{"id":4925,"date":"2026-02-13T16:40:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T15:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/?page_id=4925"},"modified":"2026-02-13T16:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T15:52:53","slug":"documents-enrico-dante","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/documents-enrico-dante\/","title":{"rendered":"Documents"},"content":{"rendered":"

We present documents related to the ecclesiastical career of Enrico Cardinal Dante, held in the Archives of the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. Each document is accompanied by a transcript and a short commentary. All rights to the documents belong to the aforementioned Office; they may not be copied or distributed without written permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I. APPOINTMENT AS PAPAL MASTER OF CEREMONIES (1914)<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a decree of Pope SAint Pius X (signed by a high-ranking official of the Secretariat of State), in which \u2013 shortly before his death (August 20, 1914) \u2013 he appointed Enrico Dante as the Papal Master of Ceremonies supra numerum<\/em> (supranumerarius<\/em>, meaning „supernumerary,” above a specified number, in this case among the closest associates associated with the Holy Father). This decision allowed Dante to participate in the 1914 conclave, in which Pope Benedict XV was elected Bishop of Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
ACP, sc 0255<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
PIVS PP. X

\tDilecte Fili, salutem et Apostolicam Benedictionem. Ubi divini cultus decori, qua par est diligentia, consulamus, Romanorum Pontificum Decessorum Nostrorum institutum sequentes, idoneos ad id viros ecclesiasticos deligere consuevimus, quos sacrorum rituum rerumque liturgicarum peritia praestare compertum habeamus. Duo in numero te esse rescivimus, qui, dum apud S. Tribunal Apostolicae Poenitentiariae in commentariis conficiendis munus diligenter obis, gravi simul liturgiae studio operam dicare non negligis. His igitur ceterisque tuis virtutibus sacerdotalis vitae spectatis, per praesentes Magistrum supra numerum Pontificalium Caerimoniarum te facimus, constituimus, renuntiamus atque in perillustre Magistrorum huiusmodi Collegium referimus. Itaque tibi, dilecte fili, concedimus omnia et singula iura privilegia et honores, quibus alii eodem officio aucti utuntur fruuntur, vel uti frui possunt ac poterunt : contrariis non obstantibus quibuslibet. Datum Romae apus S. Petrum sub annulo Piscatoris die XXI m. Aprilis anno MCMXIV, Pontificatus Nostri Undecimo

Dilecto Filio Henrico Dante, Sacerdoti

Card. Merry del Val
a Secretis Status
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
II. APPOINTMENT AS PREFECT OF PAPAL CEREMONIES (1947)<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a decree of the Servant of God Pope Pius XII (signed by a high-ranking official of the Secretariat of State, dated June 13, 1947), in which the then Bishop of Rome, very sensitive to matters of divine worship (as expressed in his famous encyclical Mediator Dei<\/em>), after seeking the advice and opinion of Carlo Respighi (the previous Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, superior and friend of the nominee), appointed as his successor a man known for his erudition and skill, who soon became an unparalleled expert in the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Church \u2013 Enrico Dante. This same decree granted him all the rights and privileges associated with the function and service of Prefect of the College of Papal Masters of Ceremonies.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
ACP, sc 0255<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
PIVS PP. XII

