the last lay cardinal.Pope Pius IX made him a Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eustachio on 15 March 1858. Two months later on May 16, Pope Pius IX ordained him as a deacon...
.
Cardinal Caterini was a relative of the Pacelli family, whose claim to fame comes from having produced Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII.