Editing Ambrose Traversari (section)

==Biography==
[[Traversari]] was born near [[Forlì]], in the village of [[Portico e San Benedetto|Portico di Romagna]] in 1386.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}  At the age of 14 he entered the Camaldolese Order in the Monastery of [[Santa Maria degli Angeli, Florence|St. Mary of the Angels]] in [[Florence]], and soon acquired a reputation as a leading theologian and [[Hellenism (Academia)|Hellenist]]. In his study of [[Greek literature]] his master was [[Manuel Chrysoloras|Emmanuel Chrysoloras]]. Traversari worked primarily as a scholar until he became [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]] general of the Order in 1431.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

Traversari emerged as a leading advocate of [[papal primacy]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} This attitude he showed clearly when he attended the [[Council of Florence|Council of Basel]] as legate of [[Pope Eugene IV]]{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} and defended the [[Papal primacy |primacy of the pope]], calling upon the council not to "rend asunder [[Jesus|Christ's]] seamless robe".{{sfn|Becket|1913}} He was next sent by Eugene  to the Emperor [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]] to ask his aid in the pope's efforts to end this council, which for five years had been encroaching on papal prerogatives. Eugene transferred the council from [[Basel]] to [[Ferrara]] on 18 September 1437.{{sfn|Becket|1913}}

So strong was Traversari's hostility to some of the delegates that he described Basel as a western [[Babylon (New Testament)|Babylon]]. He likewise supported the pope at Ferrara and Florence, and worked hard in the attempt to reconcile the Eastern and Western Churches.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} But in this council, and later, in that of Florence, Traversari, by his efforts and charity toward some indigent Greek bishops, greatly helped to bring about a union of the two Churches, the decree for which, 6 July 1439, he was called on to prepare a draft.

Ambrose Traversari died soon after.{{sfn|Becket|1913}} His [[calendar of saints|feastday]] is celebrated by the Camaldolese Order on 20 November.