CAPELLETTI, BENEDETTO. — Cardinal. Born in Rieti on 2 Nov. 1764, died there on 15 May 1834. Of noble family, he was educated at Montecassino. He entered the ecclesiastical career, and Pius VII appointed him first ponens of the Sacred Congregation of the Good Government, and later, by the motu proprio of 6 July 1816, delegate of Viterbo, where, among other charitable works, he restored the Monte di Pietà. From 1819 to 1823 he was delegate at Macerata, then at Urbino and Pesaro until 1829, when he was appointed by Leo XII governor of Rome, vice-camerlengo, and general director of police.
After the death of Pius VIII (1 Dec. 1830), at a time when the internal situation of the Papal State gave cause for concern over the repercussions that might follow from the July Revolution in Paris, C. discharged his high office with prudence and zeal and prevented, by decisive and timely measures, the outbreak of disturbances in the capital of the State. Gregory XVI created him cardinal in pectore at the Consistory of 10 Sept. 1831, and published him on 2 July of the following year. At the Consistory of 29 July 1833 he was preconized bishop of Rieti.