Alfonso Castaldo

Alfonso Castaldo (November 6, 1890&mdash;March 3, 1966) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Naples from 1958 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1958.

Biography
Alfonso Castaldo was born in Casoria to Aniello Castaldo (d. circa 1897) and Marianna Crispino. The third of five children, he was baptized in his home four days later, on November 10, by his paternal uncle, who was a canon by the same name, with the permission of the Naples curia. Castaldo, influenced by Monsignor Francesco Morano and Father Luigi Maglione, decided to pursue a career in the Church, and attended the seminaries in Cerreto Sannita, Pozzuoli, and Naples. He also studied philosophy and letters at the University of Naples.

Ordained a priest by Bishop Angelo Jannacchino on June 8, 1913, Castaldo served as a chaplain to the Italian Army (1915-1918), and a provost in Casoria (1918-1934). On March 27, 1934, he was appointed Bishop of Pozzuoli by Pope Pius XI. Castaldo received his episcopal consecration on the following June 30 from Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi, CPPS, with Bishops Salvatore del Bene and Salvatore Meo serving as co-consecrators.

Pope Pius XII named him Coadjutor Archbishop of Naples, Titular Archbishop of Thessalonica, and Apostolic Administrator of Pozzuoli on January 14, 1950. Castaldo became Archbishop of Naples on February 7, 1958, and was created Cardinal Priest of S. Callisto by Pope John XXIII in the consistory of December 15 of that same year. On the following August 5, he was named Bishop ad personam of Pozzuoli.

The Cardinal attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, and was one of the electors who participated in the 1963 papal conclave, which selected Pope Paul VI. He was highly revered by the people of Naples, and was very involved in welfare, charitable, and educational activities.

Castaldo died in his archiepiscopal residence in Naples at age 75. He is buried in the Succorro Chapel in the Cathedral of Naples.