Benedetto Ubaldi (1588–1644), or Benedetto Monaldi, was a Roman Catholic cardinal.
Biography
Benedetto was the son of Mario Monaldi and Zenobia Ubaldi. His brother was Orazio Monaldi, Bishop of Gubbio (1639–1643) and then of Perugia. His tombstone in Perugia calls him Benedictus Monaldi.[1] He was also called Benedetto Monaldi Baldeschi.[2] He was educated at Rome under the tutelage of his maternal uncle, Francesco Ubaldi Baldeschi, Auditor of the Roman Rota.[3] He so impressed his uncle that Baldeschi made him his heir, from which he derived the name Benedetto Monaldi Baldeschi.[4]
He studied literature in Perugia at the seminary and the College of S. Bernardo, under Alfonso Alessandri and Marco Antonio Bonciario. He then studied law at the University of Perugia. When his uncle was appointed to the chair in law at the University of Avignon in 1608, Benedetto accompanied him and spent two years studying in Avignon. He obtained his degree in Perugia in 1611. He then joined his uncle in Rome, where Baldeschi had been appointed Auditor of the Roman Rota.[5] Benedetto spent more than six years as a lawyer and student of law in Rome. His reputation grew to such an extent that the College of Advocates of Perugia elected him a member of their body on 27 March 1626. In 1626 Pope Urban VIII appointed him to a vacant post as Auditor of the Rota. He took part in the discussions of the Rota for the first time on 27 November 1626.[6] In 1637, fifty-one of his decisions as Auditor were published.[7]
In 1628, Monaldi was sent by Pope Urban to assist his nephew, Cardinal Antonio Barberini, during his Legation in Lombardy, serving as the Cardinal's Auditor and Datary. He served again when the Cardinal was sent as Legate to Urbino in 1630. These missions brought him as close as possible to the centers of power and favor.[8]
Cardinal
On 28 November 1633, Pope Urban VIII named Benedetto Monaldi Baldeschi a cardinal, and on 9 January 1634 he was assigned the Deaconry of Ss. Vito e Modesto. He was usually referred to as Cardinal Ubaldi.[9]
In February 1634 he was named Cardinal Legate in Bologna. Following his appointment as bishop, he served as Legate until 1637.[10]
On 2 April 1634 Monaldi Baldeschi was appointed Bishop of Perugia by Urban VIII.[11] On 23 Apr 1634, he was consecrated bishop by Antonio Marcello Barberini, Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Onofrio, with Faustus Poli, Titular Archbishop of Amasea, and Celso Zani, Bishop Emeritus of Città della Pieve, serving as co-consecrators.[12] To govern his diocese of Perugia while he was absent as Legate in Bologna, he appointed his brother Orazio Monaldi as his Vicar General. He did not make his own solemn entry into the diocese until 18 July 1637, and he departed for Rome in November, not returning until Lent of 1638. On his return, he summoned and presided over a diocesan synod.[13]
Cardinal Monaldi died in Perugia on 20 January 1644, at the age of fifty-six, only thirty-five days after his resignation of the diocese of Perugia. He was buried in the family chapel in the Church of S. Maria Nuova dei Servi.[16]
^Mariotti, pp. 148; 153 note 2. He was referred to as Benedetto Baldeschi.
^Decisiones Fabricii Ansidei J. U. D. Perusini Auditoris Eminentiss. & Reverendiss. Cardinalis Ubaldi ex nonnullis Causarum per ipsum Bononiae decisarum , ad eundem Eminentiss. & Reverendiss. D. Benedictum Ubaldi S. R. E. Cardinalem Ampliss. Episc. Perus. č Bononiae de Lat. Legatum, cum Summariis ac Rerum Indice copiosissimo (Bononiae: Typis Clementis Ferronii MDCXXXVII). Mariotti, p. 154 note 8.
