He continued his studies, receiving a licentiate in utroque iure (both civil and canon law) on 15 July 1864.

He was appointed a Domestic prelate of His Holiness on 13 March 1868 by Pope Pius IX.

He was consecrated on 6 January 1878 at the patriarchal Lateran basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Flavio Chigi [it].

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Traspontina in the consistory of 14 December 1891 by Pope Leo XIII.

[2] He was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, succeeding Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro on 18 May 1894, holding the post until 18 March 1895.