DI PIETRO, CAMILLO. - Cardinal, b. in Rome on 10 Jan. 1806, d. there on 6 March 1884. Nephew of Michele Di Pietro, who honoured the sacred purple during the pontificate of Pio VII, he studied at the Roman seminary and held a public disputation in theology in the presence of Leone XII. On 15 Jan. 1829 he was appointed judge of the Consulta; he subsequently governed Orvieto and in 1835 became auditor of the Rota.
On 8 July 1839 he was appointed titular archbishop of Berito and nuncio at Naples; he then went to Portugal, where he carried out notable activity, obtaining important concessions for the Church in the Portuguese dominions in India. At the Consistory of 19 Dec. 1853 he was created cardinal by Pio IX and reserved in petto; he was published on 16 June 1856 with the title of S. Giovanni a Porta Latina. On 20 Sept. 1867 he opted for the suburbicarian see of Albano, and then for that of Porto e S. Rufina (12 March 1877); he played a most notable part in the Conclave of 1878, which led to the election of Leone XIII. Particular mention should be made of the prudent and energetic action he undertook to ensure that the Conclave should be held in Rome, thanks to the assurances received from the Italian government concerning the freedom of the electors. In token of gratitude, the new Pontiff appointed him his successor in the office of camerlengo. At the death of Card. Amat (1878), D. P. became bishop of Ostia and dean of the Sacred College.
Mario De Camillo