Conforti, Giovanni Francesco

CONFORTI, GIOVANNI FRANCESCO. - Theologian, b. at Calvanico on 7 Jan. 1743. Ordained a priest, he went to Naples, where he published De variate religionis christianae et theologicis locis (1771). Rector of the Collegio nobile dell'Annunziatella, then professor of history at the university, C. was court theologian together with the Franciscan Morone and the abbot Caracciolo. In 1780, again at Naples, he published the Anti-Grozio, an interesting work of ecclesiastical law, in which he criticized the twelve Grozian chapters on the power of the Church.

Appointed royal censor with the task of following foreign publications with particular regard to their political tenor, he held that office for a long time until, suspected of liberalism for having defended Mario Pagano before the tribunal of the Inquisition, he lost the favor of the court, frightened by the progress of the French Revolution, was deprived first of his chair and then of his other posts, and was arrested. Freed a few months before the French entered Naples and after the republic was proclaimed, he held the office of minister of the Interior. On the return of King Ferdinand, he sought refuge in vain in the fortress of Capua, since, having been captured, he was condemned to death and executed at Naples on 7 Dec. 1799.

Mario Zazzetta