CASINI, FRANCESCO MARIA. — Cardinal, born at Arezzo on 11 Nov. 1648, died at Rome on 14 Feb. 1719; having become a Capuchin in 1663, he was a celebrated preacher. After yielding to the oratorical fashion of the time, he adopted a more austere and evangelical standard, even to the point of destroying the copies of his Panegirici (Massa 1678, Venice 1673), in which he had too closely approached the prevailing vice. In 1698 Innocenzo XII chose him as apostolic preacher, and he was at the Pontiff’s side at the moment of his death (27 Sept. 1700). He continued in office under Clemente XI, who created him cardinal of S. Prisca on 18 May 1712 because of his apostolic courage in denouncing even the faults of the Curia and clergy; he continued preaching until Advent.
Clemente XI ordered the publication of his Prediche dette nel Palazzo Apostolico (Rome 1713); they were subsequently reprinted at Milan in 1714–15 and 1718, and several times thereafter (last edition at Fossombrone, 1861). He may be regarded as one of the best continuators of Segnerian oratory. Also published are his L'età dell'uomo alle misure del tempo e dell'eternità (Rome 1716), likewise reprinted several times (Turin 1882); and Opera omnia (Augusta-Graz 1730–40), in Latin.