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 Fifth Centenary of the Death of Cardinal Bessarion Scott 528-530 (1972) On November 28, 1972, Vatican City issued the stamps shown above to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Bessarion, a Renaissance humanist, theologian, and cardinal. The three stamps show the reading of the Bull of Union (40 L), a fresco of Cardinal Bessarion by Cosimo Rosselli (90 L) and the Cardinal's Coat of Arms (130 L). Bessarion was born under the baptismal name of Basil on January 2, 1403, although his year of birth is in question. He was born in the Black Sea port of Trebizond in what is modern-day Turkey. He took the name 'Bessarion' upon entering the monastery in 1423. He studied philosophy under Gemistus Pletho, and his works led to a reconciliation of two philosophic views, Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism, gaining him fame. He worked to heal the schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, which had existed for close to 400 years. He is known for his reading of the 'Bull of Union' at the Council of Florence in 1439, which brought about a short-lived reunion of the Churches. Bessarion was created a Cardinal by Pope Eugenius IV in 1439, and was later named legate of Bologna by Pope Nicholas V. Cardinal Bessarion was twice in strong consideration for the papacy (in 1455, following the death of Nicholas V, and in 1458 following the death of Callistus III). In his later life, Cardinal Bessarion was sent to a number of foreign embassies to encourage East-West harmony. For these efforts, he was given the ceremonial title of 'Latin Patriarch of Constantinople' by Pope Pius II in 1463. He also presided over the Papal conclaves of 1464 and 1471. He died on November 18, 1472 at Ravenna. REFERENCES: |
