COZZA, LORENZO. — Cardinal, known for theological learning and gifts of governance, born on 31 March 1654 at S. Lorenzo Vecchio (Viterbo), died in Rome on 18 January 1729. A Friar Minor in the ancient Roman province (1669), he studied at Aracoeli (Rome), taught philosophy in Naples, then theology in Viterbo and Rome (Aracoeli), also devoting himself to preaching.
He was guardian at Viterbo (1691–93) and at Aracoeli (1698–1701), visitor general in Dalmatia (1696), provincial of the Roman province (1704–1707), counsellor of the nunciature in Lucerne (1707–08), custos of the Holy Land (1709–15), and at the same time apostolic commissary for the Maronites, who had deposed their patriarch; he restored him to his see. Having become minister general (1723–1726), he governed the Order with zeal and prudence, until Benedict XIII created him cardinal with the title of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna, subsequently of Aracoeli. He was buried in S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (where the funerary monument still exists), to which he bequeathed his manuscripts, now in the Vatican Library (Vat. lat. 8786–8809, described by L. Oliger [Vita, p. 165–173]).
His principal work, written in the Holy Land, is the Historia polemica de Graecorum schismate (4 folio volumes, Rome 1719–20). Other studies are patristic, such as Vindiciae Areopagiticae (ibid. 1702); Commentarii historico-dogmatici in librum s. Augustini de haeresibus ad Quodvultideum (2 folio volumes, ibid. 1707–17). Two works concern moral theology: Dubia selecta circa sollicitationem (ibid. 1709, Florence 1713, Venice 1750, Rome 1765); Tractatus dogmatico-moralis de ieiunio ecclesiastico (Rome 1724). Other works, such as his theology lectures, remain unpublished.
COZZA, LORENZO — Title page of the Historia polemica, Rome 1719 — Rome, copy in the Biblioteca Nazionale.