Peter Bernardino

PIETRO BERNARDINO. – A follower of Savonarola, born in Florence in 1473, died in Mirandola in 1502. A man of humble condition, uneducated but shrewd, through assiduous attendance at Savonarola’s sermons and the reading of his writings he had made the Bible familiar to himself; already in Savonarola’s time he preached in the squares. Upon the Dominican’s death, he was elected leader of some twenty of his plebeian followers, bound together in a secret league. He gave erroneous expression to doctrinal elements of his master’s teaching, asserting that the Church had to be renewed by the sword and that after Savonarola’s death no just man remained on earth. On his own authority he claimed to confer the anointing of the Holy Spirit. His followers regarded him as prophet and pope of the true Church; they prayed only in spirit, did not attend Mass, and dressed poorly. Persecuted by the Council of the Eight, following a denunciation by the Inquisition, he moved with his followers to Bologna and then to Mirandola, protected by Count Gian Francesco (nephew of the celebrated Giovanni Pico), who at that time was besieged by his brothers. Once the count had been defeated, P. B. and his followers fell into the hands of the victors: convicted of heretical doctrines and corrupt morals, he ended on the stake with some of his followers.

Mario Bendiscioli