Editing Caesar Baronius (section)

== Life ==
Cesare Baronio was born in the [[Duchy of Sora]] (present day [[Sora, Lazio|Sora]] in Italy) on 31 October 1538, the only child of Camillo Baronio and his wife Porzia Febonia. His family was of Neapolitan origin.<ref name=Peterson>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02304b.htm Peterson, John Bertram. "Venerable Cesare Baronius." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907 {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Baronio was educated at [[Veroli]] and [[Naples]], where he commenced his law studies in October 1556. Because of the fear of an imminent French invasion, he left Naples on 29 October 1557, and traveled to Rome, where he continued his legal studies and obtained a [[doctorate]] ''[[in utroque iure]]'' in 1561.{{sfn|Pincherle|1964}} He took up residence in a house on the Piazza Duca, now the [[Piazza Farnese]], not far from the church of [[San Girolamo della Carità]], where [[Philip Neri]] lived. Baronio was soon drawn to the circle of Philip Neri, who opened a meeting place for churchmen and laity who were interested in intellectual discussions on religion and philosophy. The Bible, church reform, ethics, and liturgy were some of the main themes of their evening discussions. Among those who frequented the evening meetings at Neri's residence were some of the most influential church leaders of the [[Counter-Reformation]] - [[Charles Borromeo]], [[Federico Borromeo]], [[Jacopo Sadoleto]], and [[Gian Matteo Giberti]], to name a few.

Contacts with such illustrious [[Renaissance humanism|humanist]]-reformers and the charismatic Neri brought about a dramatic change in the young Baronio. As a result he switched his main interest from law to [[theology]]. In 1557 Baronio became a member of the [[Congregation of the Oratory]] founded by Philip Neri,<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caesar-Baronius Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Caesar Baronius". ''Encyclopedia Britannica'']</ref> and was [[ordained]] to the subdiaconate on 21 December 1560 and to the [[diaconate]] on 20 May 1561. Ordination to the [[priesthood]] followed in 1564.<ref name=Peterson/> 

Neri directed Baronius to focus his attention on the study and explanation of Church History. Baronius spent the next few years balancing his studies, lectures, and continued involvement in apostolic work. In 1588, he began to publish the ''Annales''.<ref name=raritan>[https://raritanoratory.org/documents/2019/6/Caesar%20Baronius.pdf "Venerable Caesar Cardinal Baronius, C.O.", Raritan Oratory]</ref> He succeeded Philip Neri as superior of the Roman Oratory in 1593.{{sfn|Taunton|1911}}

[[Pope Clement VIII]], whose confessor he was from 1594, made him a cardinale on 5 June 1596 and also appointed him to head the [[Vatican Library]].{{sfn|Taunton|1911}} Baronio was given the red hat on 8 June and  on 21 June was assigned the title of [[Santi Nereo e Achilleo |Cardinal Priest of Santi Nereo e Achilleo]]. Baronio restored this titular church and in 1597 a procession was held to transfer there a number of relics.<ref>[[Cyriac Pullapilly|Cyriac K. Pullapilly]], ''Caesar Baronius: Counter-Reformation Historian'' (1975), University of Notre Dame Press, p. 77.</ref> Baronius also renovated the Church of [[San Gregorio Magno al Celio]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Touber |first1=Jetze |title=Law, Medicine and Engineering in the Cult of the Saints in Counter-Reformation Rome: The Hagiographical Works of Antonio Gallonio, 1556-1605: The Hagiographical Works of Antonio Gallonio, 1556-1605 |date=30 January 2014 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-26514-1 |page=96 |language=en}}</ref>

At subsequent [[Papal conclave|conclaves]], Baronio was twice considered to be [[papabile]] – the conclaves which in the event elected [[Pope Leo XI]] and [[Pope Paul V]]. On each occasion, Baronio was opposed by [[Spain]] on account of his work "On the [[Monarchy of Sicily]]", in which he supported the [[papal]] claims against those of the Spanish government.{{sfn|Taunton|1911}} In 1602 he commissioned the Oratorio di Santa Silvia in [[San Gregorio Magno al Celio]].<ref>[https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/oratorio-di-santa-silvia-al-celio "Oratorio di Santa Silvia al Celio", Turismo Roma]</ref>

Baronio's last days were spent in the Oratory at [[Santa Maria in Vallicella]]. He found solace in the humble surroundings of the Oratory and in the company of his fellow religious. There he died on 30 June 1607, and was buried in that same church. He was named  "Venerable", an honor to which [[Pope Benedict XIV]] elevated him in 1745.<ref name=raritan/>