PASSAGLIA, CARLO. - Theologian and ecclesiastical-political writer, born in Pieve S. Carlo (Lucca) on 9 May 1812, died in Turin on 12 March 1887.
Having entered the Jesuits on 18 November 1827, he later became prefect of studies at the German College and professor of canon law at the Roman College, where from 1844 to 1848 he held the chair of dogmatic theology, distinguishing himself for his wide erudition, rich patristic knowledge, classical and lively eloquence. The upheavals of 1848 forced him into exile in England, France and Belgium, from where, having returned to Rome, he resumed his lectures in 1850. He was very active in preparing the definition of the Immaculate Conception, for which, assisted by Fr C. Schröder, he wrote the classic work: *De immaculato Deiparae Virginis conceptu* (3 vols., Rome 1854). Difficulties with the Order on account of his political ideas and many disappointments led him to ask Pius IX and obtain (20 January 1854) secularization. The Pope then gave him a chair of philosophy at the Sapienza. Meanwhile he was won over to the cause of Piedmont; he wrote, in fact: *Il Pontefice e il Principe* (s.l. 1860), in which he upheld the relative necessity of temporal power, to which, therefore, the pope could renounce for higher interests. Put in touch with Cavour by Dr D. Pantaleoni, his Roman correspondent, he defended Italian unity and agreed to negotiate with Cardinals Antonelli and Santucci, negotiators of the Holy See, regarding the Pope’s renunciation of the Legations. When the attempt failed, he published, anonymously, *Pro causa italica ad episcopos catholicos auctore presbytero catholico* (Rome 1861) to persuade bishops and clergy not to oppose the reconstituted fatherland. The work, soon translated into Italian (Florence 1861) and placed on the Index (decree 9 October 1861), forced him to flee, disguised, from Rome to Turin, where he obtained a chair of philosophy at the university and continued feverishly his conciliatory activity with various publications, including the *Petizione di novemila sacerdoti italiani a S. Santità Pio IX e ai vescovi cattolici con esso uniti* (Turin 1862), with which he asked the Pope to grant Rome as capital of Italy. With the same aim, in 1862 he founded in Turin the *Mediatore*, a biweekly political, religious, scientific and literary journal, which he edited until 1866 (placed on the Index, decree 26 January 1863), alongside which in 1863-64 he launched the daily *La pace* and in 1867 the weekly *Il Gerdi*. Suspended *a divinis*, he laid aside the ecclesiastical habit, but retained intact his faith and morals; indeed, he wrote against Renan: *La vita di Gesù scritta da E. Renan discussa e confutata* (Turin 1863); against divorce: *Sul divorzio* (ibid. 1881); and in commentary on the encyclical *Aeterni Patris*: *Della dottrina di s. Tommaso secondo l'enciclica di Leone XIII* (ibid. 1880), where he praises that document and at the same time defends Rosmini. He was also deputy for the Montecchio constituency in the Italian Parliament (1863-64), but ended by resigning the mandate and finding himself surrounded by oblivion. Shortly before his death he repented of his errors and of his activity against the authority of the Pope and made public retraction in the hands of Cardinal Archbishop Alimonda, dying thus reconciled with the Church.
In addition to the works mentioned, the following should be noted: the edition of the *Enchiridion de fide, spe et caritate* of St Augustine, already edited by Fr J. B. Faure (Naples 1847); *De praerogativa b. Petri* (Rome 1850); *Commentariorum theologorum partes tres* (3 vols., of the 5 planned, ibid. 1850-51); *Conferenze tenute nella Chiesa di Gesù in Rome during Lent 1851* (first published in *Civ. Catt.*, 1st series, vols. V-VII, then separately, Rome 1851); *De Ecclesia Christi* (2 vols., Regensburg 1853-56); *De aeternitate poenarum* (ibid. 1854); he also collaborated with Fr C. Schrader on the new edition of D. Petau, *Opus de theologicis dogmatibus* (Rome 1857), but the work stalled after vol. I.
C. Celestino Testore