Antonio Saverio De Luca

Life

After studies at the Collegio Capizzi in Bronte and seminaries of Monreale and Naples came De Luca in 1829 to Rome, where he was from 1833 to 1836 private secretary to Cardinal Thomas Weld. He was consecrated on February 10, 1839 at the age of 33 years a priest in Rome. On November 24, 1845, he was appointed Bishop of Aversa and ordained a bishop two months later.

On 22 December 1853 he was employed as Titular Archbishop of Tarsus. Pius IX. ordered him on December 24, 1853 to the Papal Nuncio in Munich and on September 9, 1856, he was Apostolic Nuncio at the imperial court in Vienna.

On March 16, 1863 at the age of 57 years, De Luca was appointed Cardinal Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati. From 1864 to 1878 he was Prefect of the Congregation of the Index. From 1873 to 1874 he was treasurer of the College of Cardinals. In 1878 he was appointed cardinal bishop of Palestrina and the Vice- Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church and received the titulus of San Lorenzo in Damaso in commendam. He was in the First Vatican Council and in the conclave to elect Leo XIII. participated.

De Luca died in 1883 at the age of 78 years in Rome.