PACELLI, FAMILY. - Nobility of Acquapendente (1854) and of S. Angelo in Vado (1857). In 1929 Francesco was granted the title of marquis by Pius XI, and in 1940 the King of Italy granted the title of prince to his descendants.
ASPRILLO (1571-1623), musician, is the first known figure of the Pacelli family. Originally from Vasciano (Narni), he lived in Rome, where he was maestro of the musical chapel of the German College and later of that of St Peter’s in the Vatican; in 1603 he was summoned by King Sigismund III to direct the royal chapel in Warsaw, remaining there for 20 years and leaving a broad imprint on the evolution of Polish music. His compositions (religious music and madrigals) were renowned in the 17th century.
MARCANTONIO (1804-90), born in Onano (Acquapendente), was summoned to Rome by his uncle Cardinal Caterini and became an advocate of the Sacred Roman Rota; in November 1848 he followed Pius IX to Gaeta, and upon the Pope’s return to Rome he served on the Censorship Council, tasked with ridding the city of revolutionary elements, a role he carried out with great moderation and charity. From 1851 to 1870 he was substitute for the Minister of the Interior.
FILIPPO (1837-1916), son of Marcantonio, born in Rome, a concorsional lawyer, served as a councillor seven times and assessor twice for the City of Rome from 1886 to 1907 as an exponent of the “Roman Union”; he worked actively in the service of the Holy See and in defence of Catholic interests in Rome. His sons were Eugenio (Pius XII) and Francesco. Michele Maccarrone