Francesco Pacelli (1 February 1872 – 22 April 1935), a nobleman of

Acquapendente Acquapendente is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Viterbo, in Lazio (Italy). Acquapendente is a centre for the agricultural production of vegetables and wine, and has a tradition of pottery craftsmanship. Its ''frazione'' of Torre Alfina is ...

and Sant'Angelo in Vado, was an Italian

lawyer A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters. The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as w ...

and expert in

canon law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...

. He was the elder brother of Eugenio Pacelli, who later became

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 p ...

. As a lay legal advisor to

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI (; born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, ; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939) was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 until his death in February 1939. He was also the first sovereign of the Vatican City State u ...

, Pacelli played a key role in assisting Pietro Gasparri, then the

Cardinal Secretary of State The Secretary of State of His Holiness (; ), also known as the Cardinal Secretary of State or the Vatican Secretary of State, presides over the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia. Th ...

, during the negotiation of the 1929

Lateran Treaty The Lateran Treaty (; ) was one component of the Lateran Pacts of 1929, agreements between Italy under Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini and the Holy See under Pope Pius XI to settle the long-standing Roman question. The treaty and ass ...

with

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who, upon assuming office as Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister, became the dictator of Fascist Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 un ...

, which established the independence of

Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...

and resolved the longstanding Roman Question.

Background

Francesco Pacelli was born in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

into an upper-class family of intense Catholic piety with a history of ties to the papacy (the "

Black Nobility The black nobility or black aristocracy () are Roman aristocratic families who sided with the Papacy under Pope Pius IX after the Savoy family-led army of the Kingdom of Italy entered Rome on 20 September 1870, overthrew the pope and the Papal ...

"), which for most of the 19th century was in service to the

Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...

. The Pacelli family had a long tradition of legal training. His grandfather, Marcantonio Pacelli, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado (titles granted to the family in 1853 and 1858), had been Under-Secretary in the Papal

Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

for

Pope Gregory XVI Pope Gregory XVI (; ; born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari; 18 September 1765 – 1 June 1846) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in June 1846. He had adopted the name Mauro upon enteri ...

and then Secretary of the Interior under

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...

from 1851 to 1870. He founded the '' L’Osservatore Romano'' on 20 July 1860. His father Filippo Pacelli (Rome, 1 September 1837 - Rome, 20 November 1916), Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, a

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

tertiary Tertiary (from Latin, meaning 'third' or 'of the third degree/order..') may refer to: * Tertiary period, an obsolete geologic period spanning from 66 to 2.6 million years ago * Tertiary (chemistry), a term describing bonding patterns in organic ch ...

, was a Consistorial

Lawyer A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters. The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as w ...

, a

Solicitor A solicitor is a lawyer who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and enabled to p ...

or Lawyer in the Congregation of the

Sacred Roman Rota The Roman Rota, formally the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota (), and anciently the Apostolic Court of Audience, is the highest appellate tribunal of the Catholic Church, with respect to both Latin Church members and the Eastern Catholic m ...

and the Dean of Lawyers of the Holy See, who in 1871 married the Noble Virginia Graziosi (13 December 1844 - 10 February 1920). His sisters were Giuseppa Pacelli (Rome, 3 July 1872 - Rome, 8 August 1955), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married on 8 May 1902 to Ettore, 1st Count (from 23 May 1946) Mengarini (Rome, 1 February 1872 -), and Elisabetta Pacelli (Rome, 28 June 1880 - Rome, 23 May 1970), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married on 12 May 1914 to Noble Luigi Rossignani (Rome, 21 June 1874 - Rome, 22 February 1948). His nephew, Ernesto Pacelli, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, was a key financial advisor to

Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII (; born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2March 181020July 1903) was head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 until his death in July 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope, behind those of Peter the Ap ...

Pope Pius X Pope Pius X (; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing Modernism in the Catholic Church, modern ...

and

Pope Benedict XV Pope Benedict XV (; ; born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, ; 21 November 1854 – 22 January 1922) was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his death in January 1922. His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I a ...

. His brother, Eugenio Pacelli, was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

Easter Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...

Sunday 2 April 1899 by Bishop Francesco di Paola Cassetta — the vice-regent of Rome and a family friend. After entering Vatican service, he was also chosen by

to deliver condolences on behalf of the Vatican to

Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

after the death of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

.Marchione, 2004, p. 9. In 1908, he served as a Vatican representative on the International Eucharistic Congress in London, where he met

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

. In 1911, he represented the Holy See at the

coronation A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. George was born during the reign of his pa ...

appointed Pacelli as

papal nuncio An apostolic nuncio (; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international organization. A nuncio is a ...

