12 Facts About Clemente Micara

Clemente Micara was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Clemente Micara worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1909 to 1950 and was Vicar General of Rome from 1951 until his death.

Clemente Micara was ordained to the priesthood on 20 September 1902, and finished his studies in 1904.

Clemente Micara was raised to the rank of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on 5 January 1910, and later Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on 21 August 1918.

Clemente Micara was made auditor of the Belgian nunciature on 16 April 1915, and of the Austrian nunciature in 1916.

Clemente Micara resided in Rome during the Nazi occupation of Belgium from 1940 to 1944, at which time the nuncio resumed his post.

Clemente Micara was President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology from 1951 until his death.

Clemente Micara was appointed Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals on 13 January 1951 and Vicar General of Rome on the following 26 January.

Ahead of the 1953 Italian general election, Clemente Micara urged the Catholics of Rome to "[v]ote well, vote as Catholics, vote as Romans".

Clemente Micara served as a cardinal elector in the 1958 papal conclave that elected Pope John XXIII, and voted in the conclave of 1963 that elected Pope Paul VI.

Clemente Micara was called the "Grand Elector" among the Curia because of his influential role in securing the votes of conservative cardinals' for Pope Paul, with whom he was friends, in the latter conclave.

Clemente Micara died in Rome on 11 March 1965 after a long illness, at age 85, and was buried in the basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.