BERNIS, FRANCOIS-JOACHIM DE PIERRES DE , French cardinal and statesman, was born at St. Marcel-d'Ardeche on May 2 2 1 7 1 5. He was French ambassador in Venice (17 51-5 5) , and assisted in the foundation of the league on behalf of Maria Theresa against Frederick the Great of Prussia. He became secretary for foreign affairs on June 27 but owing to his attempts to counteract the spendthrift policy of the marquise de Pompadour (q.v.) and her creatures, he fell into disgrace and was in Dec. 1758 banished to Soissons by Louis XV., where he remained in retirement for six years. In the previous November he had been created cardinal by Clement XIII. In 1764, Bernis was recalled, but declined office and was appointed archbishop of Albi. In 1769 he was present at the conclave which resulted in the election of Clement XIV., and became French ambassador in Rome, where he spent the remain der of his life. He helped to bring about the suppression of the Jesuits and acted with greater moderation than is generally allowed. He lost his influence under Pius VI., who was friendly to the Jesuits, and the French Revolution, to which he was hostile, reduced him almost to penury; the court of Spain, how ever, came to his relief with a handsome pension. He died at Rome on Nov. 3, His Memoires et lettres (18 7 8 ) are still interesting to the historian.
See Frederic Masson's prefaces to the Memoires et lettres, and Le Cardinal de Bernis depuis son ministere (1884) ; E. et J. de Goncourt, Mme de Pompadour (1888) , and Sainte-Beuve, Causeries, v. viii.