Carlo Bascapè

Carlo Maria Bascapè (; born Giovanni Francesco Bascapè, 25 October 1550 – 6 October 1615) was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate and scholar who served as Bishop of Novara from 1593 until his death. He was a close friend of Saint Charles Borromeo and assumed the first half of his religious name in honor of him.

Bascapè became titled as Venerable on 19 December 2005 - on the road to possible sainthood - after Pope Benedict XVI confirmed his heroic virtue.

Life Carlo Bascapè was born in Melegnano, Milan, on 25 October 1550 to the nobles Angelo Bascapè and Isabella Giussani.

In 1580, Bascapè was sent by Borromeo to Madrid to meet Philip II on his behalf due to conflicts that had arisen with the Spanish governor of Milan, Antonio de Guzmán Zúñiga y Sotomayor. The mission was a success as it managed to re-establish good relations between Charles Borromeo and the Spanish government. In Madrid, Bascapè befriended the theologian Louis of Granada, who would exert a profound influence on his spiritual writings.

After the death of Borromeo, Bascapè wrote De vita et rebus gestis Caroli cardinalis (Ingolstadt, 1592), one of the most substantial biographies of the saint. The book was a huge success and was later translated into several languages.

Bascapè served as the Superior General for the Barnabites from 8 May 1586 until 8 February 1593. At some stage between 1589 and 1590, he met with Pope Gregory XIV. He promoted the sainthood cause for Charles Borromeo and was present on 1 November 1610 when Pope Paul V canonized him as a saint. He was also present on 12 May 1602 previously when the same pope had previously beatified him.

On 8 February 1593 Pope Clement VIII appointed him Bishop of Novara. He received his episcopal consecration that same month on 24 February from Ludovico de Torres with Francesco Gonzaga and Owen Lewis serving as the co-consecrators; he was installed in his new diocese the following 30 May and worked his hardest to implement the reforms of the Council of Trent.

He encouraged the foundation of new confraternities in order to promote devotion within the people and the foundation of companies of the dead to provide masses for the souls of deceased members.

Bascapè served as bishop in his episcopal see until his death from a long illness on 6 October 1615.

Works

The text has been reprinted in Graevius, Thesaurus Antiquitatum et Historiarum Italiae vol. 2, pt. 2 col. 1337-1362.