A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a pope who was his uncle, or more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries.[1] From the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) until Pope Innocent XII's anti-nepotism bull, Romanum decet pontificem (1692), nearly every pope who appointed cardinals appointed at least one relative to the College of Cardinals,[n 1] including every Renaissance-era pope.[2]
Although nephews were the most common relation to be elevated to the College, other family members include (legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted) sons and grandsons, brothers, grandnephews, cousins and even uncles.[1][2] At least 15, and possibly as many as 19 cardinal-nephews were later elected pope (Gregory IX, Alexander IV, Adrian V, Gregory XI, Boniface IX, Innocent VII, Eugene IV, Paul II, Alexander VI, Pius III, Julius II, Leo X, Clement VII, Benedict XIII, and Pius VII, perhaps also John XIX, Benedict IX, if they were really promoted cardinals, as well as Innocent III and Benedict XII, if in fact they were related to their elevators). One became antipope (John XXIII), and two or three were canonized (Charles Borromeo, Guarinus of Palestrina, and perhaps Anselm of Lucca, if in fact he was really elected cardinal).[n 2]
Similarly created cardinals include cardinal-nephews of antipopes and papal relatives made cardinals by other popes.
- ^ a b Bunson, Matthew. 1995. "Cardinal Nephew." The Pope Encyclopedia. Crown Trade Paperbacks. ISBN 0-517-88256-6.
- ^ a b Vidmar, John. 2005. The Catholic Church Through The Ages: A History. Paulist Press. ISBN 0-8091-4234-1.
- ^ Miranda, S. 1998. "Consistory of 1127". Florida International University. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
- ^ (Brixius, p. 36 and 78; Klewitz, p. 128; Hüls, p. 128 and 201; Zenker, p. 46–48)
Cite error: There are <ref group=n> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=n}} template (see the help page).