ASCANIO FILOMARINO. — Archbishop of Naples, b. 1583, d. 1666. He found himself in bitter conflict with the Spanish viceroy, the Duke of Medina (1637–1644), initially over questions of precedence, then over more serious jurisdictional disputes. On 16 December 1641, Urban VIII created him a cardinal.
In 1647, during Masaniello’s insurrection, he sought to act as a mediator of peace between the parties, and spared no criticism of the viceroy’s policies, heedless of the discontent his independent stance provoked among the Spanish. Even during the pontificate of Innocent X, amid the resurgent jurisdictional conflicts between Spain and the Holy See, the prelate continued to be a tenacious and spirited champion of ecclesiastical prerogatives.
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ST PHILOMENA. — Inscribed tablet with the words LUMENO PAX TECUM Fs. (corpus) — Rome, Lateran Museum.