Roman Catholic Cardinal. A native of San Stefano al Mare, Pier Francesco Meglia was ordained priest in September 1836 in Rome, where he successively pursued his studies at the La Sappienza University, earning a doctorate in utroque iuris in both civil and canon laws in 1846. Appointed secretary of apostolic nunciature in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, he was successively named auditor of apostolic nunciature in France and chargé d'affaires of the Holy See. Chamberlain supernumerary of His Holiness, at the age of fifty three, destined for the nunciature in Mexico, he received his episcopal consecration in the Sistine Chapel from Pope Pius IX with the titular see of Damascus on September 25, 1864. Named officially apostolic delegate in Central America and the Mexican Empire on the following October 1, Mexico was at the time undergoing a turbulent period which led to the Emperor's execution. Receiving death threats, Meglia fled Mexico City to Guatemala and Nicaragua towards Italy, with the Emperor, Maximilian I, being executed a few months later. Appointed nuncio in the Kingdom of Bavaria on October 26, 1866 and later nuncio in the French Republic on July 10, 1874, in the latter office he incoronated the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. Created cardinal priest by Pope Leo XIII in the consistory of September 19, 1879, he received the title of Ss. Silvestro e Martirio ai Monti in February of the following year. Moving to Rome in his later years, he passed away there but in accordance with his wishes his body was transferred to his native San Stefano al Mare for interment.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. A native of San Stefano al Mare, Pier Francesco Meglia was ordained priest in September 1836 in Rome, where he successively pursued his studies at the La Sappienza University, earning a doctorate in utroque iuris in both civil and canon laws in 1846. Appointed secretary of apostolic nunciature in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, he was successively named auditor of apostolic nunciature in France and chargé d'affaires of the Holy See. Chamberlain supernumerary of His Holiness, at the age of fifty three, destined for the nunciature in Mexico, he received his episcopal consecration in the Sistine Chapel from Pope Pius IX with the titular see of Damascus on September 25, 1864. Named officially apostolic delegate in Central America and the Mexican Empire on the following October 1, Mexico was at the time undergoing a turbulent period which led to the Emperor's execution. Receiving death threats, Meglia fled Mexico City to Guatemala and Nicaragua towards Italy, with the Emperor, Maximilian I, being executed a few months later. Appointed nuncio in the Kingdom of Bavaria on October 26, 1866 and later nuncio in the French Republic on July 10, 1874, in the latter office he incoronated the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. Created cardinal priest by Pope Leo XIII in the consistory of September 19, 1879, he received the title of Ss. Silvestro e Martirio ai Monti in February of the following year. Moving to Rome in his later years, he passed away there but in accordance with his wishes his body was transferred to his native San Stefano al Mare for interment.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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