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New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 201, 9 February 1877, Page 8

The Holy Father has nominated as his Secretary of State hia Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni, pronuncio apostolic at the Court of Alfonso XII., King of Spain. The new Secretary was born in Paliano, diocese of Palestrina, on the 23rd July, 1816, and is now sixty years old. He was 'for many years secretary of the special Congregation of the Propaganda for affairs appertaining to the Oriental rite, and prefect of studies in the Pontifical Lyceum of the Roman Seminary. ' He also belonged to the Congregations of Sacra Romftna, General Inquisition, of the Council for the Revision^ of Provincial Councils and Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs. In 1869 he was elected a member of the Preparatory Commission for the Council of the Vatican on the Oriental churches and missions* and ecclesiastical discipline. Learned in every branch of canonical science, and skilled in diplomatic customs, he was selected by the Holy Father to fill the post of Nuncio to the Court of Madrid, at a time when it was of the utmost importance that the Holy See should be represented by a man of judgment, ability, and tact. His success was such that, to show his satisfaction therefor, and at the' same time to give to Catholic Spain a proof of his paternal love, the Holy Father recompensed his nuncio for his important services by creating him cardinal. He was reserved in petto at the consistory of March, 1875, and the 17th September of the same year was announced. He was inscribed in the Order of Priests, and continued in charge of the nunciature at Madrid.