ASTORINI, PIETRO ELIA. – Carmelite, born in 1651, died in 1702. Highly learned in philosophy and Oriental languages, lively and open to new ideas, he was anti-Aristotelian. Accused of being too innovative and of practising magic, he laid aside the habit and joined the Protestants; but, becoming dissatisfied with them as well, he returned to the bosom of the Roman Church. Benevolently received, he was commissioned to teach and preach. He left many unpublished and published writings, including De potestate sanctae Sedis Apostolicae (Siena 1693), against Gallicanism, and De vera Ecclesia Iesu Christi (Naples 1700), against the Protestants.
BIBL.: I. Bellamy, s. V. in DTHC, I, col. 2142; Hurter, II, col. 691; F. Bonnard, s. V. in DHG, I, col. 1230.