Alessandro Bichi
| Alessandro Bichi | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal, Bishop of Carpentras | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Bishop of Carpentras |
| Appointed | September 9, 1630 |
| Term ended | May 25, 1657 |
| Other posts | Apostolic Nuncio to France |
| Orders | |
| Consecration |
May 7, 1628 (Bishop) by Luigi Cardinal Caetani |
| Created Cardinal | November 28, 1633 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 30, 1596 Siena |
| Died |
May 25, 1657 (aged 60) Rome |
| Buried | Basilica di Santa Sabina |
Alessandro Bichi (1596 - 1657) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and papal nuncio to France.[1]
Biography
Bichi was born in Siena in 1596, the son of Vincenzo Bichi and nephew of Cardinal Metello Bichi. At an early age he became Lieutenant of the Auditor of the Apostolic Chamber during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII and was then appointed Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signatura of Justice and of Grace.[2]
Bichi was elected Bishop of Isola on 5 May 1628 and was immediately sent to Naples as papal nuncio.[3] In 1630 he became nuncio to France and on 9 September 1630 he was appointed Bishop of Carpentras.[4][5] He was elevated to Cardinal in 1633 and was made Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina
In 1640 Alessadro Bichi made build by the Avignon architect François Royers de la Valfenière the new episcopal palace of Carpentras, which in 1801 became the Courthouse of the town.[6]
In 1644, Pope Urban VIII died and the College of Cardinals came together in conclave to elected a new Pope. As nuncio to France, Bichi naturally sided with the Cardinals of the French delegation led by Antonio Barberini.
Bichi participated in the conclave of 1655 which elected Pope Alexander VII. Bichi, who was already at odds with Innocent's powerful sister-in-law Olimpia Maidalchini, was said to have exclaimed, "We will elect a female pope".[7]
He died on 25 May 1657 in Rome and he was buried in the Basilica di Santa Sabina.[2].
References
- ↑ De Caro, Gaspare (1968). "Bichi, Alessandro". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). 10. Treccani.
- 1 2 Salvador Miranda. "Bichi, Alessandro". Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Avviso di Roma" (May 13, 1628). Avvisi e Notizie dall'Estero, File: 136. Archivio di Stato di Modena.
- ↑ Biaudet, Henry (1910). Les nonciatures apostoliques permanentes jusqu'en 1648. Helsinki. p. 254.
- ↑ David Cheney. "Alessandro Cardinal Bichi". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Le Palais de justice". Ville de Carpentras. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ Coville, Henry (1914). Étude sur Mazarin et ses démêles avec le pape Innocent X. Paris. p. 31.