The person you are remembering is almost certainly Giulio Morosini, born Samuel ben David Nahmias (1612–1687), a Jewish convert to Catholicism. He was born into a Jewish family in Venice. He converted to Christianity and was baptized in 1649, taking the name Giulio Morosini. He went to Rome and became a Hebrew scriptor (scholar/copyist) at the Vatican Library. Pope Clement IX appointed him to that position. He also taught Hebrew at the Collegium de Propaganda Fide. His major work was Via della fede mostrata agli Ebrei (1683), arguing for Christianity to Jews. So if the Solange Hertz passage you remember says something like “a Jewish convert appointed by Clement IX to the Vatican Library,” the name you are looking for is Giulio Morosini (Samuel ben David Nahmias). There is another related convert, Giovanni Battista Giona (Judah Jonah ben Isaac), who was also a Vatican librarian, but Morosini is the one specifically associated with Pope Clement IX's appointment.
The person you are remembering is almost certainly Giulio Morosini, born Samuel ben David Nahmias (1612–1687), a Jewish convert to Catholicism.
- He was born into a Jewish family in Venice.
- He converted to Christianity and was baptized in 1649, taking the name Giulio Morosini.
- He went to Rome and became a Hebrew scriptor (scholar/copyist) at the Vatican Library.
- Pope Clement IX appointed him to that position.
- He also taught Hebrew at the Collegium de Propaganda Fide.
- His major work was Via della fede mostrata agli Ebrei (1683), arguing for Christianity to Jews.
So if the Solange Hertz passage you remember says something like “a Jewish convert appointed by Clement IX to the Vatican Library,” the name you are looking for is Giulio Morosini (Samuel ben David Nahmias).
There is another related convert, Giovanni Battista Giona (Judah Jonah ben Isaac), who was also a Vatican librarian, but Morosini is the one specifically associated with Pope Clement IX's appointment.
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