DECIO, FILIPPO. — Canonist, born in Milan in 1454, died perhaps in Siena around 1536. He was first a student and later a professor of canon and civil law at Pisa; he subsequently taught in Siena, Padua, Pavia, Pisa, and again in Siena. Leo X, who had been his pupil, absolved him from the excommunication imposed by Julius II for having promoted a meeting of cardinals in favor of Louis XII.
He left writings on canon law, among which the Commentaria in decretales (Lyons 1540 ff.; Rome 1579; Venice 1599) became particularly famous; however, he achieved greater renown for his skill in teaching.
BIBL.: J. F. Schulte, Geschichte der Quellen und Litteratur des Rechts, II, Stuttgart 1880, p. 361; B. Kurtschied and F. A. Wilches, Historia iuris canonici, I, Rome 1943, p. 269; A. Van Hove, Prolegomena, 2nd ed., Mechlin-Rome 1945, pp. 499-506, 581.