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Biography
Domenico Maria Jacobini (September 3, 1837 – February 1, 1900) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Vicar General of Rome from 1899 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1896.
Biography
Domenico Jacobini was born in Rome, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation on March 9, 1845. He studied at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, from where he obtained his doctorates in philosophy (September 10, 1856), in theology (September 12, 1860), and in civil and canon law (June 28, 1863).
After his ordination to the priesthood, Jacobini was made an official of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on November 28, 1866. He later became professor of Greek (August 21, 1868) and prefect of studies (November 19, 1880) at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, and Substitute (or deputy) of the Secretariat of Apostolic Briefs on June 1, 1874. Jacobini was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on August 2, 1877, and was named Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs on September 19, 1879. As Secretary, he essentially served as the head of that dicastery, as the Pope nominally held the title of Prefect.
He was made a canon of St. Peter's Basilica after becoming Vice-Librarian of the Holy Roman Church on November 16, 1880. He was also named prefect of studies of the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum "S. Apollinare" two days later, on November 18.
On August 4, 1881, Jacobini was appointed Titular Archbishop of Tyrus by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following August 14 from Cardinal Edoardo Borromeo, with Archbishops Alessandro Sanminiatelli Zabarella and Francesco Folicaldi serving as co-consecrators, at the altar of the Chair of Saint Peter. Jacobini was later named Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on March 30, 1882, and Nuncio to Portugal on June 16, 1891.
Pope Leo created him Cardinal Priest of Santi Marcellino e Pietro in the consistory of June 22, 1896, and he ceased to serve as Nuncio. Jacobini was Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from April 19, 1897 to March 24, 1898, and was appointed Vicar General of Rome on December 14, 1899. As Vicar General, the Cardinal handled the daily administration of the diocese on behalf of the Bishop of Rome.
Jacobini died in Rome, at age 62. After being exposed in the basilica of Ss. XII Apostoli, his body was buried in his family's tomb at the Campo Verano cemetery.