Church Roman Catholic Church Predecessor Carlo Perosi | Name Raffaele Rossi | |
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In office 4 July 1930 - 17 September 1948 Successor Adeodato Giovanni Piazza Other posts Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prassede (1930-1948)
Superior General of Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo (1930-1948) Ordination 21 December 1901
by Ferdinando dei Conti Capponi | ||
Raffaele Rossi
Raffaele Rossi, OCD (28 October 1876 – 17 September 1948), born Carlo Rossi, was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation in the Roman Curia from 1930 until his death. Upon admittance into the Carmelites he selected the name of "Raffaele of Saint Joseph". Pope Pius XI elevated him into the cardinalate in 1930.
Contents
His cause of canonization has begun and he is known as a Servant of God. One miracle attributed to him is now under investigation.
Early life and priesthood
Raffaele Rossi was born in Pisa in 1876 and he entered the Discalced Carmelites on 3 October 1887. He made his profession on 19 December 1899. He was ordained to the priesthood on 21 December 1901, after he completed his studies at the Carmelite International College and Carmelite Scholasticate in Rome. He then taught at Carmelite houses of studies from 1902 to 1920.
Episcopate
On 22 April 1920 he was appointed as the Bishop of Volterra by Pope Benedict XV. He received his episcopal consecration on May 25, 1920 from Cardinal Gaetano de Lai, with Archbishop Rinaldo Rousset, OCD, and Bishop Pio Bagnoli, OCD, serving as the co-consecrators. It was celebrated in the church of 'Santa Teresa al Corso d'Italia.
Before being promoted as the Titular Archbishop of Thessalonica on 20 December 1923, Rossi was named Assessor of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation and secretary of the College of Cardinals on June 7 of that same year.
Cardinalate
Pope Pius XI created him Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prassede in the consistory of 30 June 1930 in advance of Rossi's appointment as Secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation on 4 July 1930.
As Secretary, Rossi was essentially the head of that dicastery as the pope traditionally held the title of Prefect. He was also one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1939 papal conclave that selected Pope 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.
Death
Rossi died in Crespano del Grappa at the age of 71. He is buried at the church of Santa Teresa al Corso d'Italia where he had been ordained a bishop. Pope Pius XII said that Rossi's contribution to the Church was great and would be recognized in future.
Beatification process
His cause of sainthood commenced on 23 April 1976 and he is titled as a Servant of God. After the diocesan process held in Rome (which closed in 1979) the Congregation for the Causes of Saints confirmed on 29 March 1985 that the process was valid. The Positio was submitted to the Congregation in 1989 for further evaluation.
A miracle attributed to him is now under investigation and the process was validated in 1988. It was investigated in Capannori in Lucca.