Aug. 1808, died in Rome on 21 Nov. 1885.
Having entered the Order of Conventuals at barely fifteen
years of age, he became professor of theology in the Order’s
college and in the Seminary of Catania; in 1853, provincial
of Sicily. Pius IX, upon summoning him to Rome, sent him
to Transylvania together with the nuncio to Vienna, Msgr.
De Luca, to settle certain issues that had arisen with the
Austrian government regarding mixed marriages in that
remote province of the Habsburg Empire; the Father brought
this difficult mission to a successful conclusion, to the full
satisfaction of both parties.
Created cardinal priest of S. Girolamo degli Schiavoni on
27 Sept. 1861 (from which title he soon passed to that of
SS. XII Apostoli, a church served by his own Order), he
refused to be named Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church,
and likewise later declined to opt for a sub-urbicarian diocese.
The Pope had to exert his full authority to secure his
acceptance of the prefecture of the Congregation of Indulgences
and Relics in 1876, and the office of Major Penitentiary.
With enthusiasm, however, he agreed to serve on the commission
charged with preparing the work of the Vatican Council and
performed truly invaluable service in that capacity.