Page 298 - Stati inu obstati, revija za vprašanja protestantizma, letnik IX (2013), številka 17-18, ISSN 1408-8363
P. 298
SYNOPSES, ZUSAMMENFASSUNGEN
UDC 929Vergerij P. P. ml.(1498-1564)
284.1:94(450)“15“
Silvano Cavazza
“An unusual personality.” A profile of Peter Pavel Vergerij
(Pier Paolo Vergerio)
The author considers an honest opinion of Peter Pavel Vergerij (1498 – 1564)
was left by Heinrich Bullinger in a letter of 30 March 1562: “This was a truly
unusual personality. He was a bishop and papal nuncio; in the meantime he
converted to our faith, and then passed to the Lutheran side to suit the Duke of
Württemberg. Now he would like to continue in this way.” Biographical events
had a strong influence on Vergerij’s reputation. There have been considerably
fewer discussions about his works, although he left an impressive number of
Italian and Latin texts. They represent a very diverse production, which constant-
ly drew an accusation of superficiality. Vergerij was born as a Venetian citizen in
Koper, his professional pathway was decisively influenced by the position his
elder brother Avrelij (Aurelio) achieved in Rome as a member of the secretarial
office of Pope Clement VII. He became a member of the papal Curia and was
soon entrusted with diplomatic business, first in Venice, and later in Vienna and
Prague at the court of Ferdinand I (1533 – 1535). In Wittenberg he had a discus-
sion with Luther. In those years he did not favour Protestantism and was con-
cerned about the spread of the Reformation in Istria. In September 1536 he
became Bishop of Koper. He attempted to reform religious life and the habits of
the clergy. Like Erasmus, he opposed pious practices which had only an external
character. But he still did not associate with Reformation ideas. Nevertheless in
1544 he was accused of heresy and recalled to Rome, but did not respond. At the
Council of Trent he was unwelcome due to being investigated by the Inquisition.
This probably occasioned the decisive switch in his attitude to the Roman Cath-
olic Church. He left Italy when already 50 years old. In Switzerland he did not
296
UDC 929Vergerij P. P. ml.(1498-1564)
284.1:94(450)“15“
Silvano Cavazza
“An unusual personality.” A profile of Peter Pavel Vergerij
(Pier Paolo Vergerio)
The author considers an honest opinion of Peter Pavel Vergerij (1498 – 1564)
was left by Heinrich Bullinger in a letter of 30 March 1562: “This was a truly
unusual personality. He was a bishop and papal nuncio; in the meantime he
converted to our faith, and then passed to the Lutheran side to suit the Duke of
Württemberg. Now he would like to continue in this way.” Biographical events
had a strong influence on Vergerij’s reputation. There have been considerably
fewer discussions about his works, although he left an impressive number of
Italian and Latin texts. They represent a very diverse production, which constant-
ly drew an accusation of superficiality. Vergerij was born as a Venetian citizen in
Koper, his professional pathway was decisively influenced by the position his
elder brother Avrelij (Aurelio) achieved in Rome as a member of the secretarial
office of Pope Clement VII. He became a member of the papal Curia and was
soon entrusted with diplomatic business, first in Venice, and later in Vienna and
Prague at the court of Ferdinand I (1533 – 1535). In Wittenberg he had a discus-
sion with Luther. In those years he did not favour Protestantism and was con-
cerned about the spread of the Reformation in Istria. In September 1536 he
became Bishop of Koper. He attempted to reform religious life and the habits of
the clergy. Like Erasmus, he opposed pious practices which had only an external
character. But he still did not associate with Reformation ideas. Nevertheless in
1544 he was accused of heresy and recalled to Rome, but did not respond. At the
Council of Trent he was unwelcome due to being investigated by the Inquisition.
This probably occasioned the decisive switch in his attitude to the Roman Cath-
olic Church. He left Italy when already 50 years old. In Switzerland he did not
296
