Thursday, August 20, 2009

Pope declares Rospigliosi marriage to be invalid

August 19, 1905

U.S. newspapers are reporting the announcement from Cardinal Gibbons regarding the marriage of Marie Jennings Reid Pankhurst and Prince Rospigliosi. The Cardinal states that the Pope has "definitely refused recognition" of the marriage. The Princess, whose marriage to Frederick H. Pankhurst of Bangor, Maine, was dissolved by divorce, married Prince Rospigliosi in 1901. Three years ago, the princess "was refused the services of a Catholic nurse in Rome on the grounds that her marriage to Prince Rospigliosi was nonexistent."

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