Enlightenment and Catholicism in Europe: A Transnational History

Chapter 3: Giacinto Sigismondo Cardinal Gerdil (1718–1802)

89 3 R Giacinto Sigismond o Ca rd in a l Gerdil (1718–18 0 2 ) Enlightenment as Cultural and Religious Achievement DRIES VANySACkER Born in Samoëns-en-Faucigny in the Haute-Savoie on 23 June 1718, the son of notary Pierre and Françoise Perrier, Gerdil received his early education at Bonneville and at thonon, and was entrusted by his uncle, Jean Gerdil, a mathematician, to the Barnabites (Regular Clerics of Saint Paul) of Annecy in order to follow studies in rhetoric and philosophy at the local royal college. In 1734, he entered the novitiate of the Barnabites at Bonneville, and he took his solemn vows on 25 September 1735. Sent by his order to Bologna, he studied philosophy , Italian, and experimental sciences over the course of three years, but the systematic study of the works of Saint Augustine and Saint thomas would influence his own later work in apologetics. the intellect of the young Barnabite was noted by Prospero Lambertini (1675–1758), Archbishop of Bologna and future Pope Benedict 90 Dries Vanysacker XIV (1740–1758); ultimately the future Cardinal Gerdil’s knowledge of French became useful when he was publishing Lambertini’s juridical and liturgical works. on 27 May 1737, Gerdil received his “minor orders,” and from that moment on, he was a professor of philosophy at the college of the Barnabites of Macerata (1737–1738) and at the Royal College of Casale Montferrat (1738–1748). on 11 June 1741, he was ordained a priest at Casale. on 15 September 1749, Gerdil was appointed professor of practical philosophy at the University of turin, and in 1754, he took possession of the vacant chair of moral theology. the renown of his publications brought him membership in the Institute of Science (Istituto delle scienze ) of Bologna on 13 March 1749, the Royal Society of London, the Academy of Arcadia, and various other literary and scientific institutions . In 1757, Gerdil became one of the earliest members of the Privy Society of turin (Società privata torinese), later known as the Royal Society (Società reale), in 1769. Ultimately, Gerdil became a member of the Royal Academy of Science in turin (Accademia reale delle scienze di Torino) in 1783, founded by Marquis Giuseppe Angelo Saluzzo (1734–1810), together with Giovanfrancesco Cigna (1734–1790) and Giuseppe Luigi Lagrange (1736–1813). His participation in the Societ à contributed to the publication of the academy’s findings in European scientific circles and a widespread network of correspondences. Gerdil also managed to attract the attention of the grand chaplain of the king of Sardinia, Carlo Vittorio Amedeo Cardinal Delle Lanze (1712–1784), and Crown Prince Vittorio Amedeo (1726–1796) by offering insights on the upbringing of the latter’s sons. Consequently, on 21 September 1758, Gerdil was appointed tutor of the crown prince’s firstborn son, later Duke Carlo Emanuele IV (1751–1819). Subsequently , on 31 July 1768, he became responsible for teaching the future king, Vittorio Emanuele I (1759–1824), and Maurizio, Duke of Montferrat (1762–1799). Like other university professors in his day, Gerdil participated in the turin diocesan synod of 1755 as a synodal examiner. However, he soon became increasingly burdened by practical responsibilities, so he left the university in 1759. In 1764, he was elected the provincial superior of the Piedmont-Savoy Barnabites, and was reelected to this position for another three-year term in 1767. Giacinto Sigismondo Cardinal Gerdil (1718–1802) 91 When the Barnabite superior general died the following year, the General Chapter considered Gerdil as a possible successor, but he was not elected. During the consistory of 26 April 1773, Clement XIV (1769–1774) named Gerdil a cardinal in pectore, and Angelo Maria Durini (1725–1796), who was sent as a papal legate to Avignon, informed Gerdil of this while passing through turin. Within the framework of Savoy politics, the presence of Gerdil in Rome supported the continuation of the concordat strategy established by Vittorio Amedeo III (1773–1796), which included negotiations over the liquidation of wealthy monasteries in order to obtain and utilize their goods. Gerdil was explicitly called to Rome by Pius VI (1775–1799) in March 1776. Having arrived the following April, he took up permanent residence at the Casa generalizia of the Barnabites in San Carlo ai Catinari, and he was immediately employed as a consultor to the Holy office (Wolf 2010). Papal Censor and Adviser on 17 February 1777, Gerdil was promoted to titular...