Johannes Montel

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Prelate Johannes Montel
Burial site in Rome, Campo Santo Teutonico (center); on the right the grave of Anton de Waal
Grave slab
Coat of arms from the grave slab

Johannes Montel Edler von Treuenfest (born June 13, 1831 in Rovereto , † November 21, 1910 in Rome ) was a Catholic priest and diplomat .

Live and act

He was born as the son of Giovanni Antonio Montel († 1869), district secretary and vice-president of the Austrian regency of Welschtirol and his wife Anna, born in 1860, who was ennobled with the title “ Edler von Treuenfest” . Plancher († 1848). The hereditary title of nobility of his father passed on to him.

After attending grammar school in Trient , Montel studied philosophy and theology in Brixen and Trient. Then he devoted himself to law studies in Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in law in 1858 ; In 1855 he was ordained a priest here.

He became Austrian counselor in Rome, 1865 lawyer, 1877 auditor (judge) and 1889–1906 dean (head) of the Roman Rota . He was also consultor of the Congregation for Rites and, from 1889, of the Holy Office . Montel was promoted to papal chamberlain in 1875 and papal house prelate in 1877, and for a long time was a close confidante of Pope Leo XIII. Several times they wanted to propose him cardinal , which, however, always met with his rejection. With the appointment of Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro , who was oriented towards France, as cardinal state secretary, Prelate Montelel lost influence on the Pope and the Curia from 1887 onwards.

His home country Austria-Hungary often and gladly made use of his extensive relations in Rome. From 1865 Montel also belonged to the circle of friends of the later Prussian ambassador Kurd von Schlözer and became his advisor in church political matters. At the same time he also acted as the Roman confidante of Cardinal Kopp, who was at the head of the German episcopate . Johannes Montel, together with Kurd von Schlözer and Cardinal Luigi Galimberti , played a decisive role in the settlement of the Kulturkampf in Prussia . He participated in all bishopric occupations in Germany and Austria-Hungary. The historian Christoph Weber calls him a "switchboard for Germany and Austria-Hungary in their relations with the Vatican." He was considered conciliatory and amiable, but reserved for the vocal political Catholicism of the center (in Germany) and the Christian Social Party (in Austria) across from.

From Pope Leo XIII. is the joking but apt remark that he made to Johannes Montel:

“ Today, Monsignor, you come as an Austrian, tomorrow you pretend to be Prussian, and the day after tomorrow, who knows who you will then represent. "

- Arthur de Waal: Prelate Anton de Waal, Badenia Verlag, Karlsruhe, 1937, p. 125

The Kölnische Volkszeitung wrote in its obituary: "He was an influential curial prelate who was unique in his kind and who played an important role in church-political affairs in Germany for almost 50 years."

Johannes Montel was buried in the Campo Santo Teutonico , Rome, below the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. The German prelate Anton de Waal, who is his friend, rests next to him .

Awards

literature

Web links

Commons : Johannes Montel  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Karl Josef Rivinius: Secular protection and mission: the German protectorate over the Catholic mission of South Shantung , Böhlau-Verlag, 1987, p. 277, footnote 67, ISBN 3412009873 ; (Detail scan)
  2. ↑ Grazer Volksblatt , No. 109, of May 15, 1875; (Digital scan)
personal data
SURNAME Montel, Johannes
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Montel Edler von Treuenfest, Johannes (full name); Montel of the wedding festival, Johannes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian diplomat, Catholic clergyman
DATE OF BIRTH June 13, 1831
PLACE OF BIRTH Rovereto
DATE OF DEATH November 21, 1910
Place of death Rome