Bernardino Maffei

Bernardino Maffei (* January 27, 1514 in Rome, † July 16, 1553 in Rome ) was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

The father's family came from Verona, and had been enrolled in the Roman nobility. Second oldest of eight siblings - his younger brother MRCO Antonio was also Cardinal - he began his studies in Rome, she then continued at the University of Padua Fort, where he pursued humanistic studies and law. Here he found his first learned friends. After the election of Paul III. In 1534 his father brought him back to Rome to begin a career at the court of the Pope. Paul III. appointed him as tutor and secretary to his grandson, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, Jr. in 1543, he was a canon of St. Peter 's Basilica. Elected on April 22, 1547 Bishop of Massa Marittima as successor Alessandro Farnese, he received on 30 May 1547 of the Sistine chapel consecrated bishop. Perhaps since 1539, he was a direct employee and secretary of the Pope and represented the Secretary of State Dandini in their absence. Extensive parts of his correspondence concerning the work of the Council of Trent, including the question of transfer to Bologna. Maffei submitted the information and requests the Council participants in the Pope. Especially familiar he was with Marcello Cervini, with whom he exchanged comments, books and views on celibacy. He represented for him in 1548 after his appointment as cardinal librarian because Cervini was on a diplomatic mission outside Rome. Close relations entertained Maffei also to Pietro Bembo. The richness of the antique collection of the Maffei family that could significantly increase Bernardino is vaunted by Paolo Manuzio, who received the inspiration for the classic studies by Bembo and Maffei by his own account.

Pope Paul III. created Maffei on April 8, 1549, and awarded him a cardinal on May 10, 1549 Title church of S. Ciriaco alle Terme. On June 7, 1549, he became Bishop to Caserta and was appointed on November 9, 1549 Archbishop of Chieti. The highly educated cardinal and close friend of Ignatius of Loyola waived on July 14, 1553 in favor of his brother Marco Antonio, the Archdiocese of Chieti. His grave is in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

Printed writings of Maffei are not obtained in the conclave, from the Julius III. emerged as Pope, he kept a diary ( diario ), which served as a template for a printed report. Get Fragmentary are his recordings of the works of Cardinal Congregation for the reform of the Curia, which were strongly influenced by him and Cervini, whose degree in the bull Varietas temporum he did not live.