Beleug-i-Moncada, Luis Antonio de

Born in Motril in 1662 in a noble family. Early left without parents. In 1676 he completed his studies at a college in Granada (philosophy and theology), continued his education in Seville , where in 1686 he defended a doctorate in theology, and was ordained a priest in the same year ^[4] .

He joined the oratorian society founded by St. Philip Neri . After the ordination, he held various church posts in Cordoba and Zamora . He founded and for a long time headed the Cordoban branch of the Oratorians ^[4] .

On February 9, 1705 he was appointed bishop of Cartagena (diocesan center in the city of Murcia ), the episcopal consecration took place on April 19, 1705, it was headed by Cardinal Pedro de Salazar Gutierrez de Toledo ^[5] .

In the war of Spanish succession that was going on at that time, Bishop Belyuga firmly supported Philip V and the Bourbons . When in 1706, troops loyal to Archduke Karl ravaged the churches in Alicante , the bishop formed a militia in Murcia and called on the people “to protect themselves from the enemies of our Holy Faith, to protect their churches and not to see them defiled”. The militia managed to defend Murcia and prevent the Austrian army from entering it. In 1707, he was present at the camp of Philip V during the Battle of Almans ^[4] .

In 1706, Philip V appointed Bishop Beliuga the vice-king of Valencia, but he reluctantly accepted this position and a year later refused it. After Pope Clement XI recognized Archduke Charles in 1709, Philip V severed relations with Rome. Despite a deep personal devotion to the king, Belyuga issued a letter in defense of the rights of the church. Subsequently, he continued to support the king, but criticized his anti-church actions and the activities of the French ministers ^[4] .

As Bishop Belyuga made a great contribution to the development of Murcia, founded a seminary here and several hospitals and shelters, helped to improve the urban infrastructure.

November 29, 1719 was elevated by Pope Clement XI to the cardinals with the title of the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina . Subsequently, he repeatedly changed the title, from 1726 to 1737 he held the title of the Church of Santa Prisca , from 1737 to 1738 - the title of the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere , from 1738 until his death - the title of the Church of Santa Prasseda ^[5] .

In 1724 he resigned from the post of bishop of Cartagena, moved to Rome, where he served with the papal curia. He took part in three conclaves of 1724, 1730 and 1740, who elected Benedict XIII , Clement XII and Benedict XIV , respectively. From 1728 to 1729 he held the post of cameralng College of Cardinals ^[5] .

He died on February 22, 1743 in Rome . He was buried in the church of Santa Maria in Valicella , the main temple of the Oratorians. ^[4] In Murcia, the memory of the cardinal is widely revered, the main square of the city in front of the cathedral ( es: Plaza de Belluga ) is named in his honor, and a monument to the cardinal is erected on it.

• Luis Antonio Cardinal Belluga y Moncada
• The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Biographical dictionary