Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf
Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf (* July 14, 1699 in Paris, † September 28, 1747 in Breslau) was Bishop of Raab in Hungary and Prince-Bishop of Breslau and a cardinal.
Background and Career
Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf came from the noble family of Sinzendorf and was born in Paris, where his eponymous father was an imperial envoy at that time. As a second son, he was intended for the clergy. He received his education in Vienna and from 1714 at the Jesuit College in Rome, where he became in 1717 a doctorate in theology and jurisprudence. His acquaintance with Monsignor Lambertini, the future Pope Benedict XIV, dates back to this time.
After his father in 1705 and 1712 Obersthofkanzler Court Chancellor Charles VI. was, Philipp Ludwig received - even before the 1722 were made ordination - canonries in Cologne, Salzburg and Olomouc.
Bishop of Raab
The next promotion was carried out with the assistance of his influential father: Although Philipp Ludwig had not yet reached the canonical age, he was elected in 1725 to the bishop of the diocese Hungarian Raab. The papal appointment was associated with a corresponding dispensation. Two years later, the Pope appointed him cardinal.
Bishop of Breslau
Against massive resistance of the Breslau cathedral chapter, which had declared itself for the choice of the auxiliary bishop Elias Daniel Sommerfeld, sat the Emperor Charles VI. in his capacity as king of Bohemia in 1732 the election of Philipp Ludwig to the Prince-Bishop of Breslau by. The episcopal ordination took place on 6 November 1732.
During the reign of Philip Ludwig most of his diocese fell after the First Silesian War in 1742 under Prussian rule. In contrast to his cathedral chapter, has taken a hostile attitude towards the anti-church plans of the new secular rulers, the prince-bishop sought a rapprochement with King Frederick II, by congratulating him on his success already on 9 October in 1741. Nevertheless, was elected at the urging of Frederick 1743 Philipp Gotthard Schaffgotsch Breslauer coadjutor.
Philipp Ludwig sat down for tolerant thinking and action in matters of religion a. In a pastoral letter dated 28 August 1742, he forbade Catholics to denounce the Protestants and urged his subjects, Christian deal with one another. He intended to raise the education of the clergy and to reform the schools. However, a realization was not possible because of the opposition of the cathedral chapter. That's why he applied for the archbishopric in Salzburg, but had no success with his application. A few months later he died and was buried in Wrocław Cathedral.