COSTANTINI, CELSO

Cardinal, zealous promoter of the missions and of missionary art; b. Castion di Zoppola, Italy, April 3, 1876; d. Rome, Oct. 17, 1958. Costantini completed his ecclesiastical studies in Rome, taking degrees in both theology and philosophy; he was ordained on Dec. 26, 1899. Returning to his diocese (Concordia), he was engaged in the pastoral ministry until the outbreak of World War I, when he became a military chaplain. Because of the competence and energetic activity he displayed in saving precious works of sacred art in the war zone, he was made regent and conservator of the ancient basilica of Acquilea to work with the military authorities in protecting its treasures.

After the war Costantini became vicar-general of his diocese. He deepened his knowledge of the history of art and founded the society Amici dell'Arte Sacra and the illustrated review Arte cristiana, published at Milan. In 1920, during the development of the military and political events that turned upon the possession of Fiume, Costantini was made administrator apostolic of that diocese. He was promoted to the titular see of Geropolis on July 22, 1921, and was consecrated August 24 of that year. The following year he was named to the titular see of Theodosiopolis in Arcadia, given the rank of archbishop, and made apostolic delegate to China, the first to hold that office. While he was delegate, the Chinese hierarchy was established, the first plenary council of the Chinese Church was held in Shanghai in 1924, and six Chinese bishops were consecrated in 1926.

Costantini left the apostolic delegation in Beijing in 1933. He continued his literary activity. As delegate he had already begun to attract serious attention with his La crisi cinese e il cattolicismo and with numerous publications and conferences on missionary subjects and sacred art. He was strongly in favor of indigenous art for religious use in mission countries. His L'arte cristiana nelle missioni (Vatican City 1940) explains the principles of native art and argues for the reasonableness and desirability of indigenous, as opposed to foreign, aesthetic forms in Christian art and architecture.

In December of 1935 he was named secretary of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, and he was also made Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical Urban Athenaeum in the same year. He was active and effective in promoting missionary work. He became known as an ardent proponent of the establishment of a local clergy in mission lands and of missionary adaptation. Many pontifical pronouncements and policies during these years may be attributed to his inspiration and incessant labors. Among other forms of missionary adaptation, Costantini is particularly recognized as an initiator, promoter, and theoretician of adaptation in art and architecture.

Costantini was created cardinal Jan. 12, 1953 and became chancellor of the Holy Roman Church on May 22, 1954.

Bibliography: a. camps, "Celso Costantini, Apostolic Delegate in China (1922–1933): The Changing Role of the Foreign Missionary," in Studies in Asian Mission 1956–1998 (Leiden 2000) 169–174. g. wei-ming, m. sloboda, tr., "Costantini: Patron of Chinese Church Art" Tripod (1995) 40–46. r. simonato, Celso Costantini tra rinnovamento cattolico in Italia e le nuove missioni in Cina (Pordenone 1985). c. soetens, "Celso Costantini et la Cina," Revue d'histoire Ecclésiastique 80, no. 2 (1985) 653–654.

[j. c. willke]