Francesco Maria Neri (6 February 1628 – December 1684) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as

Bishop of Venosa The Italian Catholic diocese of Venosa, in southern Italy, existed until 1986. In that year it was united into the Diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa. From 1976 to 1986, Venosa had been a suffragan of the archdiocese of Potenza e Marsico Nuovo. Hi ...

(1678–1684) and Bishop of Massa Lubrense (1672–1678).

Biography

Francesco Maria Neri was born in

Tivoli, Italy Tivoli ( ; ; ) is a town and in Lazio, Central Italy, north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine Hills. The city offers a wide view over the Roman Campagna. History Gaius Julius Solinus cites Cato ...

on 6 February 1628 and ordained a priest on 31 December 1654. He held the degree of ''

Doctor in utroque iure A doctor of both laws, from the Latin , , or ("doctor of both laws") (abbreviations include: JUD, IUD, DUJ, JUDr., DUI, DJU, Dr.iur.utr., Dr.jur.utr., DIU, UJD and UID), is a scholar who has acquired a doctorate in both civil and church law. ...

'', and was the fiscal advocate of the Holy Office (Inquisition) in the Kingdom of Naples (1667). He was a canon of the cathedral of Naples, and in 1668 became its penitentiary major.Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 259 with note 3. On 16 May 1672, he was appointed Bishop of Massa Lubrense by

Pope Clement X Pope Clement X (; ; 13 July 1590 – 22 July 1676), born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 April 1670 to his death on 22 July 1676. Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, born in Rome in ...

. On 22 May 1672, he was

consecrated Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

bishop by Federico Borromeo (iuniore), Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Agostino, with

Bernardino Rocci Bernardino Rocci (1627–1680) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. On 22 April 1668, he was consecrated bishop by Giulio Gabrielli, Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina, with Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, Bishop Emeritus of Camerino, and Carlo de' Vecchi, Titu ...

Titular Archbishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

of ''Damascus'', and

Domenico Gianuzzi Domenico Gianuzzi (1596–1680) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as titular bishop of ''Dioclea in Phrygia'' (1669–1680). ''(in Latin)''Titular Bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

of ''

Dioclea in Phrygia Dioclea (also Dioclia, Diocleia or Diokleia; ) was a town of ancient Phrygia, inhabited during Roman and Byzantine times. History In ancient times it had a mint, under its king Elagabalus. It was the see of a Christian bishop. Lequien, names on ...

'', serving as

co-consecrators A consecrator is a bishop who ordains someone to the episcopacy. A co-consecrator is someone who assists the consecrator bishop in the act of ordaining a new bishop. The terms are used in the canon law of the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churche ...

. On 10 January 1678, he was appointed by

Pope Innocent XI Pope Innocent XI (; ; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 until his death on 12 August 1689. Political and religious tensions with ...

. He served as Bishop of Venosa until his death in December 1684.

References

External links and additional sources

*Giordani, D. V. (1862), "Venosa," , in: Pietro Pianton (ed.)
''Enciclopedia ecclesiastica'' Vol. VII
(Venezia: Girolamo Tasso, 1862) p. 953. * 17th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops Bishops appointed by Pope Clement X Bishops appointed by Pope Innocent XI 1628 births 1684 deaths {{17C-Italy-RC-bishop-stub