Celso Benigno Luigi Costantini

Celso Benigno Luigi Costantini Cardinal ( born April 3, 1876 in Castion di Zoppola, Province of Pordenone, Italy, † October 17, 1958 in Rome ) was a Vatican diplomat and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

Life

Celso Costantini studied philosophy and Catholic theology in Rome. He received his doctorate in both disciplines and received on December 26, 1899, the sacrament of Holy Orders. Subsequently, he worked for fourteen years as a pastor in various parishes of the diocese Concordia. From 1914 to 1918 he participated as a chaplain in the First World War. From 1919 to 1920 he served as Vicar General of the Administration of the Diocese of Concordia. He founded the association " Amici dell'Arte Sacra " and the magazine "Arte cristiana ".

On July 22, 1921 Pope Benedict XV appointed him. Titular Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia. He received his episcopal consecration on 24 August 1921, the then Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Pietro La Fontaine. On August 12, 1922 Celso Costantini first Apostolic Delegate for China. There he founded a religious order, which quickly spread throughout Asia. On September 9, 1922, the Pope appointed him Titular Archbishop of Theodosiopolis in Arcadia. In 1933 he returned to Italy. On December 20, 1935, he was named by Pope Pius XI. Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Pope Pius XII. Celso Costantini took on 12 January 1953 as cardinal priest with the titular church of Santi Nereo ed Achilleo in the College of Cardinals, and appointed him a year later to the Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church. On June 9, 1958 him the titular church of San Lorenzo in Damaso was transferred. Celso Costantini died on 17 October 1958 in Rome and was buried at his birthplace.