BENEDETTO FENAJJA. — Vicegerent of Rome, b. there 20 Feb 1736, d. in Paris 20 Dec 1812. He entered the Congregation of the Mission on 6 Nov 1731 and was ordained priest in 1760. He distinguished himself in popular preaching and in apostolate among the Jews. He held the principal offices in his Congregation until 27 Sept 1800, when Pius VII named 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 who took part in II. Upon his return from Paris, Pius VII entrusted him with the task of reconciling the bishop of Pistoia, the Jansenist Msgr. Scipione Ricci. The success achieved was noted with great satisfaction by the Pope in the Consistory of 26 June 1805, and in recognition F. was appointed 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.