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Biography
Mario Mattei (6 September 1792, Pergola, Marche – 7 October 1870) was an Italian Cardinal, of the Roman noble House of Mattei. He became Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1860.
Personal life
Mattei was born on 6 September 1792 in Pergola.
He was educated at the Collegio Ghislieri, a Roman Seminary, and at the La Sapienza University where he received a doctorate in utroque iure) and later attended the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in 1810. Around 1817, he was ordained a priest.
Elevation to Cardinal
He was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and was subsequently appointed to the following posts:
- 1832 – Cardinal-Deacon of St Maria in Aquiro
- 1842 – Cardinal-Priest of St Maria degli Angeli
- 1844 – Bishop of Frascati
- 1854 – Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina
- 1860 – Bishop of Ostia and Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals
Vatican service
In 1843, Mattei was appointed as Arch-Priest of St. Peter's Basilica and held this position until his death in 1870.
Records indicate that Mattei was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals twice; between 1834 and 1835 and between 1848 and 1850
He was appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1860.
He was a participant in the First Vatican Council and in the Papal Conclave of 1846 that elected Pope Pius IX.