BONSIGNORE, STEFANO

BONSIGNORE, STEFANO. — Bishop of Faenza, born in Busto Arsizio on 23 February 1738, died in Faenza on 23 December 1826. Professor of theology and literature at the seminary of Milan, he was subsequently appointed prefect of the Ambrosian Library. Elected bishop of Faenza by Napoleon on 15 April 1807, he was confirmed in the appointment by Pius VII on 18 September of the same year. On 9 February 1811, the emperor entrusted him with the patriarchate of Venice, which he occupied without, however, having received any canonical institution. In the years 1811 and 1812 he served as Napoleon’s intermediary with the imprisoned Pius VII. Returning to his diocese in 1816, he publicly confessed his illegitimate occupation of the patriarchate and thus obtained the Pope’s forgiveness. He published homilies and orations.