Bernardino Honorati was born in
Iesi on July 17, 1724, the son of
Marquis Giuseppe Honorati, a
patrician from Iesi, and Marianna Cima, a
noblewoman from
Rimini. He was educated at
Rome. In February 1744, he delivered an oration before
Pope Benedict XIV and the
College of Cardinals upon the occasion of the Feast of the
Chair of Saint Peter; this oration was later published. During this period, he served as a
consistorial advocate, and then spent four years as secretary of the
Dean of the Roman Rota. He entered the
papal household on December 23, 1746, becoming a chamberlain of honor. In 1747, he served as a
papal legate to take the
red hat to the new
Cardinal de Soubise. He received a
doctorate of both laws from the
Sapienza University of Rome on February 10, 1749. On July 10, 1749, he was appointed
Referendary of the
Apostolic Signatura. He became relator of the
Sacred Congregation of Good Government on November 26, 1750. He served as vice-
legate of
Romagna from January 13, 1755, to October 1756. In September 1756, he was named relator of the Sacred
Consulta, taking possession of the office upon his return to Rome. He then served as governor of
Loreto from January 28, 1758, until December 19, 1759. He was
ordained as a
priest on December 31, 1759. On January 28, 1760, he was elected
titular archbishop of
Side; he was
consecrated as a
bishop by
Giovanni Antonio Bacchettoni,
Bishop of Recanati and Loreto. On April 24, 1760,
Pope Clement XIII made Honorati
Apostolic Nuncio to Florence. On November 20, 1766, he became nuncio in
Venice. He returned to Rome after he was appointed secretary of the Secretary of the
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars on September 1, 1775. In the
consistory of June 23, 1777,
Pope Pius VI named him a cardinal, and he received the red hat on June 26, 1777, and the
titular church of
Santi Marcellino e Pietro al Laterano on July 28, 1777. He was
translated to the
See of Senigallia on July 28, 1777, but was allowed to retain the title of
archbishop. He celebrated a diocesan
synod in May 1791. He participated in the
papal conclave of 1799–1800 that elected
Pope Pius VII. He died in
Senigallia on August 12, 1807. ==References==