GHILARDI, GIOVANNI TOMMASO. – Bishop of Mondovì, b. at Casalgrassio in 1800, d. at Mondovì on 6 June 1873. He took the Dominican habit and within the Order served as provincial. Devoted to the House of Savoy, he enjoyed the esteem and admiration of Charles Albert, who sought his appointment as Bishop of Mondovì, which took place on 23 May 1842; thereafter he remained entirely dedicated to works of a religious, charitable, and educational character.
He was one of the most combative bishops and one of the most courageous publicists of his age, particularly in opposing the secularist policies of the new Kingdom of Italy and the struggle against temporal power, in favour of which he published notable pamphlets, especially on the occasion of Garibaldi’s campaign of 1867 and the centenary of St Peter. The year 1870 found him among the most resolute supporters of papal infallibility with the works: *De plenitudine potestatis Romani Pontificis in Ecclesia Dei* (Turin 1870); *Honorius papa ab accusationibus veterum et novorum infallibilitatis Summi Pontificis adversariorum vindicatus* (IV 1870); *Vantaggi religiosi e sociali della dommatica definizione dell’infallibilità pontificia* (IV 1870).
He also lodged protest in a *Reclamo... contro il progetto di legge sull’invasione di Roma* (Mondovì 1870). Subsequently he published *Progetto di una sacra lega cattolico-mondiale... per la conservazione ed incremento della fede* (Mondovì 1871); two pamphlets: *Reclami religioso-politici contro le leggi abolitive della esenzione dei chierici dalla leva militare* (IV 1871); *Pio IX giustificato e i diritti di S. Chiesa difesi in faccia alla rivoluzione italiana* (IV 1873). For these efforts he repeatedly earned the Pope’s praise; shortly before his death he was sentenced to imprisonment by the government authorities.