Tommaso Pasquale Gizzi

Tommaso Pasquale Gizzi (1787 - 1849) was an Italian prelate who rose to the highest ranks in the Catholic Church during the first half of 19th century. [cite web
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url =http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1841-ii.htm#Gizzi
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Life and career

Born in Ceccano, near Frosinone, at the time territory of Papal States, he was educated in the seminary of Ferentino and in 1808 he received the subdiaconate in 1809. He was ordained to priesthood on September 2 1810. After his ordination he attended the Archigynasium of Rome where he obtained a "doctorate in utroque iuris".From 1819 he worked as lawyer of Roman Rota. From 1820 to 1836 he rose the ranks of diplomatic career of the Papal States and then he was for a breief time he was named apostolic delegate in Ancona. In 1839 he was named by pope Gregory XVI bishop of Tebe and consecrated as bishop on 21 April. From 1839 to 1844 he was Apostolic Nuncio in Switzerland, and then in the Kingdom of Sardinia.During is time as apostolic nuncio he was named Cardinal in Pectore and published during the consistory of January 1844.

In April 1844 he was "Papal Legate" to Forlì and his province. Papal Legate in the Papal States were the bishop of the diocese but also the civil Governator of area of the diocese. During his tenure as Papal Legate he become the favorite of the liberals part of the pubblic opinion in the Italian Peninsula due to fact that he showed a different ideas from the largest part of other prelate of the 40s of the 19th century. [Montanelli/Cervi,"Storia d'Italia 1831-1846". Pag 106, RCS Corriere della Sera 2003]

At the death of pope Gregory XVI he joined the others Cardinals in Quirinale Palace where the conclave was scheduled. Cardinal Gizzi was a "papabile" and was the champion of the progressive party of the church and public opinion, he's believed that he received some preferences during the first ballot but Cardinal Mastai Ferretti was elected.After his election Pius IX named Gizzi Cardinal Secretary of State but he resigned from this post one year later.

He died on 3 June 1849.

References