Carlo Laurenzi
Carlo Laurenzi was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites from 1889 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1884.Biography
Carlo Laurenzi was born in Perugia, and studied at the University of Perugia, from where he obtained his doctorates in theology and in canon and civil law.
He was ordained to the priesthood on September 23, 1843, and finished his studies in 1845. Laurenzi was later made a canon of the cathedral chapter of Perugia in June 1846, the pro-vicar general of Perugia in February 1847, and a Privy Chamberlain supernumerary of His Holiness in 1853. He also served as President of the Theological College at his alma mater of the University of Perugia, and became a canon archpriest in 1857.
On June 22, 1877, Laurenzi was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Perugia and Titular Bishop of Amathus in Palaestina by Pope Pius IX, receiving his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Gioacchino Pecci, the future Pope Leo XIII. He was later named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne on March 13, 1878, Auditor Sanctissimi on May 15, 1879, and Assessor of the Sacred Congregation of the Supreme Roman and Universal Inquisition on March 30, 1882.
Pope Leo secretly elevated him to the College of Cardinals in the consistory of December 13, 1880, eventually publishing him as Cardinal- Priest of Santa Anastasia on November 10, 1884. Laurenzi was appointed Secretary of Memorials of His Holiness on April 25, 1885, and served as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from February 11 to December 30, 1889. On March 14 of that same year, he was made Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
The Cardinal died in Rome, at age 74. He lay in state in his cardinalatial church before being buried at the chapel of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide in the Campo Verano cemetery.
