Simonetta, Ludovico

SIMONETTA, LUDOVICO. - Cardinal, born of a noble family in Milan around 1500, died in Rome on April 30, 1568. He took a degree in law. A nephew of Cardinal Giacomo, he received the bishopric of Pesaro through the latter's resignation on December 19, 1537 (held until May 9, 1561) and participated as such, from May 3, 1545 onward, in the Council of Trent. When it was suspended in 1549, he returned to Rome, where he was appointed referendary of the Signatura and datary of Pius IV. On February 26, 1561, he was created cardinal and, on March 10, legate to Trent.

When the Council reopened on January 18, 1562, very lively disputes arose as to whether it was a new Council or a continuation of the other two phases, whether the matters to be treated should be presented only by the legates, over the safe-conduct to be granted to the Protestants, and over the right of precedence. Only Simonetta's skill, his ascendancy over the Fathers, and his intransigence in carrying out the pontifical directives succeeded in overcoming such obstacles. As a legate canonist, he had to preside over the formulation of the articles of reform, correcting the drafts presented by the imperial and Spanish legates and by part of the legate Cardinal Seripando. To halt the work, the question of residence arose once more, put forward under both its practical and its theoretical aspect. When the vote proved useless, Simonetta sought the Pope's counsel, and the latter wished to send two new legates, replacing the president Cardinal Gonzaga. The Pope, however, withdrew from the proposal because of Borromeo's intervention, and ordered Simonetta to watch over and prepare the canons of reform, avoiding the thorny question of residence. When the Spanish and French ambassadors arrived at Trent, Simonetta proved himself a most skillful diplomat in winning their goodwill and in persuading them to serve the cause of the Council effectively. But the intransigence of the French and Spanish prelates and the new, very lively discussions on residence threatened the shipwreck of Trent. The discord among the legates increased the confusion, until Simonetta, though accused of excessive curialism, imposed himself on the ecumenical assembly and, strong in the pontifical support, helped to keep the Council going. Having returned to Rome after the end of the Council, he was created prefect of the tribunal of the Holy Office.

Benedetto Lega