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

on 23 April 1917, consecrating him as titular Archbishop of Sardis in the

Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel ( ; ; ) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the ''Cappella Magna'' ('Great Chapel'), it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and ...

on 13 May 1917, the day on which Our Lady of Fatima is believed to have first appeared to three shepherd children in

Fatima Fatima bint Muhammad (; 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fatima al-Zahra' (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, the fourth of the Rashidun caliphs and the first Shia imam. ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

. Several years after, on 23 June 1920, he was appointed Nuncio to

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, and after completion of a

concordat A concordat () is a convention between the Holy See and a sovereign state that defines the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state in matters that concern both,René Metz, ''What is Canon Law?'' (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1960

, the nunciature was moved to Berlin, Free State of Prussia, Prussia, in 1925.

Lateran Treaty

Francesco Pacelli was Dean (religion), dean of the lawyers of the Rota and legal advisor to Pope Pius XI. In this role, he was instrumental in negotiating this

in 1929, which reaffirmed the independence of the Papacy with the formation of Vatican City as a sovereign entity. Francesco Pacelli described in his ''Diario della Conciliazione'' details and difficulties of these negotiations from a

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...

perspective.

and Pietro Gasparri had entrusted to him the daily negotiations for the Lateran Treaty. Pacelli had over two hundred protracted audiences with Pius XI over twenty different draft versions of the final treaty. After long negotiations it consisted of three parts, which were ratified on 7 June 1929, ending the "Roman Question". They consisted of three documents: A political treaty recognizing the full sovereignty of the Holy See in the State of Vatican City, which was thereby established; a concordat regulating the position of the Catholic Church and the Catholic religion in the Italian state, and a financial convention agreed on as a definitive settlement of the claims of the Holy See following the losses of its territories and property. Pius XI declared that with the treaties negotiated by Pacelli, "God had been given back to Italy and Italy to God". In gratitude for his efforts, the Pope bestowed on Francesco Pacelli the hereditary title of Marquis and Roman Noble with Papal Brief of 9 June 1929 and granted him the addition of the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

of the

with Papal Brief of 6 June 1931. The King of Italy authorized him to use his arms in Italy with Royal Letters Patent of 26 February 1931, and to use the title of Noble on 7 June 1934 by Royal Decree of 4 October 1934 and Royal Letters Patent dated 22 November 1935 for his children, and posthumously gave him the title of Prince.

Eugenio and Francesco Pacelli

After his brother Francesco had successfully concluded the historic Lateran Treaty, Eugenio Pacelli was called to Rome by

and on 7 February 1930 appointed as

succeeding his mentor and friend Pietro Gasparri. Francesco Pacelli left the immediate Vatican service largely in light of concerns for his health problems. As he moved to Rome, Eugenio Pacelli stayed for several weeks in the house of his brother Francesco near the

, because the Vatican quarters required renovations. Madre Pascalina described the atmosphere in the Pacelli home as plain but elegant. Francesco was the soul of the house, since his wife had died years earlier. Comparing the two brothers, the older Francesco Pacelli appeared to Madre Pascalina to be slightly more severe than the younger Eugenio Pacelli.Lehnert 45 The two Pacelli brothers lived there together with the children of Francesco: Carlo, Giuseppe, a

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

who died shortly thereafter, Marcantonio and Giulio Pacelli. The household was in the hands of Carlo Pacelli's wife. Eugenio Pacelli lived in a small apartment within the house, which Francesco had reserved for him during his years in Germany and which he had used in previous years during his Rome visits. It consisted of two small rooms, and a chapel, where Francesco Pacelli and the family met every morning for

Holy Mass The Mass is the central liturgical service of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. As defined by the Church at the Council of Trent, in the Mass "the same Christ ...

and evenings for reciting the

rosary The Rosary (; , in the sense of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses"), formally known as the Psalter of Jesus and Mary (Latin: Psalterium Jesu et Mariae), also known as the Dominican Rosary (as distinct from other forms of rosary such as the ...

Illness and death

The stress of daily negotiations over the decades-old Roman Question with the Italian dictator

on behalf of the Holy See had effects on the health of Francesco Pacelli. He developed a progressive heart ailment which in the last years forced him to gradually reduce his workload, fully knowing the implications of his slow-down. "I attempted to serve God, his Holy Church and my family, he remarked shortly before his death. I trust, he will protect them and I hope to find a compassionate judge."Lehnert 51 Francesco Pacelli died in Rome on 22 April 1935, aged 63.

