Teodolfo Mertel
Encyclopedia
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 Mertel was never ordained a priest, and at the time of his death was the last surviving non-priest cardinal. During the papal coronation
of Pope Leo XIII
, Cardinal Mertel crowned the new pope since the protodeacon Cardinal Prospero Caterini
was unable to do so due to illness.
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 was the last lay cardinal
Lay cardinal
In the Roman Catholic Church, a "lay cardinal" was a cardinal who had never been given major orders, i.e. who had never been ordained a deacon, priest, or bishop....
.
Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
made him a Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eustachio
Sant'Eustachio
Sant'Eustachio is a Roman Catholic titular church in Rome, named for the martyr Saint Eustace.-History:The church was founded in the 8th century, or possibly even earlier . The church was recorded as a diaconia at the end of the pontificate of Pope Gregory II...
on 15 March 1858. Two months later on May 16, Pope Pius IX ordained him as a deacon. Cardinal Mertel was never ordained a priest, and at the time of his death was the last surviving non-priest cardinal. During the papal coronation
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...
of 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...
, Cardinal Mertel crowned the new pope since the protodeacon Cardinal Prospero Caterini
Prospero Caterini
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...
was unable to do so due to illness.