Scipione Rebiba
Encyclopedia
Scipione Rebiba was an Italian Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
.
He is of particular significance as more than 90% of all living Catholic bishops can trace their episcopal lineage
back to him.
, in Sicily
.
He was appointed
Auxiliary Bishop
of Chieti
on 16 March 1541. During the consistory
of 20 December 1555, he was created a cardinal and appointed Archbishop of Pisa. It is widely believed that Rebiba was consecrated by Gian Pietro Carafa
, the cardinal who became Pope Paul IV, but supporting documentation has not been found and therefore the episcopal genealogies
stop at Rebiba.
Rebiba was appointed Bishop of Albano in 1573 and Bishop of Sabina e Poggio Mirteto in 1574.
In the early 18th century, Pope Benedict XIII
, whose holy orders
were descended from Rebiba, personally consecrated at least 139 bishops for various important European sees, including German
, French
, English
and New World
bishops. These bishops in turn consecrated bishops almost exclusively for their respective countries causing other episcopal lineages to die off.
Today, more than 91% of the New World's and more than 5,000 Catholic bishops alive today, including Pope Benedict XVI, trace their episcopal lineage back to Rebiba.
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...
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 is of particular significance as more than 90% of all living Catholic bishops can trace their episcopal lineage
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
back to him.
Biography
Scipione Rebiba was born in San Marco d'AlunzioSan Marco d'Alunzio
San Marco d'Alunzio is a city and comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, near the north coast of the island, located about 120 km east of Palermo and about 80 km west of Messina...
, in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
He was appointed
Appointment of Catholic bishops
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection...
Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Chieti
Chieti
Chieti is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region...
on 16 March 1541. During the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of 20 December 1555, he was created a cardinal and appointed Archbishop of Pisa. It is widely believed that Rebiba was consecrated by Gian Pietro Carafa
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
, the cardinal who became Pope Paul IV, but supporting documentation has not been found and therefore the episcopal genealogies
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
stop at Rebiba.
Rebiba was appointed Bishop of Albano in 1573 and Bishop of Sabina e Poggio Mirteto in 1574.
In the early 18th century, Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
, whose holy orders
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....
were descended from Rebiba, personally consecrated at least 139 bishops for various important European sees, including German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
bishops. These bishops in turn consecrated bishops almost exclusively for their respective countries causing other episcopal lineages to die off.
Today, more than 91% of the New World's and more than 5,000 Catholic bishops alive today, including Pope Benedict XVI, trace their episcopal lineage back to Rebiba.