Leonardo Antonelli

A native of Senigallia, Antonelli was the nephew of Cardinal Nicolò Maria Antonelli. During the early part of his long diplomatic career, he held, among other offices, those of canon of the Vatican Basilica, Prefect of archives in the Castle of San Angelo, Secretary of the Sacred College and Assessor of the Holy Office. He was created Cardinal-priest of Santa Sabina by Pope Pius VI in the consistory of 24 April 1775, and later Dean of the Sacred College and Cardinal Bishop of Ostia-Velletri.

At the time of the French Revolution, with a view to preventing the suspension of church services, he lent his support to the vote for the civil constitution of the French clergy, decreed by the National Assembly of France (12 July 1790).

In addition to the responsible posts already mentioned, he filled those of grand penitentiary, prefect of the Signature of Justice and of the Congregation of the Index, and pro-secretary of Briefs. He assisted in the preparation of the Concordat, and was present at the election of Pope Pius VII in 1800, whom he later accompanied to Paris in 1804. He participated in the Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of the French.{{cite book|title=The History of Paris, from the Earliest Period to the Present Day; Containing a Description of Its Antiquities, Public Buildings (etc.)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YtBYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA52|year=1825|publisher=Galignani|location=Paris|page=52}}

In 1808, he was banished from Rome by the French to Spoleto and later to Sinigaglia, where he died, leaving to the Congregation of Propaganda bequests for the support of twelve Armenian students in the College of Urbano.

Though Antonelli has been criticized for arrogating to the papacy too arbitrary a civil power, a perusal of his letter to the bishops of Ireland reveals a more tolerant spirit than is generally attributed to him. Possessed of a rich library, he was the friend and protector of letters, and had as librarian, the learned Francesco Cancellieri. He also acquired some fame as an archaeologist.[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01584a.htm New Advent website, Leonardo Antonelli]

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{{s-bef|before=Rainiero d'Elci}}

{{s-ttl| title=Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina | years=29 May 1775 – 21 February 1794}}

{{s-aft|after=Giulio Maria della Somaglia}}

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{{s-bef|before=Marcantonio Colonna}}

{{s-ttl| title=Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina | years=21 February 1794 – 2 April 1800}}

{{s-aft|after=Alessandro Mattei}}

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{{s-bef|before=Carlo Rezzonico}}

{{s-ttl| title=Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina | years=92 April 1800 – 23 January 1811}}

{{s-aft|after=Luigi Valenti Gonzaga}}

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{{s-bef|before=Henry Benedict Stuart}}

{{s-ttl| title=Cardinal-Bishop of Osta e Velletri
and
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{{s-aft|after=Alessandro Mattei}}

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Category:1730 births

Category:1811 deaths

Category:People from Senigallia

Category:Deans of the College of Cardinals

Category:18th-century Italian cardinals

Category:Cardinal-bishops of Ostia

Category:Cardinal-bishops of Palestrina

Category:Cardinal-bishops of Porto

Category:Members of the Holy Office

Category:Members of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith

Category:Major Penitentiaries of the Apostolic Penitentiary

Category:Cardinals created by Pope Pius VI

Category:19th-century Italian cardinals