Dilecte fili, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem

Meritorum tuorum haud immemores, te, inter domesticos Aulae Nostrae Praelatos adscitum peculiari propensae voluntati Nostrae honestare, testimonio atque congruenti cummulare munere ultro libentique animo statuimus. Tu enim triplicem Philosophiae nempe Theologiae atque Juris Canonici lauream permagno adeptus honore, hujus Sanctae Sedis servitio maxima cum observantia ac veneratione, totum temetipsum mancipasti, tum qua Causarum Actorem apud amplissimum Sacrae Romanae Rotae Tribunal, tum in Sacra Paenitenriaria, qua Officialem, denique in Sacrorum Rituum Congregatione, qua sollertem peritumque Substitutum. Neque tamen, tot inter tantosque labores, sacerdotalium munerum oblitus, ad gloriam Dei animarumque salutem tam assidue alacriterque operam tuam impendisti impendisque, ut etiam in dominico agro optimos perceperis uberrimosque fructus. Praeterea ad efformandos sacrorum alumnos Pontificii Collegii \u201cde Propaganda Fide\u201d eosdemque Scholastica Philosophia et Sacra Theologia recte imbuendos impense adlaborasti. At peritia tua tuumque studium praecipue fulserunt in alterius ab Antistite Caeremoniarum Apostolicarum officio adimplendo. Cum vero mortalem hanc vitam cum immortali inopinate commutaverit dilectus filius Carolus Respighi, omnibus desideratissumus, qui multos per annos Apostolicarum caerimoniarum Praefecti munere perquam naviter sapienterque functus est, cumque de eligendo ejus successore modo agatur. Nos in te animum convertimus Nostrum, tanto honore tantoque onere neminem te digniorem arbitrantes. Quam ob rem, publicam propensae voluntatis Nostrae testificationem, quae sit etiam congruens titulis tuis praemium, tibi deferre volentes, hisce te Litteris atque Apostolica auctoritate Nostra, in Praefectum Caerimoniarum Pontificii Sacelli Nostri eligimus ac deputamus, tibique ut Sacras Caerimonias in ipso Sacello, et alibi ubicumque, tam Nobis praesentibus, quam absentibus, aut Sede Apostolica Vacante, uti moris est, peragere, ac etiam in Conclavi, praedicta Sede Vacante, una cum reliquis caerimoniarum Magistris, praescripta omnia explere, atque omnibus et singulis juribus, honoribus, praerogativis, et suo tempore emolumentis quoque, nec non indultis solitis, ad tui vitam, uti ac frui licite possis ac valeas, concedimus atque indulgemus. Praeterea mandamus iisdem caerimoniarum Magistris, ut in praedicto Sacello Nostro, te ad hujusmodi officium exercendum, tum praesentibus tum absentibus Nobis, itemque Apostolica Sede Vacante, et durante Conclavi, et ubicumque opus fuerit admittant ac recipiant, omnibusque ad quos spectat ut tibi suo tempore de proventibus et emolumentis consuetis respondeant et respondere curent ac faciant. Contrariis quibuslibet non obstantibus.
Datum Romae, apud Sanctum Petrum, sub anulo Piscatoris, die XIII mensis Junii, anno MCMXXXXVII, Pontificatus Nostri nono.

De speciali Sanctissimi mandato
Pro Domino Cardinali a Secretis Status

Dominicusspadas
a Brevibus Apostolicis

Dilecto filio
Henrico Dante
Antistite Vrbano
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
III. LETTER ACCOMPANYING THE NOMINATION AS PREFECT OF PAPAL CEREMONIES (1947)<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the day of his appointment as Prefect of Papal Ceremonies, Enrico Dante also received a note from the Secretariat of State (signed by the future Pope Paul VI, who was at that time the Substitutum<\/em> of the Secretariat of State), informing him of the papal decision and calling him to collect the decree at the Chancery of the Brevi Apostolici<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
ACP, sc 0255<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
SEGRETERIA DI STATO
DI SVA SANTITA

La Santit\u00e0 di Nostro Signore

si \u00e8 benignamente segnata di nominare Prefetto delle Cerimonie Pontificie l\u2019Illustrissimo e Reverendissimo Monsignor

Enrico Dante.

\tTanto si partecipa al medesimo Monsignor Dante, pereb\u00e8 voglia compiacersi di dare le opportune disposizioni per il ritiro del relativo Breve di nomina presso la Cancelleria dei Brevi Apostolici.

\tDal Vaticano, 13 Giugno 1947

GBattista Montini
Sostituto
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
IV. CARDINAL’S OATH (1965)<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, each newly created cardinal (formerly known as cardinal „creation” \u2014 creatio cardinalium<\/em>), immediately before receiving the cardinal’s hat (the so-called galero<\/em>), swore a solemn oath of allegiance to the reigning pope and his successors. This took place at the beginning of each public consistory: the senior cardinals took their places in the apse of the Vatican Basilica around the Vicar of Christ, while the new ones were gathered in the Chapel of St. Petronella, where they swore the oath prescribed by Canon Law at the altar. Once the final oath had been pronounced, cardinals from the order of deacons came to meet the new cardinals and escort them into the presence of the pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ACP (sc 0293, n. 23) contains various notes, guidelines, and drafts for the ceremonies of the consistory and the creation of cardinals; these ceremonies are significantly simplified compared to those previously performed (for example, the imposition of the galero has been eliminated). Among the many documents are numerous typescripts with corrections and notes handwritten by Monsignor Salvatore Capoferri (papal ceremonialist), as well as a completed and reformed rite titled Ordo ad novos Cardinales creandos<\/em> („Order for the Creation of New Cardinals”), whose title page reads: Praesens ordo, auctoritate Domini Nostrii Paulii PP. VI confectus, ad experimendum adhibendus est die 25 februarii 1965<\/em> („This order, established by the authority of Our Lord Paul VI, is accepted for use ad experimentum on February 25, 1965”).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Ordo ad novos Cardinales creandos<\/em>: title page and page with information about Paul VI’s approval of the new ceremonial and the experimental nature of the new order of cardinal creations. Source: own archive.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Enrico Dante was created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI at the public consistory held in the Vatican Basilica on February 22, 1965. Here is the text of the oath that Cardinal Enrico Dante took, along with the other cardinals:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
ACP, sc 0293, n. 21<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
ORMULA IURAMENTI
A NOVIS CARDINALIBUS
PR\u00c6STANDI

