CORTESE, TIBURZIO. — Bishop, born in Modena in 1738, died there on 30 Dec. 1823. Elected bishop of his city in 1786, he took care to educate the clergy and the young, reforming the entire organization of the local seminary. During the French invasion he also took charge of the nearby diocese of Reggio, the Abbey of Nonantola, and the territory of Garfagnana. After the fall of the Kingdom of Italy and the establishment of Duke Francesco IV, he remained close to him with advice and valuable collaboration. In 1821, at the duke’s particular request, Pius VII revoked the Concordat of 1809 between the Holy See and Napoleon, according to which the ancient Abbey of Nonantola was to be suppressed and annexed to the bishopric of Modena. Thus in 1822, upon the death of Bishop Francesco Maria d’Este, C. was appointed commendatory abbot of Nonantola. He restored the abbey, reactivated the seminary founded by St. Charles Borromeo, and, despite his advanced age, visited the entire territory as far as Fanano.
CORTESE, TIBURZIO
BIBL.: T. Bayard de Volo, Vita di Francesco V, duca di Modena, IV, Modena 1885, pp. 31-36. Gabriella de Stefano