Giovanni Orsini (died 1359)

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Giovanni Orsini (died June 1359) was a Roman nobleman of the Orsini family who served as the bishop of Padua from 1353 until his death.[1]

Orsini was a brother of Cardinal Rinaldo Orsini. He studied at the University of Bologna and the University of Padua, where he earned a doctorate.[2] Prior to his election as bishop, he had been a canon of Reims, archdeacon of Brabant in the diocese of Liège and a canon of Padua Cathedral.[3] He was also the honorary sacristan of Urgell[4] and treasurer of Vercelli.[5]

Life and ministry

Orsini was appointed bishop on 14 January 1353 by Pope Innocent VI while only in minor orders.[4][5] He was the last in a string of largely absentee bishops, succeeding Ildebrandino Conti. He continued to work for the papal court in Avignon throughout his episcopate.[1] He may never have visited Padua after becoming bishop.[6] At Avignon, he was a notary, while also being an archpriest of Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.[3] He appointed vicars general to govern his diocese in his absence, each usually serving for about one year.[7] His first vicar was Nicolò Matafari, his brother's chaplain and the archbishop of Zadar.[6]

Orsini died in Avignon in early June 1359.[8] He was succeeded as bishop by Pileo da Prata.[1]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]Kohl 1998, pp. 24–25.
  2. 2.Longo 2005, pp. 71, 73.
  3. 3.[3.2]Longo 2005, p. 71.
  4. 4.[4.2]Eubel 1913, p. 386.
  5. 5.[5.2]Dondi 1815, p. 102.
  6. 6.[6.2]Dondi 1815, pp. 102–103.
  7. 7.Longo 2005, p. 74.
  8. 8.Dondi 1815, pp. 105–106, says that his death was announced in a letter dated 16 June and that his successor was appointed in July, but Eubel 1913, p. 386, gives his successor's date of election as 12 June.