FONTANA, FRANCESCO LUIGI. — Cardinal, born 12 years ago, on 28 Aug. 1750 at Casalmaggiore (Cremona), died at Rome on 19 March 1822. He taught Latin and Greek literature in the colleges of Bologna and Milan until 1797, when he was elected provincial of Lombardy. In this office he devoted himself to collecting all the documents necessary for the canonization of the founder; this work earned him the favour of Card. G. Gerdil, who in 1800 summoned him to Rome as consultor to the Congregations of Rites and of the Holy Office and secretary of that of the Oriental Rites.
In 1804 he accompanied Pius VII to Paris as theologian for Napoleon’s coronation. In 1807 he was unanimously elected general of the Order. For having, together with Card. Di Pietro and Abbot Gregori, proposed the bull of excommunication against the Emperor (10 June 1809), he was subjected to close imprisonment at Vincennes (3 Jan. 1811 – Apr. 1824), after which he was able to return to Rome, where on 8 March 1816 he was created cardinal.
He left many literary writings, small in number but of value, as well as ascetical works inspired by piety and solidity; he published the complete edition of the works of Card. Gerdil, 16 vols., Rome 1806–1809, completed from vol. XVII to XX by Fr. A. M. Grandi (ibid. 1810–21). He prefixed to vol. I a “Literary Eulogy” of Gerdil. Four volumes of manuscript remained, Notizie degli scritti e della vita degli scrittori bambini, a work of patient research that proved useful for subsequent studies on the same subject.