Camillo Mazzella

Cardinal Camillo Mazzella, SJ ( born February 10, 1833 in Vitulano, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, † March 26, 1900 in Rome ) was an Italian theologian and cardinal.

Life

Mazzella was born on 10 February 1833 in Vitulano near Benevento. His ordination took place on September 8, 1855 instead of papal dispensation because he had not yet reached the canonical age of 25 for obtaining the priestly ordination sacrament. He joined the Jesuits and put the profession on September 5, 1859.

He taught theology in Fourvières and at Georgetown University in Washington. He was a professor at Woodstock College, he was called to Rome to teach at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He later headed as president of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Leo XIII. participated in the consistory of June 7, 1886 it was a cardinal deacon of Sant'Adriano al Foro into the College of Cardinals to. 1893 -1897 he served as Prefect of the Congregation of Studies. On 22 June 1896 he became cardinal priest of Santa Maria in Traspontina. He was appointed on 18 April 1897, Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina. The Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome Lucido Maria Parocchi consecrated him on May 8 of the same year the bishop; Co-consecrators were Casimiro Gennari, Titular Archbishop of Lepanto, and his nephew Orazio Mazzella, Auxiliary Bishop of Bari.

Mazzella was from 1897 until his death Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. He died on 26 March 1900 in Rome and is buried in the cemetery Campo Verano.

Trivia

• He is the only Jesuit who was appointed cardinal bishop.
• His twin brother Enrico Mazzella, SJ, Bishop of Bari.
• His other brother Pietro Mazzella also joined the Jesuits and was also a priest.