Fondo Pia Casa dei Catecumeni e Neofiti
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
Historical Archive of the Vicariate of Rome
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Via dell’Amba Aradan 3, 00184 Rome
Contact information: phone number
0039 066986322
0039 066986323
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archiviostoricodiocesano@diocesidiroma.it
Reference number
ASVR, Fondo Pia Casa dei Catecumeni e Neofiti
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Pious House of Catechumens and Neophytes Fonds
Title (official language of the state)
Fondo Pia Casa dei Catecumeni e Neofiti
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Pia Casa dei Catecumeni e Neofiti
Date(s)
1419/1934
Language(s)
ita
lat
Extent
313 volumes and 132 folders
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Fondo Pia Casa dei Catecumeni e Neofiti belongs to the extensive documentary collection preserved in the Historical Archives of the Vicariate of Rome. This fonds contains important documentation regarding converts to Christianity from other religions, mainly Muslims and Jews. For instance, the Registra series preserves the “Libri Baptizatorum”, in which the names, surnames, and origins of neophytes for the Early Modern period can be traced. Among these converts, there are a few Jews of Sephardic origin. The counting of the 17th-century registers carried out by De Collenberg (1986-1988) shows that a rather high number of people who requested baptism did not belong to the Roman community. The list includes a Jew of Spanish origin, Isache, son of Rodrigues de Ossuna, baptised in 1673 (De Collenberg, 1986-1988, n. 436), and numerous Jews from Constantinople and the Maghreb. Numerous documents regarding Jewish converts were cited by Marina Caffiero (2004), as well as by other more recent studies.
Archival history
The Fondo Pia Casa dei Catecumeni e Neofiti is divided into two documentary groups, according to document type: volumes and folders. There are a total of 313 volumes, dating from the 15th to the 20th century. This documentary group is divided into seven series: Instrumenta (71); Copies of “instrumenta” (18); Iuridica (5); Cameralia (19); Registra (24); Miscellaneous (22); and Finance and administration (154). There are 132 folders, dating from 1696 to 1940. This documentary group preserves various documents, such as handouts and wills, among others. Within the folders, the Registra series is of particular interest for the identification of baptised Jews and their origin.
Administrative / Biographical history
The House of Catechumens in Rome was founded by Pope Paul III (papacy: 1534-1549) in 1543. Its aim was to welcome converts to Christianity (Muslims, Jews, slaves) and prepare them for baptism. In addition, the House also provided grants and work for neophytes (newly baptised). Initially located in the church of S. Giovanni in Mercatello, it was composed of a male and female hospice, a female monastery, and a college of neophytes. In 1634, Pope Urban VIII (papacy: 1623-1644) merged these various institutions and placed them under the control of the headquarters in the church of S. Maria ai Monti. At present, the House of Catechumens is still located near the church.
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Author of the description
Andrea Cicerchia, 2021
Bibliography
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivio Storico del Vicariato di Roma | Collections (official language of the state) |