Francesco Saverio de Zelada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cardinal Francesco Saverio de Zelada (August 27, 1717, Rome — December 19, 1801, Rome) was a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church born of a Spanish family, who pursued a career as a bureaucrat and diplomat in the Papal Curia. To that end he was educated at the University of La Sapienza, gaining degrees utroque iure, in both canon and civil law. He was ordained October 23, 1740. He was appointed titular Archbishop of Petra, December 23, 1766, and cardinal priest in the consistory of April 19, 1773. He was the principal negotiator for the Holy See and composer of the Bull Dominus ac Redemptor of July 21, 1773, that suppressed the Society of Jesus.
As Chamberlain (Camerlengo) of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1783-84), his career culminated in his appointment by Pope Pius VI as Cardinal Secretary of State, 1789-1796. Following Pius' death, Zelada participated in the Papal conclave, 1800 that elected Pope Pius VII.
Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, December 15, 1779 until his death, Cardinal Zelada was a great collector of books, as well as coins and medals and other works of art.
He is buried in the church of San Martino ai Monti, Rome.
