Angelo Simonetti

Angelo Simonetti (born January 23, 1861 in Cornacchiaia (district of Firenzuola ), Italy ; † August 14, 1950 in Pescia , Pistoia province , Italy) was Bishop of Pescia .

Life

Angelo Simonetti came in 1871 in the seminary one of Firenzuola and received on 21 March 1885, the priestly ordination . In Firenzuola he was later also the deputy mayor and was reign of the seminary where he had studied.

Pope Pius X appointed him Bishop of Pescia on December 16, 1907. He received his episcopal ordination on January 9, 1908 from Alfonso Mistrangelo , Archbishop of Florence and later a cardinal . Co- consecrators were his predecessor Donato Velluti Zati di San Clemente , Bishop Emeritus of Pescia, and Francesco Maria Berti , Bishop of Amelia . Bishop Simonetti was very concerned about the cultural education of the priests and initiated corresponding steps in the first years of his term of office. He was also politically active and corresponded with the former Italian Minister of Education Ferdinando Martini , who was meanwhile governor of Eritrea .

He rejected Benito Mussolini's fascism , but later sought dialogue with his supporters. The Italian racial laws of 1938 he also refused. During the Second World War he was concerned about the welfare of the population and organized charitable work after bomb attacks.

After the war, Simonetti, now over 80 years old, continued his civic engagement. He did not reject communism in principle, but clearly supported the Democrazia Cristiana , whose members were also strongly represented in Catholic action . In 1949 he refused Italy's entry into NATO and in 1950 also protested against nuclear armament in the country. In the same year he died at the age of 89 and was buried in the Cathedral of Pescia.

Web links

• Entry on Angelo Simonetti on catholic-hierarchy.org

predecessor	Office	successor
Giulio Serafini	Bishop of Pescia 1907–1950	Dino Luigi Romoli OP