VANNICELLI CASONI, LUIGI. — Cardinal, born at Amelia on 16 April 1801, died at Rome on 21 April 1877.
A Vatican canon in 1829, in 1835 he became vice-commissioner of the four Legations, residing at Bologna, and, in 1838, vice-camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, governor of Rome, and president of the government tribunal. Among the provisions he issued in these offices, noteworthy was that concerning passports and surveillance at the gates of Rome.
Made a cardinal in 1842 and legate in Bologna, he gave proof of prudence and wisdom, winning the favor of the populace. He had the Farnese Hall and the church of S. Michele in Bosco restored, and the building of the Academy of Fine Arts embellished. During his presidency (from 1845) of the Congregation of the Census, he published (1850) an account of the various agrarian measures of the Papal States, with the metric system, in 9 vols. On 1 July 1849 he was appointed, together with cardd. Altieri and Della Genga Sermattei, to the Commission of three cardinals charged with preparing Pio IX’s return to Rome.
In 1850 Pio IX appointed him archbishop of Ferrara, where he carried out substantial pastoral activity. In addition to making a pastoral visitation, he encouraged the preaching of missions in the towns of the diocese, revived the University by emulating the zeal of card. Riminaldi, and devoted continual attention to the municipal and private schools. A forerunner of modern forms of apostolate, he was a courageous herald of the Catholic press, which he supported energetically and vigorously. During the cholera epidemic of 1855 and the flooding of the Po in 1872, he carried out uninterrupted relief work, generously providing for orphans, widows, and the families of those affected, personally visiting the poor dwellings, the arch-hospital, and the lazaretto, and making his house at Sabbioncello available to those left homeless.
In 1851 he was the bearer at Vienna of a letter from Pio IX to Francesco Giuseppe, and in 1870 the same Pontiff appointed him pro-datary, while he continued to govern the archdiocese of Ferrara.