DEL FOSSO (FOSSO), GASPARE. - Archbishop, b. at Rogliano (Cosenza) on 6 Jan. 1496, d. at Reggio Calabria on 29 Dec. 1592. He entered the Order of Minims, in which he was elected general in 1535 and again in 1541; from 1544 he was procurator general, until on 13 May 1548 he was appointed bishop of Scala. From there he was transferred to Calvi in Campania on 22 Apr. 1551 and then to the archbishopric of Reggio Calabria on 17 July 1560. On 21 Feb. 1561 Cardinal Carlo Borromeo sent him to take part in the Council of Trent, although heretical movements were disturbing Calabria; there he delivered the opening address on 18 Jan. 1562, took an active part in the sessions, and remained until near the end despite his insistence on returning to his diocese; he did not, however, sign its acts.
He was one of the most distinguished architects of Catholic reform in Calabria and promoted there the establishment of the first seminary.