Monsignor Adinolfi was the vice-secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Religious when Father de Mazenod arrived in Rome at the end of November 1825. He was almost immediately replaced by Monsignor Marchetti, then appointed secretary of this Congregation.
The Founder was received by the Pope on December 20. The Pope gave him Monsignor Adinolfi’s address and told him: “Go to the archpriest on my behalf and tell him to submit his report to me on Friday [23] which is the day when I receive him in audience.” Father de Mazenod left the manuscript copy of the Rules with Monsignor Adinolfi on December 21 and returned to see him on December 24. He had already submitted his report to the Pope and had suggested not approving the rule, but simply to praise it as was the custom of the Congregation of Bishops and Religious.
Subsequently, Father de Mazenod made it a point to meet the new secretary Monsignor Marchetti who was in favour of an approbation. But he paid Monsignor Adinolfi three more visits and wrote him two letters. On the 20th of February, he once again met Monsignor Adinolfi on the street and wrote in his diary: “He again remarked on his great surprise at the success of our undertaking. “We never saw anything like it,” he said, “the Pope himself wanted the Brief of Approval expedited; he himself dictated some things he wanted them to insert in it, etc.” Actually, the Arch priest under-secretary of the Congregation, could not get over it. I concluded from his look and surprise that, if things had depended on him, we would not have reason to be so content.” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 17, p. 106)
On the occasion of his trip to Rome in 1833 for the Icosie affair, Bishop de Mazenod met Monsignor Adinolfi several times and discussed with him his project of founding a seminary for the five suburbican dioceses of Rome. On September 13, he wrote to Father Tempier: “You know how expert he is in the matter.” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 8, p. 101)
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
