# Pietro Ciriaci

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Italian Cardinal

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His Eminence Pietro Ciriaci Prefect of the Congregation of the Council Church Roman Catholic Church Appointed 20 March 1954 Term ended 30 December 1966 Predecessor Giuseppe Bruno Successor Jean-Marie Villot Other posts President of the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law (1955–66) Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina (1964–66) Previous posts Undersecretary of the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs (1921–28) Apostolic Nuncio to Czechoslovakia (1928–34) Titular Archbishop of Tarsus (1928–53) Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal (1934–53) Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Portugal (1953) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prassede (1953–64) Orders Ordination 18 December 1909 Consecration 18 March 1928 by Pietro Gasparri, Carlo Cremonesi, and Agostino Zampini Created cardinal 12 January 1953 by Pope Pius XII Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born Pietro Ciriaci 2 December 1885 Rome, Kingdom of Italy Died 30 December 1966(1966-12-30) (aged 81) Rome, Italy Buried San Lorenzo in Lucina Parents Giuseppe Ciriaci Maria Giuggiolini Magnaterra Alma mater Pontifical Roman Seminary Pontifical Roman Athenaeum Saint Apollinare Motto Dominus regit me Coat of arms

Styles of Pietro Ciriaci Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Informal style Cardinal See none

**Pietro Ciriaci** (2 December 1885 – 30 December 1966) was an Italian [Cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) who served as [prefect](/source/Prefect) of the [Sacred Congregation of the Council](/source/Congregation_for_the_Clergy) in the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia) from 1954 until his death, and was elevated to the [cardinalate](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) in 1953 by [Pope Pius XII](/source/Pope_Pius_XII).

## Early life and education

Ciriaci was born in [Rome](/source/Rome) to Giuseppe Ciriaci and his wife Maria Giuggiolini Magnaterra. [Baptized](/source/Baptism) in the [church](/source/Churches_of_Rome) of [San Crisogono](/source/San_Crisogono), he received his [first Communion](/source/First_Communion) on 27 June 1897. Ciriaci entered the [Pontifical Roman Seminary](/source/Pontifical_Roman_Seminary) on 31 October 1902, and then studied at the [Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare](/source/Pontifical_Roman_Athenaeum_S._Apollinare), where he obtained [doctorates](/source/Doctorate) in [philosophy](/source/Doctor_of_Philosophy) (5 July 1904), [theology](/source/Doctor_of_Theology) (6 July 1909), and [canon law](/source/Doctor_of_Canon_Law) (8 November 1911).

## Career

[Ordained](/source/Holy_Orders) to the [priesthood](/source/Priesthood_(Catholic_Church)) on 18 December 1909, he was named vice-[pastor](/source/Curate) of a Roman [parish](/source/Parish_(Catholic_Church)) on 18 July 1910. Ciriaci then taught [ethical](/source/Ethics) [philosophy](/source/Philosophy) and later fundamental [theology](/source/Theology) at his *[alma mater](/source/Alma_mater)* of the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare until 1926. He entered the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia) as a *scrittore* of the [Apostolic Penitentiary](/source/Apostolic_Penitentiary) on 21 January 1911, and was promoted to *registratore* of the same on the following 15 December.

Before being raised to the rank of a [Privy Chamberlain Supernumerary](/source/Monsignor) on 26 October 1918, Ciriaci was named an official of the [Sacred Congregation of the Council](/source/Congregation_for_the_Clergy) (22 February 1913) and of the first section of the [Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs](/source/Congregation_for_Extraordinary_Ecclesiastical_Affairs) (16 June 1917). He was named [Undersecretary](/source/Undersecretary) of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs on 14 May 1921, and a [Domestic Prelate of His Holiness](/source/Monsignor) on 27 March 1922.

