ALEXANDER VII: (1599-1667) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1655-67. Born Fabio ...

ALEXANDER VII: (1599-1667) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1655-67. Born Fabio Chigi, he was a member of the very rich Sienese banker family, a patron of the arts, he commissioned the colonnades and the piazza in front of St. Peter´s basilica to his preferred artist, Gianlorenzo Bernini. Alexander VII canonized St. Francis of sales in 1662, who he admired and knew during his youth. Rare L.S., `Divo[tissi]mo Ser[vitor]e Vero F[abi]o vesc[ov]o di Nardò´, one page, 4to, Malta, 15th December 1635, in Italian. Alexander VII was appointed in 1634, at the early age of 35, apostolic Delegate and Inquisitor of the Holy See in Malta. The future Pope sends a Christmas greetings letter, `Adempio questo uffizio con l´annunzio di prosperita nel Santi Giorni del Natale…´ Paper with watermark. Irregularly trimmed bottom and right edges with small overall minor age wear. G The present letter is one of the very first that Alexander VII signed as Bishop of Nardò, a small city near Naples. Fabio Chigi was appointed Bishop of Nardò in 1635 and kept the title till 1652, short before being elected Pope, although never resided nor visited the location during these seventeen years. A very unusual case.