Francesco Ravizza | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Sidon | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | titular Bishop of Sidon |
| Appointed | 19 March 1667 |
| Term ended | 22 May 1675 |
| Predecessor | Giovanni Battista Scanaroli |
| Successor | Gilbert-Gaspard de Montmorin |
| Other post | Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 20 March 1667 (Bishop) by Card.Neri Corsini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1616 |
| Died | 22 May 1675(1675-05-22) (aged 58–59) Rome, Papal States |
| Buried | St. Peter's Basilica |
Francesco Ravizza (1616 – 22 May 1675) was an Italianarchbishop anddiplomat,Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal from 1670 to 1673.
Francesco Ravizza was born to a humble family inOrvieto in 1616.[1] In that town he worked in the sewing shops of his parents, but soon he moved toRome seeking his fortune. In Rome he succeeded to enter in the service ofOlimpia Maidalchini, the powerful sister-in-law of reigningPope Innocent X. At the death of Innocent X, Ravizza participated to the1655 papal conclave as secretary of CardinalCarlo Gualterio; in that conclave Ravizza used in secret to send notes out of the conclave to Olimpia Maidalchini: for this reason he was arrested and passed some time in prison till he was forgiven by the newPope Alexander VII.[1]
Under the new Pope, Ravizza became personal secretary of the cardinal nephewFlavio Chigi. On 28 November 1661 he was appointed asreferendary of the Tribunals of theApostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace (which made him a prelate). On 31 December 1662 he entered inChapter ofSt. Peter's Basilica.[1] In 1664 Ravizza went with cardinal Flavio Chigi in his extraordinary legation in France. On 14 July 1665 he was appointed, succeeding Domenico Salvetti, prefect of theVatican Secret Archives,[2] an office that he never actually practiced. On 17 February 1666 he became secretary of the powerfulSacra Consulta, the most important administrative tribunal of thePapal States, a post that he held until 22 February 1668.
On 19 March 1667, shortly before the death of the Pope, he was appointedtitular Bishop of Sidon.[3] Theepiscopal consecration followed on 20 March inSt. Peter's Basilica by the hands of CardinalNeri Corsini.[4][5]
During the1667 papal conclave Ravizza schemed in favour of cardinalAngelo Celsi and during the1669-70 papal conclave he played a hidden, but key role in supporting the Spanish faction, being however stopped by cardinalJean François Paul de Gondi.[1]
TheTreaty of Lisbon (1668) allowed the Pope to restore the ecclesiastic jurisdiction in Portugal, previously placed in hold due to the conflict between theHouse of Braganza and theHouse of Habsburg: in 1659 had died the last bishop in Portugal.[6]On 12 August 1670 Francesco Ravizza was nominatedApostolic Nuncio to Portugal.[7] He reachedLisbon on 4 May 1671 after had passed in Paris to obtain the support of France in negotiating with the prince-regentPeter II of Portugal. In Lisbon, Ravizza performed many episcopal consecrations in order to re-establish a hierarchy there, but he found difficulties to re-establish also the ecclesiastic tribunals.[1]
He finished this diplomatic assignment on 12 April 1673, when he was replaced by the future Cardinal Marcello Durazzo. Back in Rome Ravizza was appointed secretary ofPropaganda Fide. He died in Rome on 22 May 1675 and was buried in the Sacristy of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican.[3]
A short book ascribed to the anti-CatholicGregorio Leti describes Ravizza as a man full of plots and tricks.[8]
| Episcopal succession of Francesco Ravizza |
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While bishop, he was theprincipal consecrator of:[3]
He also served as theprincipal co-consecrator of:[3] |
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| National | |
| People | |