In 1927, [Czechoslovakia](/source/Czechoslovakia) replaced the holiday of [St. John Chrysostom](/source/John_Chrysostom) with that of [Jan Hus](/source/Jan_Hus), a [heretic](/source/Christian_heresy) in the eyes of the Catholic Church. The [Apostolic Nuncio to Czechoslovakia](/source/Apostolic_Nunciature_to_Czechoslovakia), Archbishop [Francesco Marmaggi](/source/Francesco_Marmaggi), left Prague in protest. On 27 March, Ciriaci was sent to Czechoslovakia as a special envoy to resolve the dispute and conclude an agreement between Czechoslovakia and the [Holy See](/source/Holy_See). A temporary agreement–a *[modus vivendi](/source/Modus_vivendi)* rather than a concordat–was signed on 17 December.[1]

On 15 February 1928, Ciriaci was appointed Nuncio to Czechoslovakia and [Titular Archbishop of Tarsus](/source/Titular_Archbishop_of_Tarsus) by [Pope Pius XI](/source/Pope_Pius_XI).[2] He received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on the following 18 March from Cardinal [Pietro Gasparri](/source/Pietro_Gasparri).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Ciriaci was named [Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal](/source/Apostolic_Nuncio_to_Portugal) on 9 January 1934.[3]

[Pope Pius XII](/source/Pope_Pius_XII) made him [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of [Santa Prassede](/source/Santa_Prassede) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 12 January 1953.[4] Ciriaci was named [Prefect](/source/Prefect) of the Sacred Congregation of the Council on 20 March 1954,[5] and President of the [Pontifical Commission for the Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Legislative_Texts) on 31 May 1955.[6] He participated in the [1958 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_1958) that elected [Pope John XXIII](/source/Pope_John_XXIII) and attended the [Second Vatican Council](/source/Second_Vatican_Council) from 1962 to 1965. He served as a [cardinal elector](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_1963) in the [conclave of 1963](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_1963) that elected [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI).[4] On 26 September 1964, he opted to become a cardinal-priest, with title of [San Lorenzo in Lucina](/source/San_Lorenzo_in_Lucina).

## Death

Ciriaci died in Rome on 30 December 1966 at age 81.[4] His [funeral Mass](/source/Requiem) was celebrated by Pope Paul on 3 January 1967 in the basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina. He was buried in a chapel near the same basilica.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-smid_1-0)** Šmíd, Marek (2015). ["Nuncjatura Apostolska bez nuncjusza w Czechosłowacji okresu międzywojennego"](http://bazhum.muzhp.pl/media//files/Historia_Slavorum_Occidentis/Historia_Slavorum_Occidentis-r2015-t2(9)/Historia_Slavorum_Occidentis-r2015-t2(9)-s168-184/Historia_Slavorum_Occidentis-r2015-t2(9)-s168-184.pdf) (PDF). *Historia Slavorum Occidentis* (in Polish): 168–184. Retrieved 21 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-20-1928-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. XX. 1928. pp. 77, 123. Retrieved 21 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-26-1934-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. XXVI. 1934. p. 563. Retrieved 21 June 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lentz_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lentz_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-lentz_4-2) Lentz III, Harris M. (2015). [*Popes and Cardinals of the 20th Century: A Biographical Dictionary*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ongwCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45). McFarland. p. 45. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781476621555](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781476621555). Retrieved 21 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-46-1954-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. LXVI. 1954. p. 152. Retrieved 21 June 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Acta Apostolicae Sedis*](http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-47-1955-ocr.pdf) (PDF). Vol. XLVII. 1955. pp. 427, 863 Sig mem. Retrieved 20 June 2020.

## External links

- [Catholic-Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bciriaci.html)

- [Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church](https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios-c.htm#Ciriaci)

Diplomatic posts Preceded by Francesco Marmaggi Nuncio to Czechoslovakia 1928–1934 Succeeded by Saverio Ritter Preceded by Giovanni Cardinale, OSB Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal 1934–1954 Succeeded by Fernando Cento Catholic Church titles Preceded by Giuseppe Bruno Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Council 1954–1966 Succeeded by Jean-Marie Villot Preceded by Massimo Massimi President of the Pontifical Commission for the Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law 1955–1966 Succeeded by Pericle Felici

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pietro Ciriaci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Ciriaci) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Ciriaci?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.