DE FELICE, Gaetano. Journalist, b. Naples 24 Feb. 1863, d. Rome 20 June 1936.
Having completed his literary studies in Naples under Puoti and De Sanctis, he first devoted himself to teaching, but soon turned to Catholic journalism, of which he was one of the leading exponents for half a century.
He successively founded Il guefio, Il vero guefio, La libertà (1897), and La discussione (1902) in his native city, before moving to Rome to edit the Giornale di Roma (1904), which was later transformed into the Corriere d’Italia (1906). Except for a brief interval when he worked at the Osservatore Romano, De F. directed the Corriere until 1929, waging strenuous battles in defense of Catholic ideals.
He also contributed to much of the Italian Catholic press; left numerous writings on various literary and historical subjects; and with particular zeal served in the ranks of Catholic Action. A staunch conciliatorist, he lived to see the Lateran Pacts signed.