LITTA, Alfonso. — A Milanese patrician of the Litta-Visconti-Arese family. Archbishop of Milan from May 1652; cardinal from 15 Feb. 1666. He took great care to uphold the observance and integrity of the Ambrosian rite and the education of the clergy. He visited the diocese and held two synods, the first in 1658 and the second in 1669. He promoted the continuation of the construction of the Swiss College in Milan, conceived by St Charles Borromeo. He resolved the conflict that had arisen between the rectors of the Seminary and the Swiss College and their respective prefects of studies regarding the conferral of degrees, granting the latter the right to act as sponsors or promoters (decree of 27 Feb. 1673). He issued various decrees to address disciplinary disorders. The establishment of the Accademia degli Hypheliomachi (warriors under the sun), which had Apollo as its emblem and aimed to combat heresy, is attributed to Cardinal L. However, this academy seems to have been founded shortly before his time. He participated in the conclave for the election of Pope Innocent XI, and died in Rome on 28 Aug. 1679.
LITTA, ALFONSO
BIBL.: V. ZANZIBA, Memorie, imprese e ritratti dei Signori accad. Gelati, Bologna 1672, pp. 13 ff.; G. Moroni, s.V. in Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica, XXXIX, pp. 23-24; N. Sormani, Paesaggi storici... di Milano, ibid. 1752; A. Monti, Tre secoli di vita milanese, ibid. 1927; Humilitas. Miscellanea storica dei seminari milanesi, ibid. 1934, pp. 1100 ff.