PACELLI, FAMILY. - Nobles of Acquapendente (1854) and of S. Angelo in Vado (1857). In 1929 the title of marquis was granted to Francesco by Pius XI, and in 1940 by the King of Italy the title of prince to his descendants.
ASPRILIO (1571-1623), musician, is the first known member of the P. family. A native of Vasciano (Narni), he lived in Rome, where he was master of the musical chapel of the Collegio Germanico and then of that of St. Peter's in the Vatican; in 1603 he was summoned by King Sigismund III to direct the royal chapel of Warsaw, and he remained there 20 years, leaving a broad mark on the evolution of Polish music. His compositions (religious music and madrigals) were famous in the 17th century.
MARCANTONIO (1804-90), born at Onano (Acquapendente), summoned to Rome by his uncle Cardinal Caterini, became an advocate of the S. Rota; in Nov. 1848 he followed Pius IX to Gaeta, and on the Pope's return to Rome he was a member of the Council of Censorship, charged with freeing the city from revolutionary elements, an office he discharged with great moderation and charity; from 1851 to 1870 he was deputy of the Minister of the Interior.
FILIPPO (1837-1916), son of Marcantonio, born in Rome, consistorial advocate, from 1886 to 1907 was seven times councillor and twice assessor of the Municipality of Rome, as a representative of the "Unione romana"; he carried out active work in the service of the Holy See and for the defense of Catholic interests in Rome. His sons Eugenio (Pius XII) and Francesco.