MAFFI, PIETRO. - Cardinal, archbishop of Pisa, b. at Corteolona (Pavia) on 12 Oct. 1858, d. at Pisa on 17 March 1931. He completed his studies at the Seminary of Pavia, where, as soon as he was ordained a priest (1881), he taught philosophy, devoting himself at the same time with success to the physical sciences, especially astronomy, geodynamics and meteorology. Several publications are proof of this; notable ones: Nei cieli. Pagine di astronomia popolare (Como 1898; 5th ed., Turin 1928) and the Rivista di scienze fisiche e matematiche (1900-912), which he founded and which was immediately received with great favor.
To study he joined a fruitful pastoral life; as vicar general he followed his bishop Msgr. Riboldi, elected cardinal (1901), to Ravenna; in 1902 he was consecrated bishop and given as auxiliary to the new archbishop Msgr. Conforti; in 1903, promoted archbishop of Pisa; in 1904, appointed director of the Vatican Observatory, which he helped to transform into one of the best and best-equipped in Europe, and he was entrusted with the task of drawing up a part of the celestial chart, when this was divided among the various observatories of the two hemispheres; in 1907, created cardinal.
With these offices his merits went on multiplying: his pastoral letters and discourses had wide resonance throughout Italy; for the solid preparation of seminarians he revived the Faculty of Theology; he promoted Catholic Action in the archdiocese and in Italy, working so that the whole Catholic movement might regain its former unity of organization, whence arose the Central Committee; he restored the monumental churches of S. Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, S. Caterina and S. Francesco; he rebuilt in the Cathedral the pulpit of Giov. Pisano; also in the Cathedral he brought back the remains of Henry VII and to S. Caterina the relics of the Bl. Giordano da Rivalto. A splendid model of charity in the gravest hours of the homeland, a promoter of various works for the needy, especially during and after the First World War, he moreover rendered precious services to the Church and the homeland during the years of the dispute between the two powers. Once the Lateran Pacts were stipulated, he was invited to bless the marriage of the crown prince Umberto of Savoy with Maria José of Belgium (8 Jan. 1930) and on the same day he was invested with the collar of the Most Holy Annunciation.
Principal works, besides the numerous articles in Scuola Cattolica and Rivista di scienze fisiche e matematiche: La carta del cielo per mezzo della fotografia (Milan 1892); Il p. fr. Denza, tributo di riconoscenza e di amore (ibid. 1895); La stella dei Magi (ibid. 1895); Commemorazione di A. Volta (Monza 1899); Riflessioni sui nostri doveri davanti alla scienza moderna e alla Fede (2nd ed., Pavia 1899); Scritti vari, Siena 1904; Lettere pastorali, omelie, discorsi (vol. I [1904-11], Turin 1911; II [1912-19], ibid. 1919), which treat the most varied subjects and the most pressing questions of the time and commemorate figures of scholars and saints; Conversazioni manzoniane con il mio clero (2 vols., Turin 1923).
Bibliography3 works
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