Antonio Maria Cagiano de Azevedo

Cagiano was born 14 December 1797 in Santopadre to a noble family; he was the son of Ottavio Cagiano de Azevedo.[1] Cagiano was the uncle of Cardinal Ottavio Cagiano de Azevedo.

He was educated at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in Rome then at the Archgymnasium of Rome where he received a doctorate in utroque iuris (civil and canon law).

Cagiano was ordained in 1824 and was immediately appointed to a number of politico-legal positions in quick succession including:

• Secretary to the dean of the Sacred Roman Rota.
• Member of the college of consistorial lawyers.
• Domestic prelate of Pope Pius VIII.
• Assessore criminale of the auditor general of the Apostolic Chamber and of the governor of Rome.
• Auditor of the Tribunal of Signature of Justice.
• Protonotary apostolic.
• Governor of the city of Spoleto.
• President of the province of Perugia.
• Pro-legate in Ferrara.
• Secretary of the Sacred Consulta.
• Vice-president of the Board of Health.
• Rector of La Sapienza University in Rome.
• Secretary of the S.C. Consistorial.
• Auditor general of the Apostolic Chamber.

He was elected bishop of Senigaglia in 1844 and was consecrated by Pope Gregory XVI.

Cagiano was elevated to cardinal in 1844 and was appointed Cardinal Priest of the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

He participated in the Papal Conclave of 1846 which elected Pope Pius IX.

He was appointed Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Council in 1853 and held the position until 1860. In 1854 Cagiano was appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati where he served until his death. Between 1855 and 1856 he was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals and in 1860 he was appointed Apostolic Penitentiary, a position which he also held until his death.

Cagiano died 13 January 1867 in Rome. His funeral took place on 16 January 1867, with the participation of Pope Pius IX and he was buried in the Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.