Ricci-Paracciani, Francesco

RICCI-PARACCIANI, FRANCESCO. - Cardinal, born in Rome on 8 June 1830, died there on 9 March 1894. Of a noble family, he devoted himself to the ecclesiastical ministry, especially in evening schools and on behalf of young people.

He was, moreover, one of the most assiduous comforters in the archconfraternity of St. John the Beheaded, attending those condemned to death. Pius IX, who esteemed him greatly, called him to be part of the Pontifical Antechamber as a participating secret chamberlain, until he appointed him majordomo (1875). Governor of the Conclave of 1878, Leo XIII, on 13 Dec. 1880, created him cardinal reserving him in pectore and published his appointment on 27 March 1882. He succeeded Cardinal Carlo Laurenzi as secretary of memorials and became (1892) archpriest of the Vatican Basilica. He was furthermore grand prior in Rome of the Order of Malta and protector of the Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul. He acquired distinguished merits toward the Roman Catholic associations and greatly encouraged Filippo Tolli, formerly his pupil in the evening schools, to institute the Italian Anti-Slavery Society.