CAETANI, COSTANTINO. - Benedictine, b. at Syracuse in 1560, d. at Rome on 17 Sept. 1650. On 29 Oct. 1586 he entered the monastery of S. Nicola d'Arona at Catania. He was appointed by Pope Paul V abbot of S. Baronzio in the diocese of Pistoia, and later, by Urban VIII, he obtained the priory of S. Maria Latina in Sicily. Summoned to Rome, he was appointed custodian of the Vatican Library and attached to the pontifical archives. He conceived the foundation of the Gregorian College of St. Benedict and chose the site in Trastevere near the church of S. Benedetto in Piscinula. By Pope Gregory XV, with a bull of 18 May 1621, its erection was permitted him, and he himself was appointed its president. He wrote a great deal.
He published, with his own commentary, the works of St. Peter Damian: Sancti Petri Damiani S. R. E. cardinalis et episcopi Ostienis opera (4 vols., Rome 1606-40). He took part in the discussion concerning the author of the Imitation of Christ, attributing the work to Giovanni Gersen, a Benedictine abbot, against Fr. H. Rosweyde, who made Thomas à Kempis its author. Among his publications particular mention should be made of: SS. trium episcoporum religionis benedictinae luminum Isidori Hispalensis, Ildephonsi Toletani et Gregorii S. R. E. cardinalis episcopi Hostiensis vitae et actiones scheliis illustratae (ibid. 1616); Galasii II papae vita a Paudulpho Pisano conscripta nunc primum edita et commentariis illustrata a D. Constantino Caetano (ibid. 1638).