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 CONNOR

258

CONRAD

Connor, Diocese or. See Down and Connor.

Conon, Pope, date of birth unknown; d., after a long illness, 21 September, 687. The son, seemingly, of an officer m the Thracesian troop, he was educated in Sicily and ordained priest at Rome. His age, ven- erable appearance, and simple character caused the clergy and soldiery of Rome, who were in disagree- ment, to put aside their respective candidates and to elect him as pope. He was consecrated (21 October, 686) after notice of liis election had been sent to the Exarch of Ravenna, or after it had been confirmed by him (see Benedict I-X, Popes, under Benedict II). He received the Irish missionaries, St. Kilian and his companions, consecrated Kilian bishop, and commis- sioned him and the others to preach the Faith in Franconia. (Vita S. Kiliani, in Canisius, Lect. Antiquae, III, 17.5-180.) He was in favour with the .savage Emperor Justinian II who informed him that he had recovered the Acts of the Sixth General Council, by which, he wrote, it was his intention to abide. Justinian also remitted certain taxes and dues owing to the imperial exchequer from several papal patrimonies.

Acta S5.,8 July, II. 612 sq.; Duchesne ed.. Liber Ponti^i- caliSt I, 368 sq.; Mann, Ldves of the Popes, I, pt. II, 72 sq.

Horace K. Mann. Cononites. See Tritheists. Conquistadores. See Spanish Explor.\tion and

COLO.NIZATIOX.

Conradin of Bornada (orop Brescia), Dominican preacher, b. in the latter part of the foiuteenth cen- tury; d. at Bologna. 1 November, 1429. His parents, noble and wealthy Brescians, were devoted adherents of the Church in a time of many Uls, including the great Western Schism. They gave their .son a careful education and sent him, at the age of sixteen, to study civil and canon law at the University of Padua. There for five years amid the perils of the unbridled licence and moral disorders of the times, the youth was conspicuous for both talent and virtue, winning the esteem of his masters and compelling the respect of his fellow-students. He entered the Dominican Order at Padua in 1419, and was speedily found to be a model of religious observance. After his ordination his zeal found fruitful expression in his eloquent preaching. He was made prior of Brescia and shortly afterwards, by appointment of the master general, prior of the convent of St. Dominic at Bologna, where he was to restore strict observance. During a visita- tion of the black plague he displayed heroic zeal and intrepidity in ministering to the stricken people. Amid political upheavals, when Bologna under the influence of the Bentivogli had revolted against papal authority, Conradin took a firm stand against the conduct of the misguided populace. For publishing the papal interdict, which they had incurred but which they had disregarded, he was twice seized anil impris- oned, suffering many indignities and cruelties. His courageous bearing and constant mediation finally prevailed, however, and peace was restored. Pope Martin V, in recognition of his services, sought to create him a cardinal, but the humble servant of God resolutely declined the honour. The plague breaking out anew, Conradin fell a victim to his charity and died in the midst of his heroic ministrations. His early biographers generally refer to him as Blessed.

TouRON. Ilomrnes illustres de Vordre de Saint-Dominique (Paris, 1746), UI, 153.

John R. Volz.

Conrad of Ascoli, Blessed, Friar Minor and mis- sionary, b. at Ascoli in the March of Ancona in 1234; d. there, 1!» .^jiril, 1289. He belonged to the noble family of Milliano and from his earliest years made penance the predominating element of his life. He entered the Order of Friars Minor at Ascoli together

with his townsman and lifelong friendj Girolamo d'Ascoh, afterwards minister general, and later pope under the title of Nicholas IV. Ha\'ing completed his studies at Perugia, Conrad was sent to Rome to teach theology. Later he obtained permission to go to Africa, where he preached with much fruit through the different provinces of Libya and worked numerous miracles. He was recalled from Africa to go on a mission to the King of France, then at war with Spain, and subsequently he became lector of theology at Paris. When not engaged in teaching, Conrad preached to the people or ministered to the sick in hospitals. In 1288 he was summoned to Rome by the new pope, Nicholas IV, who wished to make him cardinal, but Conrad (Ued on the way after reaching his native city, being then fifty-five years of age. Nicholas IV was deeply grieved at the loss of his saintly friend, on wiiose counsel and zeal he had counted so much, and declared that Conrad's death was a great loss to the Church. The people of Ascoli erected a spleiulid tomb over the remains of Blessed Conrad. In 1371, wiien his body was removed to the new church of the Franciscans, it was found incorrupt and gave forth a sweet odour. Pius VI approved the cultus of Blessed ('onrad. His feast is kept in the Order of Friars Minor on 19 April.

Waudi.vg, Annates Minorum. V, 212-215; Acta SS., April, II, 38-40; Lemmens, ed., Catalogus Sanctorum Fratrum Min- orum (Rome. 1903), 18; Leo, Lives of the Saints and Blessed of the Three Orders of St. FrancU (Taunton, 1886), II. 83-88.

Stephen M. Donovan.

Conrad o£ Hochstadt (Hostaden), Archbishop of Cologne and Imperial Elector (1238-1261), and son of Count Lothar of Hochstadt and Mathilde of Vian- den, date of birth unknown; d. 28 September, 1261. Nothing is known of his early youth. In 1216 he became beneficiary of the parish of Wevelinghoven near Diisseldorf; in 1226 he was canon and, some years later, provost of the cathedral of Cologne. After the death of Henry of Molenark (26 March, 1238) the cathedral chapter elected Conrad Arch- bishop of Cologne. He received the arcliiepiscopal insignia from the Emperor Frederic II at Brescia in August of the same year. The following year, 28 October, he was ordained priest and consecrated archbishop by Ludolf of Munster.

During the first few months of his reign the new archbishop was on the side of the emperor in his con- flict with Pope Gregorj' IX, but for unknown reasons went over to the papal party shortly after the em- peror's excommunication (12 March, 1239). The whole temporal administration of Conrad was a series of struggles with some neighbouring princes and with the citizens of Cologne, who refused to acknowledge the temporal sovereignty of the archbishop over their city. Conrad was generally victorious, but his often treacherous manner of warfare has left many dark spots on his reputation. When Pope Innocent I\' deposed Frederic II (17 July, 124.5), it w.is chiefly dm- to the influence of Conrad that the pope's candidate, Henrj' Raspe, Landgrave of Thuringia, was elected king, and when Henry died after a short reign of seven months (17 February, 1247), it was again the influ- ence of Conrad that placetl the crown on the head of the youthful William of Holland.

In recognition of these services, Pope Innocent made him Apostolic legate in (iermany (14 March, 1249), an office which had become vacant by the death of .\rclil)ishop Sifrit of Mainz, five days previ- ously. The dergj' and laity of Mainz desired to have the "powerfid Conrad of Cologne as their new arch- bishop. Conrad seems to have secretly encouraged them, but for diplomatic reasons referred them to the l)ope, who kin<lly but firmly refused to place the two most important "ecclesiastical provinces of Germany under the power of one man. Shortly after this decis- ion the hitherto friendly relations between Pope In-