Mario Mattei

Mario Mattei (6 September 1792, Pergola, Marche – 7 October 1870) was an Italian Cardinal, of the Roman noble House of Mattei. He became Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1860.

Mattei was born on 6 September 1792 in Pergola.

He was educated at the Collegio Ghislieri, a Roman Seminary, and at the La Sapienza University where he received a doctorate in utroque iure) and later attended the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in 1810. Around 1817, he was ordained a priest.

He was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and was subsequently appointed to the following posts:

In 1843, Mattei was appointed as Arch-Priest of St. Peter's Basilica and held this position until his death in 1870.

Records indicate that Mattei was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals twice; between 1834 and 1835 and between 1848 and 1850