Marriage and issue

He married Luigia Filippini-Lera, who died on 21 August 1920, and had: * Carlo, Prince and Marquess Pacelli (Rome, 29 November 1903 - Rome, 6 August 1970), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, granting the title of Marquis for himself and his brothers by motu proprio of the King of Italy on 25 November 1941 and Prince by motu proprio of the King of Italy on 23 November 1942 (also extended to the brothers Marcantonio and Giulio), Lawyer, married Marcella Benucci, without issue * Giuseppe Pacelli (Rome, 6 August 1905 - Roma, 31 March 1928), Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado,

novice A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession with no prior experience. Religion Buddhism ...

* Marcantonio, Prince and Marquess Pacelli (Rome, 16 May 1907 - Rome, 31 December 2006), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, extension of the title of Marquis for himself and his brother Giulio with Pontifical Brief dated 14 July 1940, granting the title of Marquis for himself and his brothers by motu proprio of the King of Italy on 25 November 1941 and Prince by motu proprio of the King of Italy on 23 November 1942 (also extended to the brothers Carlo and Giulio), Rotal Lawyer, Brigadier General of the Papal Noble Guard, married in

Lugo Lugo (, ) is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia. It is the capital of the Lugo (province), province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 100,060 in 2024, ...

on 27 April 1936 Gabriella Ricci-Bartoloni (Lugo, 15 August 1912 - Rome, 15 June 2006), Noble of Pesaro, daughter of Giulio Ricci-Bartoloni, Noble of Pesaro, and wife Angiolina Mordenti, and had: ** Orsola Pacelli (Rome, 16 January 1937), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married in October 1963 Dr. Giuliano Daddi (29 October 1936) ** Francesco, Prince and Marquess Pacelli (Rome, 4 February 1939), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married on 26 October 1991 Giorgia Carolei, daughter of Franco Carolei and wife Noble Anna Maria Cantuti-Castelvetri of the Counts of Ligonchio, and had: *** Marcantonio Pacelli (Rome, 24 August 1992), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado *** Eugenia Pacelli (Rome, 25 July 1994), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado ** Filippo Pacelli (Rome, 13 February 1941), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married in

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

on 15 June 1968 Maria Antonietta Campedelli, and had: *** Andrea Pacelli (Rome, 11 November 1969), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married in

Pietrasanta Pietrasanta is a town and ''comune'' on the coast of northern Tuscany in Italy, in the province of Lucca. Pietrasanta is part of Versilia, on the last foothills of the Apuan Alps, about north of Pisa. The town is located off the coast, where the ...

on 25 July 2002 Marta Cosaro, and had: **** Luca Pacelli (Rome, 23 September 2005), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, twin with the below **** Matteo Pacelli (Rome, 23 September 2005), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, twin with the above *** Ascanio Pacelli (Rome, 29 November 1973), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married at the Castello Odescalchi, in Bracciano, on 30 April 2005 Katia Pedrotti (

Sondrio Sondrio (; ; ; archaic or ; ) is an Italian city, ''comune'' and administrative centre for the province of Sondrio, located in the heart of the Valtellina. , Sondrio counted approximately 21,876 inhabitants. In 2007, Sondrio was named the Alpine ...

, 28 September 1978), and had: **** Matilda Pacelli (Rome, 12 November 2007), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado * Giulio, Prince and Marquess Pacelli (Rome, 11 May 1910 - Rome, 9 October 1984), Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, extension of the title of Marquis for himself and his brother Marcantonio with Pontifical Brief dated 14 July 1940, granting the title of Marquis for himself and his brothers by motu proprio of the King of Italy on 25 November 1941 and Prince by motu proprio of the King of Italy on 23 November 1942 (also extended to the brothers Carlo and Marcantonio), married in Rome on 25 July 1940 Piera Bombrini ( Sori, 9 February 1913 - Rome, 27 April 1999), daughter of Marquess Carlo Bombrini and wife Amalita Ottone, and had: ** Amalia Pacelli, Roman Noble, Noble of Acquapendente and Noble of Sant'Angelo in Vado, married on 19 June 1969 Vittorio Barattieri di San Pietro (

Corfu Corfu ( , ) or Kerkyra (, ) is a Greece, Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands; including its Greek islands, small satellite islands, it forms the margin of Greece's northwestern frontier. The island is part of the Corfu (regio ...

, 10 April 1943) ** Eugenio Pacelli, Roman Noble, Nobleman of Acquapendente and Nobleman of Sant'Angelo in Vado, unmarried and without issue

Quotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pacelli, Francesco 20th-century Italian lawyers 1872 births 1935 deaths

Francesco Francesco, the Italian language, Italian (and original) version of the personal name "Francis (given name), Francis", is one of the List of most popular given names, most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name inclu ...