Blessed Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim

Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim (15 April 1777 - 3 December 1860) was an Austrian-Italian Roman Catholic prelate and the Bishop of Trent from 1834 until his death. He was born to Austrians but was considered to be an Austro-Italian due to having been born in the Italian town of Bolzano. Pope John Paul II beatified him in Trento on 30 April 1995 before 100,000 people. The cause started in 1886 under Pope Leo XIII and Pope Paul VI titled him as Venerable in 1968. Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim was born on 15 April 1777 in Bolzano as the fifth of seven sons of Joseph Joachim von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim and Caterina de Giovanelli. His ancestors emigrated from the Grisons close to the Italian border in 1529; the Emperor Ferdinand III had given the Tschiderer house a patent making them nobles in 1620. On his maternal side he was related to Joseph von Giovanelli zu Gerstburg und Hörtenberg (12 September 1784 - 14 September 1845) and to Ignaz von Giovanelli zu Gerstburg und Hörtenberg (5 April 1815 - 16 August 1889). Johann was baptized moments after his birth at the Assumption church. He received his education from the Order of Friars Minor in 1786 after completing his initial education and resided with his maternal grandfather. He suffered from slight stuttering problems during his life. He relocated to Innsbruck with his parents in Austria in 1792 and underwent theological and philosophical studies at the college there. He was elevated to the diaconate on 24 June 1800 and later received his ordination to the priesthood on 27 July 1800 both from Emmanuel Count von Thun, Bishop of Trent. Tschiderer celebrated his first Mass at San Antonio di Padua church at Collalbo. From 1800 to 1802 he spent time as an assistant priest and then travelled to Rome for further studies and a pilgrimage where he was named as an apostolic notarius; he met the new Pope Pius VII several times during the course of 1802.