MEDA, FILIPPO. — Statesman and publicist, born in Milan on 19 January 1869, died there on 31 December 1939. While still a high school student he began to publish articles in newspapers and journals (*Corriere della domenica*, *Eco della gioventù*, *Eco di s. Luigi*, etc.), and was an active member of Catholic organizations and a promoter of the Piccola Biblioteca scientifico-letteraria. In 1891 he graduated in letters at the Royal Academy of Science and Letters in Milan, and the following year in law at Genoa.
He founded the Association of Catholic Electors with the newspaper *L'elettore cattolico* (1891), and shortly afterwards was called by Fr. Davide Albertario to the editorial staff of *Osservatore cattolico*. He became its director in 1902, and when in 1907 the *Osservatore* merged with the *Lega lombarda* he became director of *Unione* until its transformation in 1912. A prolific and versatile writer, he contributed extensively to *Nuova antologia*, *La scuola cattolica*, *Rassegna nazionale*, *Vita e pensiero*, and in 1919 founded the political-social review *Civitas*, which lasted until 1925. Originator and advocate of the formula “preparation through abstention” in respect of the “non expedito” (in 1904 he refused a candidature at Rho), he was part of the group of Catholic deputies who entered Parliament in 1909; but as early as 1902 he was a member of the Provincial Council of Milan. He was re-elected to the XXIV legislature (1913) and was Minister of Finance in the Boselli and Orlando cabinets (19 June 1916–19 June 1919). He was again re-elected to the XXV legislature as deputy of the Italian Popular Party: on 4 June 1920 he declined an invitation to form a government and accepted the portfolio of the Treasury in the Giolitti cabinet (Aug. 1920–Apr. 1921). He was the author of a praised project for tax reform, which came to nothing with the advent of Fascism. In 1924, dissenting from his party’s stance, he did not stand for election and devoted himself to the legal profession, study, and journalism. A model Catholic, he received this praise from Pius XI: “de re catholica multipliciter benemerito”.
His principal works are: *Fatti e idee* (Milan 1895); *Discorsi parlamentari* (ibid. 1913); *Nella storia e nella vita* (7th ed., Florence 1914); *Intermezzo* (Lecco 1916); *Storie brevi* (Milan 1920); *La riforma generale delle imposte dirette sui redditi* (ibid. 1920); *Pensiero e azione* (ibid. 1921); *Uomini e tempi* (ibid. 1921); *Lungo la via* (ibid. 1923); *Il socialismo politico in Italia* (ibid. 1924); *Stati cattolici* (ibid. 1926); *I cattolici italiani nella guerra* (ibid. 1928); *Universitari cattolici italiani* (ibid. 1928); *S. Agostino* (ibid. 1930).