VIGERIO, MARCO. - In the world Emanuele, cardinal and theologian of the Conventual Franciscans, b. at Savona in 1446, d. at Rome on 18 July 1516.
Nephew of Marco Vigerio and grand-nephew of Francesco della Rovere, he entered the Order probably in the convent of Savona, when Della Rovere was general (1464-67). He was professor of theology at the University of Padua and in the Studium Generale of the Santo, where he was also Correggente together with his confrere Antonio Trombetta. When Della Rovere was elected pontiff under the name Sixtus IV (9 Aug. 1471), V. set out toward the highest offices. Awarded the magisterium in theology, he held the theological chair at the Sapienza in Rome, was elected bishop and prefect of Senigallia on 6 Oct. 1476 and promoted master of the Sacred Palaces (1484). In the diocese and in the prefecture of the Marches he restored order and justice, administered the goods of the Church with wisdom, devoted himself to letters and the arts, and rebuilt the episcopal palace. He was created by Julius II governor of Castel Sant'Angelo; on 1 Dec. 1505 cardinal; in 1506, as cardinal protector of the Minorite Order, he presided, together with Card. Grimani, over the general Chapter held in Rome at the SS. Apostoli. The following year he was pontifical delegate to the general Chapter of the Minims (28 Dec. 1507), toward whom he proved himself a benefactor. Meanwhile he attended to the publication of some of his works such as the Decachordum christianum (Fano 1507), of which the De annuntiatione b. M. Virginis forms a part, and the Controversia de excellentia instrumentorum Dominicae passionis (Rome 1508). During the war between Julius II and Alfonso d'Este of Ferrara, he was named legate of the papal troops (11 Dec. 1510) and showed ability and uncommon gifts in the capture of Concordia and in the siege of Mirandola.
On 29 Oct. 1511 V. passed to the suburbicarian see of Palestrina, and drafted an apology of Julius II against the accusations of the Conciliabulum of Pisa (Nov. 1511); he presented it to the Fifth Lateran Council (1512), but did not carry it to completion because of the Pope's death (21 Feb. 1513). To the Council he had also presented a solution of his own concerning the problem of the calendar, and his data constitute a contribution to the definitive settlement of the question. He renounced the see of Senigallia, in favor of his nephew Marco Quinto Vigerio, on 9 May 1513; he followed the new pontiff Leo X to Viterbo, after the victory of Francis I; he attended their meeting at Bologna (11-18 Oct. 1515); and, having returned to Rome, he died there at the age of 70, and was buried in S. Maria in Trastevere. Among his works, besides those already mentioned: Dialogus de tollendis abusibus, mentioned in his Decachordum (Fano 1507); De praecipuis Verbi incarnati mysteriis (Douai 1604); De vita, morte et resurrectione
Domini (ibid. 1616); Vita et Regula s. Francisci Paulani (Brescia 1518); Declaraciones in Regulam s. Francisci de Paula (ibid. 1518). In these works he reveals himself as theologian, humanist, and pastor of souls. Ciatti (III, 61) defends his honorable life against the assertions of Ciaconius.
Bibliography8 works
Giovanni Odoardi