Pietro Francesco GALLEFFI. — Cardinal, b. at Cesena on 27 Oct. 1770, d. at Rome on 18 June 1837. Having completed his studies at the Accademia dei nobili ecclesiastici in Rome, he was enrolled by Pius VI in 1794 among his secret chamberlains.
In 1800 he became secret administrator of the Fabbrica di S. Pietro and in the following year procurator of the hospital of S. Spirito. Pius VII, in the Consistory of 12 July 1803, created him cardinal with the title of S. Bartolomeo all'Isola, naming him moreover commendatory abbot of Subiaco and prefect of the Congregation of Regular Discipline.
During the period of the Pope’s imprisonment he defended the rights of the Church intrepidly and belongs to the glorious band of the black cardinals; he was exiled first to Sedan, then to Charleville and later to Lodève. Upon the Pope’s return to Rome (1814) he became secretary of memorials and in 1820 archpriest of the Vatican Basilica. In the same year he received the see of Albano. As camerlengo by the will of Leo XII, he directed the conclave at the death of that Pontiff and of his successor Pius VIII, and in both cases received votes for the papacy. Having become sub-dean of the Sacred College and bishop of Porto and Civitavecchia (1830), he gave fresh proofs of his pastoral zeal and of the charity that distinguished him.