Morone, Giovanni, an Italian prelate of consider- able note for the illustrious part he took in the Reform- atory^ movement of the IGth century, and for the noble efforts he made to uphold the lustre of the Koman Cath- olic Church, was born at Milan, Jan. 25, 1509, and de- scended from a noble family. His father, count Giro- larao 3Iorone, is of historic celebrity from the efforts he made to free his country (Milan) from the yoke of Charles V, and for his subsequent devotion to imperial interests. During his younger years Giovanni Mo- rone was carefully instructed at home, and after^v•a^ds sent to the University of Padua to pursue his more serious studies. There his talents and assiduous appli- cation procured liim honors which enrolled his name among the chief philosophers and jurists. In 1529 Morone finally took orders, and, tliough yet a youth, bis unusual attainments rapidly secured him friends and position, and in the year following he was elevated to the bishopric of iModena. lie was also in the same year selected by Paul III as papal nuncio to the emperor Ferdinand, and in that capacity did most excellent ser- vice to the Romish cause. He was instrumental in pre- paring the way for a council of the (Jerman princes for a final settlement of all religious differences, and did everything in his power to prevent a rupture in the Church. Yet it must not be inferred that he was so conciliatory as to ignore his own personal convictions. Determined to sustain the papal cause, he was yet in favor of reformatory measures, and succeeded in per- suading both parties to give him their confidence be- cause he acted conscientiously. He never feared to do or say what he thought right. Thus in 1540, when, on account of the plague, the Diet was to be removed from Spires to Hagenau, JMorone hesitated not to make a most energetic protest, and in consequence was finally recalled to give an account of himself at Rome. His explanations must have been satisfactory to Paul HI, for in 1541 Jlorone was again on his way to Germany to attend the Spires Diet, and in 1542 he attended the Diet at Ratisbon, where all hope of union between Protes- tants and Romanists was entirely extinguished. Yet, notwithstanding the failure of reconciliation, Jlorone's services found acknowledgment at Rome, and he was this same year presented with tlic red hat. He was also sent, together with Parisio and Poli', as papal rep- resentative to the nominal opening of tlie Council of Trent (November, 1542). His consummate knowledge of affairs pointed to him as the proper person for papal envoy when, the Tridcntine Council having failed to
secure the support of the German princes and theolo- gians, another Diet was called at Spires by the em- peror in 1544. This was a most difficult task. Charles V, just returned from the Low Countries, seeing clear- ly that the successful issue of his war against Francis I of France was possible only if he had the German princes unitedly in his favor, graciously yielded every- thing in ecclesiastical matters, and this conciliatory po- sition made of course no light work for the papal rejire- sentative. Cardinal INIorone was too sagacious not to perceive how the Protestant princes would take courage now, and move forward to a platform from which it would hereafter be difficult to dislodge them. He failed to intiuence the emperor as he desired, yet his faithfulness to the papal cause was universally acknowl- edged, and when he returned to Rome the legation of Bologna, then become vacant b\' the death of Contarini (q. v.), was conferred on Jlorone. In 1550 he gave up the bishopric of Jlodena, that diocese having during his absence become greatly distracted by the sjiread of Re- formatory opinions. Whatever secret modifications his own views had undergone, he was not prepared, nor had he ever intended, to contaminate himself with the odious name of heretic; and therefore, rather than suffer his diocese to be spoken of as one alien to the faith, he promptly gave it up altogether. He had earnestly tried, immediately on his return from Germany, to rally his clergy around a common confession of faith, so liberal in its inception and construction that all might endorse it; but he had failed to unite them by this measure. Several of the most learned theologians deserted the territory rather than perjure themselves in any manner. The academicians were specially remiss in submission, and INIorone finally wrote to Rome for jjcrmission to withdraw the paper, " as they had assured hiin of tlie sincerity of their devotion to the Roman Catholic Church, and had entreated that suspicion might not be cast on their faith by obliging them to subscribe" (Life of Paleario, ii, 28). The papal answer proved imfavor- able in more than one respect. The pope, thinking Morone too indulgent, which no doubt was true, for he himself believed tlie doctrine of justification as held by the Lutherans, had appointed six cardinals to examine the condition of tliis Italian diocese. ^lorone. naturally enough offended at such a want of confidence in liis in- tegrity and competency, had almost then resolved to withdraw altogether from the diocese, had not the gov- ernor's entreaties prevailed, and he been induced to con- tinue its spiritual head at least for a while longer. But the continued spread of Reformatory o[)inions, and his own indisposition to punish men for conscience' sake, so long as they avowed obedience to the pope of Rome as their spiritual head, finally led him to forsake the dio- cese altogether, and Foscarari, a Dominican friar, and a man of great talent and virtue, became his successor. The latter did not live to quit the diocese under such favorable auspices, but was taken from the episcopal mansion to the heretic's prison {Life of Paleario, ii. 45). Morone, however, lost nothing by forsaking the diocese of 3Iodena, for he was by the duke of i^Iilan presented with the bishopric of Novara. In 1549 Jlorone's friend at Rome, pope Paul III, died, and tiie next incumbent of the papal cliair became Julius HI. He was not warm- ly attached to our cardinal, yet at least esteemed liim, and in 1555, when the Diet of Augsburg was to convene to discuss imjiortant religious topics, Morone was select- ed as the representative of Rome. Scarcely, however, had the cardinal reacheil Augsburg when tlie news of the sudden death of his pope was brought him, and he was obliged to turn back to Rome. He was now instru- mental in elevating Marcello H. and hoped for reforma- tion and purification in the Church. But this good man lived only a short time, and again the papal conclave was convened. The most prominent candidate was Ca- rafta, the iniiuisitor : a man of harshness of character, and not highly esteemed by ^lorone. The two had not been on very favorable terms for some time. Caraffa had