FENAJA, BENEDETTO. - Vicegerent of Rome, b. there on 20 Feb. 1736, d. in Paris on 20 Dec. 1812. Having entered the Congregation of the Mission on 6 Nov. 1751 and been ordained priest in 1760, he distinguished himself in preaching to the people and in the apostolate among the Jews. He held the principal offices in his Congregation, until on 27 Sept. 1800 Pius VII appointed him titular archbishop of Philippi and vicegerent of Rome.
On the occasion of Napoleon’s coronation in Paris, F. was among the members of the papal legation that took part in II. On returning from Paris, Pius VII entrusted him with the recantation and reconciliation of the Jansenist bishop of Pistoia, Msgr. Scipione Ricci. The success achieved was emphasized with great satisfaction by the Pope in the Consistory of 26 June 1805, and earned F. appointment as patriarch of Constantinople. When Rome was occupied by French troops, Msgr. F. was obliged to depart as a prisoner with Pius VII for Paris, where he ended his days.