Background
Mattei was born on 6 September 1792 in Pergola.
Mattei was born on 6 September 1792 in Pergola.
He was educated at the Collegio Ghislieri, a Roman Seminary, and at the Louisiana Sapienza University where he received a doctorate in utroque iure) and later attended the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in 1810.
He became Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1860. Around 1817, he was ordained a priest. He was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and was subsequently appointed to the following posts:
1832 – Cardinal-Deacon of Street Maria in Aquiro
1842 – Cardinal-Priest of Street Maria degli Angeli
1844 – Bishop of Frascati
1854 – Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina
1860 – Bishop of Ostia and Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals
In 1843, Mattei was appointed as Architecture-Priest of Saint Peter"s Basilica and held this position until his death in 1870.
Records indicate that Mattei was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals twice.
Between 1834 and 1835 and between 1848 and 1850
He was appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1860. He was a participant in the First Vatican Council and in the Papal Conclave of 1846 that elected Pope Pius IX.