ALESSANDRO da S. Elpidio. - Augustinian theologian and canonist, born in 1265 at S. Elpidio in the Marca d'Ancona. He is credited with the surname Fassitelli, though this is omitted by contemporary historians. He entered the Augustinian Hermits, studied in Paris under Master Giles of Rome (v.), and attained the rank of bachelor. In 1300 he was appointed rector of the Order’s studentate at the papal court in Anagni, then returned to the Marches as provincial defender. In 1307 he was again in Paris as master and professor of theology, until in 1312 he was elected prior general of his Order, a position he held five successive times. In 1326 he was raised to the episcopal see of Melfi in Lucania and died a few months later.
He distinguished himself by zeal for regular observance, especially silence and poverty, combined with uncommon prudence in governance. He also reorganized ecclesiastical studies within his Order. He employed his outstanding intellectual gifts in the service of sacred science and papal authority.
Most of his works remain unpublished. Only the following have been printed: De iurisdictione imperii et auctoritate summi Pontificis (Lyons 1498, 1538; Rimini 1624); Tractatus de ecclesiastica potestate (Turin 1496; Rimini 1624, and in the Biblioteca pontificia of T. Rocca, 1496; Rome 1695, pp. 1–40).