AZPURU Y XIMENES, THOMAS

AZPURU Y XIMENES, THOMAS. – Spanish prelate, born in Saragossa in 1713, died in Rome in 1772. He was a canon of Murcia, auditor of the Rota for Spain in Rome, and representative of the king of Spain to the Holy See. He was awarded many benefices and decorations and published numerous pamphlets; but his greatest work was the assistance he rendered to the Bourbon kings in achieving their obstinate purpose of suppressing the Jesuits. He was not, however, able to see his work crowned with success, because he died one year before Clement XIV, whose election he had so greatly helped to bring about together with Azara, published the famous brief. In 1738 he had been elected bishop of Tortosa, and in 1770 archbishop of Vatenza, without ever, however, taking possession of either see. His correspondence, which has remained unpublished, is of great interest. As an agent, Charles III had appointed him his ambassador to the Pope.