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ear Brothers and Sisters,
On this day, September 17, we commemorate the quincentennial of the arrival in our country
of the first resident Bishop for the Diocese of Santo Domingo: Monsignor Alessandro Geraldini.
During this commemoration, we wish to give thanks to the Lord for the present Archdiocese of
Santo Domingo and for the episcopal ministry of this devoted priest.
The first bishop appointed was Francisco García de Padilla, a Franciscan who, nonetheless, never set foot
on Dominican soil.
Because the work of the illustrious son of Amelia, Italy, was so prolific, and since it would take consider-
able time to adequately summarize it, even if only in broad strokes, I shall focus on two aspects of the life of
the prelate in question: Geraldini the Ecclesiastical Diplomat and Geraldini the Priest.
However, let me briefly refer to him as an author and master, and as well as ambassador of the Church.
He wrote twenty works in classical Latin, twenty-four books of religious verses, a
Life of Saint Benedict
, and a
Thematics
referring to the education of the time.
Geraldini the Ecclesiastical Diplomat
Although officially transferred by Pope Leo X in 1516 from the diocese in Vulturaria and Monte Corvino in
Italy to the Bishopric of Santo Domingo, Geraldini would spend a considerable amount of time and accom-
plish many things in Europe before traveling to his new home in the Americas. Most of this activity related to
diplomatic missions.
This can be deduced from his role as papal ambassador or legate in seventeen countries in Europe at the
behest of Ferdinand the Catholic, Elizabeth of Castile, Margaret of Parma, Emperor Maximilian I of Germany,
Henry VIII of England, and Pope Leo X himself.
He alludes to this extensive work in a letter to Cardinal Lucio Puccio, written from Santo Domingo: “The
work of my long pilgrimage through Belgium and England, in addition to those past discomforts in navigating
the great ocean from the British Isles to Cádiz, have been the reason why I have long ago forgotten about myself.”
Geraldini’s last endeavor was his trip to Ethiopia, which was little short of traveling to the Indies, even if
unknown seas were not crossed along the way.
CHAPTER 7
Homily Given to Commemorate the
Quincentennial of the Arrival of the
First Resident Bishop of Santo Domingo,
Monsignor Alessandro Geraldini
Basilica Cathedral of Santa María la Menor
(First Cathedral of the Americas), September 17, 2019
By Monsignor Francisco Ozoria
Archbishop of Santo Domingo
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