EGO\tHenricus
Sanct\u00e6 Roman\u00e6 Ecclesi\u00e6 Cardinalis
Dante

promitto et iuro, me ab hac ora deinceps, quamdiu vixero, fidelem Christo eiusque Evangelio et obedientem Beato Petro, Sanct\u00e6que Apostolic\u00e6 Roman\u00e6 Ecclesi\u00e6 ac Sanctissimo Domino nostro PAULO PP. VI, eiusque Successoribus canonice legitimeque electis, futurum: nullum consilium, aut consensum, vel auxilium adversus Pontificiam Maiestatem, aut Personam pr\u00e6stiturum : consilia mihi ab eis per Se, aut Nuncios, aut per litera credita, nemini unquam scientem, prudentemque in eorum damnum, vel dedecus enunciaturum.
\tSic me Deus adiuvet.

Henricus Card. Dante
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
V. VATICAN ROGITO MORTE<\/em> (1967)<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon the death of cardinals, who constitute a sort of „chapter” of the pope because they are ex officio <\/em>pastors (le cur\u00e9<\/em>) of Roman parishes, a document called the Rogito morte<\/em> is prepared\u2014a sort of in memoriam<\/em> commemorating the most outstanding virtues and greatest achievements of the deceased prince of the Church. This document is then placed at the cardinal’s resting place, similarly to the pope’s. Enrico Cardinal Dante’s Rogito<\/em> (or rather, a photocopy of it) is a four-page typescript signed by twenty people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
ACP, sc 072<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
IN NOMINE DOMINI, AMEN !

Noverint omnes, praesens instrumentum lecturi, HENRICUM tituli Sanctae Agatae Gothorum Presbyterum Cardinalem DANTE, in osculo Domini diem supremum obiisse die vigesima quarta aprilis anno millesimo nongentesimo sexagesimo septimo, eiusque corpus duplici arca clausum esse.

Hoc autem elogium desideratissimi Viri laudes dicat, tueatur memoriam.

HENRICUS Cardinalis DANTE in Urbe die quinta julii anno millesimo octingentesimo octogesimo quarto ortus est. Lutetiae Parisiorum in humanitatis studia alacri animo incubit. Dein Romae in Almo Collegio Capranica receptus, pietate in exemplum condiscipulis praeluxit; philosophicis ac theologicis disciplinis in Universitate Gregoriana impense vacavit.

Die tertia julii anno millesimo nongentesimo decimo Romae in Diaconia Sancti Apollinaris sacerdotio insignitus est. In praefata Universitate ad altiora studia ecclesiastica se contulit et Doctoris laureas in Philosophia, Theologia et Iure Canonico adeptus est, necnon titulum advocati rotalis apud Studium illius Sacri Tribunalis.

Inter haec ad ministerium pastorale, praesertim in paroeciis Urbis, tunc suburbanis, animum intendit; et opera apostolatus curavit etiam tempore quo ad docendum in Universitate Urbaniana de Propaganda Fide et apud Dicasteria Romanae Curiae est accersitus. Magister scientiae, vitae et amoris erga Ecclesiam et Summum Pontificem fuit pro discipulis.

Praesertim in Sacra Congregatione Rituum suam praestavit operam et anno millesimo nongentesimo vigesimo tertio nominatus est Substitutus et dein anno millesimo nongentesimo quinquagesimo nono Secretarius eiusdem Sacrae Congregationis. Hoc in officio alacritate animi, scientia ac regiminis vigore, magis in die claruit. Operam maximam dedit tum ad reformationem liturgicam tunc temporis, tum ad causas Beatificationis et Canonizationis Sanctorum. Fuit Consiliarius Commissionis Centralis Praeparatoriae Concilii Oecumenici Vaticani secundi et dein Membrum Commissionis \u201cde Sacra Liturgia\u201d eiusdem Concilii.

