Sfondrati

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SFONDRATI

A noble Milanese family, originally from Cremona, that flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries. Among its members were many prominent ecclesiastics, including:

Francesco, cardinal; b. Cremona, Oct. 26, 1493; d. there, July 31, 1550. He received his doctorate at Pavia

in 1520 and taught at Padua, Bologna, Rome, and Turin. He held public offices under Charles V, who made him Count of Riviera di Lecco on Oct. 23, 1537. After the death of his wife, Anna Visconti (1538), Francesco, a senator of Milan, entered religion; Paul III named him cardinal in 1544. He served in the Curia as a member of the Inquisition. As legate to the Emperor Charles V from Dec. 19, 1544, he dealt with the affairs of England on the death of Henry VIII; he was recalled from Germany June 10, 1548. Francesco governed the Diocese of Capaccio from March 23, 1547, to Nov. 9, 1549, when he was transferred to Cremona. Francesco was the father of Niccolò.

(Niccolò; for his biography, see gregory xiv, pope.)

Paolo Camille (also Emilio), cardinal, grandson of Francesco; b. 1561; d. Feb. 14, 1618. He lived in Rome, where he associated closely with (St.) Philip Neri and the Oratorians. He was a man of artistic taste, but had little knowledge of practical affairs. On Dec. 19, 1590, he was named cardinal and secretary of state by his uncle, Gregory XIV. He misused his uncle's confidence, abandoned

his early high ideals, and became interested in wealth. During his uncle's pontificate he was in almost complete control of both religious and civil affairs. Under his direction the body of St. Cecilia was found on Oct. 20, 1599, in his titular church, where he interred her with great solemnity. He ruled the Diocese of Cremona until his death.

Celestino, prince-abbot of St. Gall and cardinal; b. Milan, Jan. 11, 1644; d. Rome, Sept. 4, 1696. On April 26, 1660, he took the Benedictine habit at St. Gall, where he became professor, master of novices, vicar-general, and abbot. From 1679 to 1682 he taught Canon Law at the University of Salzburg; he was appointed bishop of Novara in 1686 by Innocent XI, and then prince-abbot of St. Gall on April 17, 1687. For his learning, piety, and monastic discipline, he was named cardinal of St. Cecilia by Innocent XII on Dec. 12, 1695; he died nine months later and is buried in his titular church. Besides various philosophical and theological works he wrote on the prerogatives of the Holy See. Among the more noted are: Tractatus regaliae (St. Gall 1682); Gallia vindicata (St. Gall 1688); Legatio Marchionis Lavardini eiusque cum Innocentio XI dissidium (St. Gall 1688); Nodus praedestinationis ex sacris litteris, doctrinaque sanctorum Augustini et Thomae … dissolutus (posthumous, Rome 1697), which accepted the doctrine on predestination as explained by lessius. It was attacked by Bossuet, but defended by Cardinal Giovanni Gabrielli (1654–1711).

Bibliography: h. jedin and v. redlich, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. m. buchberger, 10 v. (Freiburg 1930–38) 9:517. l. pastor, The History of the Popes From the Close of the Middle Ages, 40 v. (London-St. Louise 1938–61), v.13–40, from 1st German ed. Geschichte der Päpste seit dem Ausgang des Mittelalters, 16 v. i 21 (Freiburg 1885–1933; repr. 1955–) v. 22–24, passim.