RIARIO SFORZA, SISTO

RIARIO SFORZA, SISTO. – Cardinal, born in Naples on 5 November 1810, died there on 29 September 1877. At only thirty-five years of age he was appointed by Gregorio XVI first bishop of Aversa, then archbishop of Naples, and subsequently created cardinal, with the title of S. Sabina, on 19 January 1846.

A most zealous pastor, of strict morals, he governed the archdiocese with a very firm hand, aiming above all at the discipline and integrity of life of his clergy. He was equally firm in his political convictions, showing absolute fidelity to the reigning dynasty; consequently, in September 1860, he decided to leave Naples in protest against the Garibaldian occupation. Having returned to his see after a brief absence, he engaged in numerous conflicts with the new government in defence of the rights of the Church: the most bitter of these, arising from the prohibition he issued against celebrating the feast of the Statute with religious functions, earned him, on 31 July 1861, expulsion from the city. From Civitavecchia he continued, through vicars and by means of pastoral documents, to govern the Neapolitan Church, until, in 1866, he was able to resume its government in person, being received in Naples with indescribable demonstrations of popular affection.

His episcopal virtues shone forth brilliantly during the cholera epidemics of 1854–55 and 1873, as he devoted himself to assisting those infected. He founded a library and a lycée and promoted the construction of the new façade of the cathedral. The judgment given of him by Bonghi in his book Pio IX e il Papa futuro is particularly interesting: while portraying him as « mediocre di mente e scarso di studi », which is inaccurate, and counting him among the « intransigenti », the liberal historian is compelled to acknowledge in Cardinal R. S. the merit of having effectively prevented the dechristianization of Naples and of having saved « le parti principali dell'edificio religioso » (that is, the imprescriptible rights of the Church) with an « ardire » superior to that of other cardinals and prelates of the period.

(photo Enc. Catt.)
RIBERA, EMMANUELE, venerable – Autograph letter to Bartolo Longo, preserved in the Archive of the General Postulation of the Redemptorists – Rome.