PASOLINI, GIUSEPPE. - Statesman, b. at Ravenna on 8 February 1815, d. there on 4 December 1876. Known and esteemed by Pius IX when the latter was bishop in Imola, he was called to be a member of the Council of State in 1847 and subsequently appointed minister of commerce and vice-president of the High Council. After the assassination of Pellegrino Rossi he withdrew and ended by leaving Rome, staying for a long time at his Tuscan villa of Fontallerta, where he used to gather Italian and foreign politicians and economists.
He returned to political activity in 1857, when the Pope appointed him gonfaloniere of Ravenna, at the same time entrusting him with delicate diplomatic missions of an unofficial character. Around this time he also met Cavour on his own initiative, with whom he discussed the possibility that Pius IX might peacefully renounce the Romagne. After having cooperated in the transfer of powers between the pontifical and the Sardinian authorities in the Legations, in 1860 he was appointed senator and governor of Milan. Two years later, after Aspromonte, Victor Emmanuel II entrusted him with the task of forming an extra-parliamentary government, but he favored the constitutional solution of the crisis and designated Farini, in whose ministry he entered with the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. In 1863-64 he performed unofficial diplomatic functions in Paris and London; he was then prefect of Turin and royal commissioner in Venice after the Third War of Independence. Finally he was raised to the presidency of the Senate, which he held until his death. His friendly relations with Pius IX and with Victor Emmanuel II allowed him to maintain discreet contacts between the Vatican and the Quirinal. He left interesting Memorie, published under the care of his son (4th enlarged ed., Turin 1915).
Bibliography
Renzo U. Montini