BERARDI, GIOVANNI

BERARDI, GIOVANNI. — Cardinal, born at Corcannello (Aquila) into the noble family of the counts of the Marsi of Tagliacozzo, died in Rome on 21 January 1449. On 20 October 1421 he was appointed archbishop of Taranto by Martin V. Holy See, he was sent by Eugene IV, together with other prelates, as plenipotentiary to the Council of Basel in order to re-establish relations between the Pope and the Council. After lengthy negotiations, B. and his companions were admitted to the general congregation of 22 August 1437, and on the following day, in a lengthy speech supported by solid arguments, he defended the papal primacy, justifying Eugene IV’s prior dissolution of the Council (18 December 1431), since it belonged to the Pope not only to convoke but also to confirm general councils; he implored the fathers to accept the Pope’s decision and assemble in council in an Italian city (cf. Mansi, XXIX, cols. 482–92). The fathers did not yield (3 September 1432). The following year B., together with other nuncios, was charged with provisionally presiding over the Council (7 March 1433). This was an implicit recognition of the Council; explicit recognition came on 15 December 1433. On the eve of that date, the Pope had confirmed to B., Cardinal Cesarini, Pietro, bishop of Padua, and Ludovico Barbo, abbot of S. Giustina, the task of provisionally replacing the cardinals who were to preside over the Council. In reality, beginning with the seventeenth session (26 April 1434), B. and his colleagues were the actual presidents of the Council. On 24 April 1434 they had sworn, in their own names and not in the Pope’s, to recognize the superiority of the Council over the Pope. Nevertheless, B. continued to defend the rights of the Pope, as, for example, in the twenty-first session (9 June 1435), concerning the abolition of annates and other revenues of the Roman Curia. Subsequently (17 February 1436), Eugene IV entrusted him with the task of issuing a definitive ruling on all disputes concerning the possession of benefices. In 1437 B. came to Italy to speak with the Pope, and on his return to Basel advocated transferring the Council to Florence. When the majority instead chose Avignon, B. deceitfully seized the conciliar seal and affixed it to the decree of the minority. He was arrested, but managed to escape and bring the decree to Rome. The Council deprived him of every dignity; but the Pope annulled the sentence and appointed him cardinal with the title of SS. Nereo ed Achilleo (18 December 1439). Later he was legate in Naples to establish peace between Alfonso of Aragon and René of Anjou. He continued to govern the see of Taranto until he transferred to the bishopric of Palestrina (7 March 1444). He then became dean of the Sacred College and major penitentiary. A partisan of the Orsini, after the death of Eugene IV he succeeded in eliminating the candidacy of Pompeo Colonna and securing the election of Tommaso Parentucelli (Nicholas V).