Pietro Elia ASTORINI. — Carmelite, born in 1651, died in 1702. Highly cultivated in philosophy and Oriental languages, lively and open to new ideas, he was anti-Aristotelian. Accused of being too innovative and of practicing magic, he left the religious habit and joined the Protestants; but later, disillusioned with them as well, he returned to the bosom of the Roman Church. Warmly received, he was entrusted with teaching and preaching. He left many unpublished and published writings, including *De potestate sanctae Sedis Apostolicae* (Siena 1693), against Gallicanism, and *De vera Ecclesia Iesu Christi* (Naples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 Protestants.
BIBL.: I. Bellamy, s.V. in DTHC, I, col. 2142; Hurter, II, col. 691; F. Bonnard, s.V. in DHG, I, col. 1230.