GENTILONI, VINCENZO OTTORINO. - Count, lawyer and politician, b. at Filottrano on 13 Oct. 1865, d. at Rome on 2 Aug. 1916. He practiced law and played an important part in the defense of the Catholics prosecuted after the events of 1898.
A very active leader of Catholic Action, he was president of the Roman Catholic Union and of the Marche regional committee, until Pius X entrusted him, in July 1909, with the direction of the Italian Catholic Electoral Union. In that office he carried out fruitful activity, which manifested itself in the general elections of 1913 when, although the non expedit was not formally revoked, he was charged by the Pope with favoring the candidacy of those who had committed themselves, in exercising the parliamentary mandate, to observe seven conditions, which were called the "G. heptalogue" or, more commonly, the "G. pact."
They consisted in opposition to further restrictive norms with regard to religious Congregations; in the protection of the rights of private schools; in the preservation of religious instruction in elementary schools; in rejecting any laws on divorce; in the defense of the right of Catholic economic and social bodies to be represented on public councils; in support for every tax reform aimed at establishing greater social justice; in adherence to every legislative measure that would result in a real invigoration of the economic and moral forces of the nation. 228 deputies who signed the pact were elected.
G., who held distinguished offices in the pontifical court and was honored with the particular friendship of Pius X, left the presidency of the Electoral Union in Jan. 1916, a few months before his untimely death.
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Renzo U. Montini