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Diocese Of Prato
The Diocese of Prato () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Tuscany, Italy, that has existed as an independent entity since 1954. Its see is Prato Cathedral, some 10 miles (17 km) northwest of Florence, on the Bisenzio River. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Florence. History The earliest reference to the place occurs in a diploma of the Emperor Otto III in 998, but the earliest use of the word "Prato" occurs in a bull of the bishop of Pistoia, dated 1035. The church of S. Stefano del borgo Cornio in Prato was already in existence by the 10th century, and was the easternmost parish in the diocese of Pistoia, bordering on the diocese of Florence. It had become a collegiate church, ruled by a provost and a college of canons, by the beginning of the 11th century. Its relationship to the bishops of Pistoia was always difficult. On 21 May 1123, Pope Innocent II issued a bull in which the papacy took the church of S. Stefano de Prato under its protectio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prato Cathedral
Prato Cathedral, or Cathedral of Saint Stephen, () is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prato, Tuscany, Central Italy, from 1954 the seat of the Bishop of Prato, having been previously, from 1653, a cathedral in the Diocese of Pistoia and Prato. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. It is one of the most ancient churches in the city, and was already in existence in the 10th century. It was built in several successive stages in the Romanesque style. The church contains a number of notable works of art, in particular fine sculpture. History The church of Saint Stephen was built in a green meadow (''Prato'') after an appearance of the Virgin Mary near the village of Borgo al Cornio (the present center of Prato). The first building was a small parish church, documented as early as AD 994 as the ''Pieve di Santo Stefano''. A substantial expansion of the church building began in the 15th century, enlarging the nave and aisles, and erecting the bell tower (complete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pope Lucius III
Pope Lucius III ( – 25 November 1185), born Ubaldo Allucingoli, reigned as head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1 September 1181 to his death in 1185. Born to an aristocratic family in Lucca, prior to being elected pope, he had a long career as a papal diplomat. His papacy was marked by conflicts with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, his exile from Rome, and the initial preparations for the Third Crusade. Born in Lucca, Ubaldo Allucingoli rose to prominence within the Catholic Church, eventually becoming Pope Lucius III. He was appointed cardinal by Pope Innocent II and served as papal legate in France, Sicily, and other regions. He was involved in negotiating the Treaty of Venice in 1177, and was elected pope in 1181. During his papacy, Lucius III faced disputes with the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I over the territories of the late Countess Matilda of Tuscany. He also held a synod in 1184 that condemned various heretical groups. In 1185, preparat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gastone Simoni
Gastone Simoni (9 April 1937 – 28 August 2022) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church serving as the bishop of Diocese of Prato from 1992 to 2021. Biography Simoni was born in Castelfranco di Sopra, in the province of Arezzo, Italy on 9 April 1937. He studied theology at Small Diocesan Seminary of Strada in Casentino and the Seminary of Fiesole. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1960 by the bishop of Fiesole, Antonio Bagnoli. As a priest, Simoni served as provicar general (1969–1975) and vicar general (1975–1991) for the diocese of Fiesole. He was also rector of the diocesan seminary (1970–1978). On 7 December 1991 Pope John Paul II appointed Simoni as bishop of the Diocese of Prato, Italy. In January 1992 Simoni was consecrated as a bishop in St. Peter's Basilica by Pope John Paul II. He served as bishop of Prato until his retirement in 2012, after which he became a bishop emeritus. Simoni died on 28 August 2022. The funeral Mass for Simoni was celebra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santi Vicenzo E Caterina De' Ricci, Prato
The Minor Basilica of Santi Vicenzo e Caterina de' Ricci is a Catholic church, built in the 16th to 18th centuries, and located in the town of Prato, in Tuscany, Italy. Adjacent to the church is a 16th-century monastery. Construction The original church of San Vicenzo had been built in the 16th century, but refurbished over the following centuries. The church is now also dedicated to Caterina de' Ricci (1522-1590), who had been a nun associated with the adjacent convent of San Vicenzo Ferrer. About 150 years after her death, Catherine was beatified (1732) and subsequently canonized (1742). After her beatification, this church underwent major refurbishment (1732-1735) under Giovanni Battista Bettini (il Cignaroli) and Girolamo Ticciati. Saint Catherine's remains are displayed under the main altar. The reconstruction and canonization led to making the church a minor basilica. Both the interior and exterior are baroque in style. Works of art The church houses a ''Nativity'' (16 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santa Maria Delle Carceri, Prato
Santa Maria delle Carceri is a basilica church, designed by Giuliano da Sangallo, and built in Prato, Tuscany, Italy. It is among the earliest examples of a Greek cross plan for a complete church in Renaissance architecture. History According to the tradition, on July 6, 1484, a painted image of Madonna and Child, located on a wall of the public jail ('' carceri'') of Prato, began to animate itself in the eyes of a local child. It was therefore decided to build a basilica on that site to celebrate the event. Lorenzo de Medici, lord of the Republic of Florence, imposed a design by his favourite architect, da Sangallo. The latter's proposal included a Greek cross plan inspired to Filippo Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel and by Leon Battista Alberti's theoretical works; Sangallo used the same idea for his first project of St Peter's Basilica, later superseded by Michelangelo. The same model inspired his brother Antonio da Sangallo the Elder for the church of San Biagio at Montepulci ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santa Maria Assunta In Filettole
Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. Christmas elves are said to make the gifts in Santa's workshop, while flying reindeer pull his sleigh through the air. The popular conception of Santa Claus originates from folklore traditions surrounding the 4th-century Christian bishop Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas became renowned for his reported generosity and secret gift-giving. The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with the English figure of Father Christmas, and they are both now popularly regarded as the same person. Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, a red hat trimmed with white fur, a black leath ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his youth, Wojtyła dabbled in stage acting. He graduated with excellent grades from an All-boys school, all-boys high school in Wadowice, Poland, in 1938, soon after which World War II broke out. During the war, to avoid being kidnapped and sent to a Forced labour under German rule during World War II, German forced labour camp, he signed up for work in harsh conditions in a quarry. Wojtyła eventually took up acting and developed a love for the profession and participated at a local theatre. The linguistically skilled Wojtyła wanted to study Polish language, Polish at university. Encouraged by a conversation with Adam Stefan Sapieha, he decided to study theology and become a priest. Eventually, Wojtyła rose to the position of Archbishop of Kra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basilicas In The Catholic Church
Basilicas are Catholic Church, Catholic Church (building), church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular building with a central nave flanked by two or more longitudinal aisles). Basilicas are either major basilicas, of which there are four, all in the Diocese of Rome, or minor basilicas, of which there were 1,924 worldwide . Numerous basilicas are notable Shrine, shrines, often even receiving significant Pilgrimage, pilgrimages, especially among the many that were built above a ''confessio'' or the burial place of a martyr; although this term now usually designates a space before the high altar that is sunk lower than the main floor level (as in the case in St Peter's and St John Lateran in Rome) and that offer more immediate access to the burial places below. Some Catholic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII (; born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli; 2 March 18769 October 1958) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death on 9 October 1958. He is the most recent pope to take the Papal name, pontifical name "Pius". The papacy of Pius XII was long, even by modern standards; it lasted almost 20 years, and spanned a consequential fifth of the 20th century. Pius was a diplomat pope during the destruction wrought by the Second World War, Aftermath of World War II, the recovery and rebuilding which followed, the beginning of the Cold War, and the early building of a new International order, international geopolitical order, which aimed to protect human rights and maintain global peace through the establishment of international rules and institutions (such as the United Nations). Born, raised, educated, ordained, and resident for most of his life in Rome, his work in the Roman Curia—as a priest, then Bi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ferdinando II De' Medici, Grand Duke Of Tuscany
Ferdinando II de' Medici (14 July 1610 – 23 May 1670) was Grand Duchy of Tuscany, grand duke of Tuscany from 1621 to 1670. He was the eldest son of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo II de' Medici and Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, Maria Maddalena of Austria. Remembered by his contemporaries as a man of culture and science, he actively participated in the Accademia del Cimento, the first official scientific society in Italy, formed by his younger brother, Leopoldo de' Medici. His 49-year rule was punctuated by the beginning of Tuscany's long economic decline, which was further exacerbated by his successor, Cosimo III de' Medici. He married Vittoria della Rovere, a first cousin, with whom he had two children who reached adulthood: the aforementioned Cosimo III, and Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro, a Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal. Reign Ferdinando was only 10 years of age when his father Cosimo II died. Because he had n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carlo De' Medici (cardinal)
Carlo de' Medici (19 March 1595 – 17 June 1666) was an Italian nobleman and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Early life and ancestry Born into the powerful and wealthy Florentine House of Medici, he was the fifth child and third son of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and his wife, Christina of Lorraine. His paternal grandparents were Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and his wife, Eleanor of Toledo, the daughter of Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, Marquis of Villafranca, the Spanish viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples. His maternal grandparents were Charles III, Duke of Lorraine and his wife, Claude of Valois, daughter of Henry II, King of France and Catherine de' Medici. Biography Born in Florence, as a younger son into an influential Italian noble family, he was destined for a career in Church. Fulfilling his promise, he had a successful ecclesiastical career, rising to become Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and Dean of the College of Cardinals. De ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X (6 May 1574 – 7 January 1655), born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 September 1644 to his death, in January 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, Pamphili was trained as a lawyer and graduated from the Collegio Romano. He followed a conventional '' cursus honorum'', following his uncle Girolamo Pamphili as auditor of the Rota, and like him, attaining the position of cardinal-priest of Sant'Eusebio. Before becoming pope, Pamphili served as a papal diplomat to Naples, France, and Spain. Pamphili succeeded Pope Urban VIII (1623–44) on 15 September 1644 as Pope Innocent X, after a contentious papal conclave that featured a rivalry between French and Spanish factions. Innocent X was one of the most politically shrewd pontiffs of the era, greatly increasing the temporal power of the Holy See. Majo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
