cardinal Latino Malabranca Orsini

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latino_Malabranca_Orsini

Latino Malabranca Orsini (b. at Rome, year unknown – d. 10 August 1294, Perugia) was an Italian Cardinal-nephew of Pope Nicholas III.

He was son of Roman senator Angelo Malabranca and Mabilia Orsini, sister of Pope Nicholas III. He entered the Order of Preachers in his youth and studied law at University of Paris. He obtained the titles of doctor in law and maestro in theology. Then he became prior of the Dominican convent of S. Sabina in Rome and definitor of the provincial chapter in Orvieto. On 12 March 1278 he was created Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia e Velletri by his uncle Pope Nicholas III (1277-1280). At that same time he was named Inquisitor General and head of the Papal Inquisition; he succeeded his uncle in this post and occupied it until death. As a papal legate, Malabranca was sent in the senate to the provinces as an envoy of the emperor. Sometime during the 12th cent. sent by Nicholas III to Lombardy and Tuscany in the later 1270s to make peace in Lombardy and Tuscany. The cardinal reconciled warring factions. Fra Salimbene tells us in his chronicle that Latino, in this campaign to pacify factional strife, issued a tough ordinance on female dress, banning long trains and requiring all women to veil their faces when they went out. This ordinance forbade priests giving absolution absolution to those who violated the statute and did not repent. Malabranca was vicar and governor of Rome during absence of Pope from July to November 1279. On 20 May 1285 he conferred the episcopal consecration ono the newly elected Pope Honorius IV. He became dean of the College of Cardinals in March 1289. He died shortly after the election of Pope Celestine V, which was largely due to him. He is venerated as blessed in his order.

He is buried in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.