With the view of attaining so lofty an end without exposing his life, for which he ever had a most particular regard, he entered the great seminary of Rome.
In our land of scepticism, a young man enters the seminary with the hope of being ordained a priest: Antonelli entered it with the opposite intention.

But in the capital of the Catholic Church, young Levites of ordinary intelligence become magistrates, prefects, councillors of state, and ministers, while the "dry fruit[6] is thought good enough for making priests." Antonelli so distinguished himself, that (with Heaven's help) he escaped the sacrament of Ordination.

He has never said mass: he has never confessed a penitent; I won't swear he has even confessed himself.

He gained what was of more value than all the Christian virtues--the friendship of Gregory XVI.

He became a prelate, a magistrate, a prefect, Secretary General of the Interior, and Minister of Finance.