FERRETTI, GABRIELE. — Cardinal, born at Ancona on 31 January 1795, died at Rome on 31 September 1860. In 1827 he was appointed Bishop of Rieti, where in 1831 he led the resistance against the revolutionary troops of General Sarcognani. In 1833 he was sent as Apostolic Nuncio to Naples, where he rendered assistance to the cholera-stricken during the epidemic of 1837. In the same year he became Archbishop of Fermo and in 1838 a cardinal. He incurred no small number of adversaries because of the severe reforms he sought to introduce in his diocese.In 1847 he was appointed by Pius IX Secretary of State. Following the Pope’s policy, he often favored the Neo-Guelphs and moderate liberals, in contrast to the conservatives, and recalled Manniani from exile. When his popularity waned due to the firm measures decreed in January 1848, he obtained his release from office and was given the legation of Ravenna. After Pius IX’s flight from Rome, he went to Naples and then to Malta. He returned to Rome with the restoration and in 1852 became Major Penitentiary, and the following year Bishop of Sabina.
FERRETTI, Paolo Maria – Portrait.
He was passionately devoted to numismatics, enlarging the famous collection belonging to his family.