Suam sollertem operam Summis Pontificibus, Pio decimosecundo, Joanni vigesimo tertio et Paulo sexto feliciter regnanti, navavit ut Praefectus Caeremoniis Apostolicis et vere Rituum Apostolicae Sedis custos fuit. Inter alios memorantur edictio dogmatis de Assumptione Beatae Mariae Virginis in coelum, celebratio maximi Jubilaei anno millesimo nongentesimo quinguagesimo et demum Concilii Oecumenici Vaticani secundi.

Munere Magistri Caeremoniarum Apostolicarum functus est ab anno millesimo nongentesimo decimo quarto et ab anno millessimo nongentesimo quadragesimo septimo usque ad annum millesimum nongentesimum sexagesimum quintum munere Praefecti Caeremoniis Apostolicis.

Sollicitudine ac sollertia in exercitio suorum munerum semper maxime enituit; et anno millesimo nongentesimo sexagesimo secundo, die duodetrigesima augusti Summus Pontifex Joannes vigesimustertius ad episcopatum, titulo pro illa vice Archiepiscopali Ecclesiae Carpasiensis, promovit, et die vigesima prima septembris eiusdem anni ipse Summus Pontifex consecravit. Hoc modo adnumeratus est inter Patres Concilii Oecumenici Vaticani secundi, cui assidue participavit.

Praeclaris et egregiis erga Ecclesiam rite perspectis, fidelem et indefatigatum Ecclesiae servum et operarium Summus Pontifex, feliciter regnans, ad Purpuratorum Patrum dignitatem die vigesima secunda februarii anno millesimo nongentesimo sexagesimo quinto evexit, titulo, pro illa vice, presbyterali Sancrae Agatae Gothorum assignato. Adlectus in Sacras Congregationes de Propaganda Fide et Rituum fuit.

Decor et splendor cultus divini et Rituum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae velut insigne totius eius vitae fuit.

Haec sunto summis labiis recensita praecipua acta et opera clarissimi Cardinales HENRICI DANTE; permulta alia, laude dignissima, soli Deo nota sunt.

Vale in Christo anima desideratissima et memor esto de coeli sedibus eorum quos hic lugentes reliquisti: pro universo Sacerdotum et fidelium coetu dignanter exora.

Super quibus omnibus ego infrascriptus SS.mi Domini Nostri Papae et Apostolicae Sedis Caeremoniarum Magister, Protonotarius ex officio rogatus, instrumentum hoc confeci, meoque sigillo munivi, infrascriptis testibus adhibitis atque rogatis.

Datum Romae, die vigesima sexta aprilis anno millesimo nongentesimo sexagesimo septimo.

[Nast\u0119puj\u0105 podpisy]
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
VI. TO MY DEAREST FRIENDS, THE MASTERS OF PAPAL CEREMONIES<\/em> (1956)<\/big><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1954, the new premises of the Prefecture of Papal Ceremonies and its attached archive were inaugurated. Two years later, the then Magister Caeremoniarum Apostolicarum<\/em>, Enrico Dante, completed the first part of a work that would take years: the Catalogo dell’Archivio della Prefettura delle Ceremonie Apostoliche<\/em> (to this day, this catalog, entirely handwritten, serves archivists and researchers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Title pages of the two parts of the preface to the catalogue of the archives of the College of Papal Ceremonials, handwritten by Monsignor Enrico Dante. Source: ACP.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This document is discussed in more detail in our article: Archiwum Prefektury Ceremonii Papieskich i<\/em> Diaria caeremoniarum \u2013 niezbadany skarbiec historii liturgii, Rzymu i\u00a0papiestwa (wraz z\u00a0transkrypcj\u0105 i\u00a0t\u0142umaczeniem r\u0119kopisu kard. Enrico Dantego<\/em> Ai miei carissimi Colleghi Cerimonieri Pontifici)<\/a><\/strong>, [in:] Scripturae Lumen. Biblia i\u00a0jej oddzia\u0142ywanie<\/em>, t. 11: Ko\u015bci\u00f3\u0142 Chrystusa<\/em>, Wydawnictwo BIBLOS, Tarn\u00f3w 2021, p. 443-458.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We present documents related to the ecclesiastical career of Enrico Cardinal Dante, held in the Archives of the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. Each document is accompanied by a transcript and a short commentary. All rights to the documents belong to the aforementioned Office; they may not be copied or distributed […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4925","page","type-page","status-publish","czr-hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4925"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4925\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}