Nicola Canali
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
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| Informal style | Cardinal |
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Nicola Cardinal Canali (June 6, 1874—August 3, 1961) was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State from 1939 and as Major Penitentiary from 1941 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1935.
Biography
Nicola Canali was born in Rieti to Marquis Filippo Canali and his wife Countess Leonetta Vincentini. After studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Angelicum in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood on March 31, 1900 in the Lateran Basilica. On September 1, 1903, Canali was made private secretary to Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val and entered the Roman Curia, in the Secretariat of State. He was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness in November of that same year.
On March 21, 1908, Monsignor Canali was appointed Substitute, or deputy, of the Secretary of State. He was made a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on the following March 23, and later Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Ceremonies on September 24, 1914. As Secretary, he served as the second-highest official of that dicastery, successively under Cardinals Serafino Vannutelli and his brother Vicenzo Vannutelli. Canali was named assessor of the Holy Office on June 27, 1926, and a Protonotary Apostolic on the following September 15.
Pope Pius XI created him Cardinal Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere in the consistory of December 16, 1935. Canali was one of the cardinal electors in the 1939 papal conclave that selected Pope Pius XII, who appointed him the first President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State on March 20, 1939. Made Major Penitentiary on October 15, 1941, the Cardinal was appointed Pro-President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See in 1951 (remaining in that post until his death), and participated in the 1958 papal conclave, which resulted in the election of Pope John XXIII. In virtue of his position as Cardinal Protodeacon, he both announced Pope John's election and later crowned him on November 4, 1958.
Canali died from pneumonia in his Vatican apartment, at age 87[1]. He is buried in the church of S. Onofrio al Gianicolo in Rome. He was the last cardinal before 1962 who was never a bishop; in 1962, Pope John XXIII elevated the living non-bishop cardinals to the rank of bishop.
The Voice of Nicola Canali
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Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (July 2007) |
- Canali was made Protector of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre on July 16, 1940, and later its Grand Master on December 26, 1949[2].
- In 1949, when Azione Cattolica asked permission "to sell souvenirs in St. Peter's Square," Canali refused and said that "St. Peter's is a house of prayer". This followed a case of planned pickpocketing in St. Peter's Square, and the subsequent banning of all vendors, photographers, and beggars[3].
- He fell seriously ill in October 1957[4].
- He was the last cardinal who was never a bishop. On April 15, 1962, John XXIII issued the motu proprio Cum gravissima providing that all cardinals should receive episcopal consecration.
References
- ^ TIME Magazine. Milestones August 11, 1961
- ^ The Papal Orders. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem
- ^ TIME Magazine. The Money-Changers October 3, 1949
- ^ TIME Magazine. The Next Consistory December 9, 1957
External links