Church Roman Catholic Name Ferdinando Mattei Predecessor Vincenzo Labini | In office 1807-1829 Diocese Malta | |
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Successor Francesco Saverio Caruana Opposed to Francesco Saverio Caruana | ||
Ferdinando Mattei (24 July 1761 – 14 July 1829) was a Maltese prelate who was appointed bishop of Malta in 1807.
Mattei was born in Senglea Malta on July 24, 1761. After being ordained priest, Mattei was appointed as one of the knights of St John's Conventual Chaplains because of the high regard they had for him. After the knights were expelled from the island by the French, Mattei worked with the Maltese and avoided any contact with the French. After the French left Malta the British looked with favor upon him.
In 1803 Mattei was appointed as a Monsignor of the Cathedral and on the 23rd December 1805 Pope Pius VIII appointed him as titular Bishop of Pafo. This entitled the new bishop to help Bishop Labini in running the diocese. He was ordained bishop by Publio Maria Sant the Titular Bishop of Laranda. Two years later Bishop Mattei was himself appointed as the new bishop of Malta after the death of Bishop Labini. He was opposed by Francesco Saverio Caruana who himself wanted to be bishop of Malta. Caruana would eventually succeed Mattei after his death.
Bishop Mattei died on July 14, 1829, ten days before his 68th birthday.