Carlo Maria Bascapè
Carlo Maria Bascapè (25 October 1550 – 6 October 1615) - born Giovanni Francesco Bascapè - was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Novara from 1593 until his death. He was a close friend of Saint Charles Borromeo and assumed the first half of his religious name in honor of him. Bascapè became titled as Venerable on 19 December 2005 - on the road to possible sainthood - after Pope Benedict XVI confirmed his heroic virtue. Life Carlo Bascapè was born in Milan on 25 October 1550 to the nobles Angelo Bascapè and Isabella Giussani. He moved to Pavia in 1568 for his studies at the college there in law and he graduated with a doctorate in both civil and canon law in 1574. Bascapè received the minor orders in spring 1575. He was ordained to the priesthood on 29 July 1576 and became a professed member of the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul after joining them in March 1578. His solemn profession into the order on 8 May 1579 saw him assume the religious name of "Carlo Maria". He had assumed the first half of his name in honor of Saint Charles Borromeo whom he