Scipione Rebiba

Scipione Rebiba (1504 – July 23 1577) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chieti on March 16 1541, created a Cardinal on December 20 1555, appointed Archbishop of Pisa in 1566, Bishop of Albano in 1573 and Bishop of Sabina e Poggio Mirteto in 1574 [ [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brebi.html Scipione Cardinal Rebiba [Catholic-Hierarchy ] ] .

Cardinal Rebiba is a notable figure in the history of the apostolic succession in the Roman Catholic Church. More than 91% of the world’s more than 4,000 Catholic bishops alive today trace their episcopal lineage back to Rebiba.

In the early 18th century, Pope Benedict XIII, whose orders were descended from Rebiba, personally consecrated at least 139 bishops for various important European sees, including German, French, English and New World bishops. These bishops in turn consecrated bishops almost exclusively for their respective countries causing other episcopal lineages to die off.

It is widely believed that Gian Pietro Carafa, a Cardinal who became Pope Paul IV, consecrated him but supporting documentation has not been found and therefore the episcopal genealogies stop at Rebiba.

References

External links

* [http://mysite.verizon.net/res7gdmc/aposccs/ Apostolic succession in the Roman Catholic Church]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brebi.html Catholic hierarchy]