Raffaele Rossi
Raffaele Rossi | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 4 July 1930 |
| Term ended | 17 September 1948 |
| Predecessor | Carlo Perosi |
| Successor | Adeodato Giovanni Piazza |
| Other post(s) | |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 21 December 1901 by Ferdinando dei Conti Capponi |
| Consecration | 25 May 1920 byGaetano de Lai |
| Created cardinal | 30 June 1930 byPope Pius XI |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carlo Rossi 28 October 1876 |
| Died | 17 September 1948(aged 71) Crespano del Grappa,Treviso,Italy |
| Previous post(s) |
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| Motto | Justitia in Carmelo( "Justice in Carmel" ) |
| Sainthood | |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Title as Saint | Servant of God |
| Attributes |
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| Styles of Raffaele Rossi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | None |
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Raffaele Rossi,OCD, bornCarlo Rossi,(28 October 1876 – 17 September 1948), was anItalianDiscalced Carmeliteandcardinal.[1]Rossi served in theSacred Consistorial Congregationin theRoman Curiafrom 1930 until his death and as a friar had the religious name "Raffaele of Saint Joseph".Pope Pius XIelevated him into thecardinalatein 1930.[2]His cause of beatification began three decades after his death and he is known as aServant of God.[1]
Rossi served as an investigator into thestigmataofPio of Pietrelcinaat the behest ofPope Benedict XVand reported back to him with a favourable view on theCapuchin.He viewed the stigmata and spoke with the friar while noting that he was "sincere" and concluding that there was no fraud or deceit on the friar's part.[2][1]
Life
[edit]Education and priesthood
[edit]Carlo Rossi was born inPisain 1876 to Francesco Rossi and Maria Palmidessi. His parents were descended from noble families.[1]
Rossi felt called in 1891 to enter the religious life despite the opposition of his father who instead enrolled Rossi for a philosophical course atthe collegein Pisa where one of his mentors wasGiuseppe Toniolo.[2]
Rossi entered theDiscalced Carmeliteson 3 October 1887 and later made hisfirst vowson 19 December 1899. His solemn vows were made on 20 September 1901. Rossi wasordainedto thepriesthoodon 21 December 1901 in Pisa after he completed his ecclesial studies at the Carmelite International College and at the Carmelite Scholasticate inRome.He then taught atCarmelitehousesfrom 1902 until 1920 after having studied at thePontifical Gregorianfor further studies. One of his lecturers at the Gregorian was CardinalLouis Billotand he made friends with Father Eugenio Pacelli - future pope.[2][1]Rossi also served at some stage at the order's house of San Paolino inFlorence.
Consecration
[edit]On 22 April 1920 he was appointed as theBishop of Volterraand he received hisepiscopal consecrationa month later from CardinalGaetano de Laiwith Archbishop Rinaldo Rousset and Bishop Pio Bagnoli serving as theco-consecrators.It was celebrated in thechurchofSanta Teresa al Corso d'Italia.He selectedCharles Borromeoas his model for his episcopate.
Padre Pio investigation
[edit]In 1921 he received a letter from Rome that commissioned him to conduct an investigation into theFranciscan friarPadre Pioand hisstigmata.Rossi did not wish this task and sent a letter toCardinal del Valasking to be relieved from such a serious investigation but was required to accept the position in response.[2]Rossi travelled to Rome from his diocese to examine the documents on the friar while assessing the accusations and praise before leaving for the FranciscanconventatSan Giovanni Rotondothat June with a degree of initial scepticism. He met with Padre Pio to discuss the allegations and reported that the friar seemed "simple and even nice" while being allowed to view the stigmata for himself. He observed Pio's routine and noted his activities while later speaking with the other friars to learn that Pio converted people fromJudaismandProtestantismand converted hardened hearts from all acrossEurope.[2]Rossi's investigation was positive and concluded that Pio was a "practiced practitioner of virtue" and noted that the friar did not practice deceit or fraud while noting that Pio did not inflict the wounds upon himself nor did an external source cause it. Rossi noted that "there are stigmata. We have before us a fact" and included that in his report to the pope while also stating that "Padre Pio was a saint who performed miracles" according to the people who came across him.
Episcopate and cardinalate
[edit]The pope named him as anAssistant at the Pontifical Throneon 11 March 1930.[1]Before being promoted as theTitular Archbishop of Thessalonicaon 20 December 1923 he was named as anassessorof theSacred Consistorial Congregation.Pope Pius XIcreated him as theCardinal-Priest of Santa Prassedeon 30 June 1930 in advance of Rossi's appointment as the head of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation a month after. He received his red hat and title in the week following his elevation.[2]In his position Rossi was the head of thatcongregationas thepopeheld the title ofPrefectin its traditional sense. He was also one of thecardinal electorswho participated in the1939 papal conclavethat selectedPope Pius XII.Rossi attempted to eschew much of the trappings of the cardinalate and attempted also to keep the ascetic life of a Discalced Carmelites and was held in high esteem by both his colleagues and the pope himself. Rossi later became the Superior General for theScalabrini Fathersand became quite close to them in his work with them.
Death
[edit]His health began to decline at the start of 1947 and the papal doctor advised total rest.[2]
Rossi died inCrespano del Grappaduring the night on 17 September 1948 and was buried at the Santa Teresa al Corso d'Italia church. He was discovered dead in his bed (a slight smile on his face) with three books at his side: one was theBibleand another wasThe Imitation of Christ.He had moved to Crespano del Grappa the month prior due to failing health and resided with the Scalabrini Fathers.[2]Pope Pius XII said that Rossi's contribution to the Church was great and would be recognized in the future. The pope also referred to Rossi as "almost their second father" in relation to the Scalabrini Fathers due to his great closeness and extensive work with them.[1]
Beatification process
[edit]His beatication process commenced on 23 April 1976 underPope Paul VIand Rossi was titled as aServant of God.The diocesan process for the investigation was held in Rome and closed in 1979 before theCongregation for the Causes of Saintsconfirmed on 29 March 1985 that the process was valid. ThePositiowas submitted to the congregation in 1989 for further evaluation and underwent theological approval on 23 February 1996. One miracle attributed to him was investigated in theLucca diocese(it came from Capannori) from 1983 to 1984 and the process received validation on 6 May 1988.
References
[edit]External links
[edit]
- 1876 births
- 1948 deaths
- 20th-century Italian cardinals
- 20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops
- Bishops of Volterra
- Carmelite bishops
- Carmelite cardinals
- Discalced Carmelites
- Members of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation
- Italian Servants of God
- Clergy from Pisa
- Pontifical Gregorian University alumni
- University of Pisa alumni