Religion: Three in Pectore

  • Share
  • Read Later

(2 of 2)

*The 1933 appointments: Federico Tedeschini and Carlo Salotti. Pope Pius XI's reasons for secrecy: Tedeschini was performing a critical mission as Papal Nuncio to Madrid at a time when the Republican regime was replacing the Spanish monarchy; Salotti was busy trying cases for sainthood as Promoter of the Faith, and the Pope wanted him to complete his work. Both were publicly elevated in 1935. The practice goes back to 1426, when Pope Martin V withheld publication of the names of three cardinals to avoid upsetting the delicate balance achieved by his election in 1417, ending the 4O-year Great Schism.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. Next Page