PIETRO, Archbishop of TARANTASIA, saint. — He was one of the most illustrious saints of the 12th century for his miracles and social influence, born in 1102 at St-Maurice-de-l’Exil in the diocese of Vienne (today Grenoble), and died at the monastery of Bellevaux (Bellavallis) on 6 May 1174.
Piously educated by parents of modest condition, at the age of 20 he entered the Cistercian monastery of Bonnevaux (Bonavallis) near Vienne. In 1132 he was sent as abbot to found at Tamiè (Stamedium), in Tarantasia (Savoy), a monastery intended to accommodate travellers. There he was admired for his austerity and heroic charity. Elected archbishop of Tarantasia in 1141, following the deposition of the unworthy Isdrael, he accepted the office in obedience to the general chapter of Cîteaux and to s. Bernardo. He reorganized the diocese, visiting its parishes, establishing hospices, and regulating assistance for the poor and the sick. To escape the veneration brought him by his miracles, he hid in the monastery of Lucella near Basel; but he was discovered and
returned to the diocese. He often acted as mediator between ecclesiastics and between bishops and princes. During the struggle between the priesthood and the Empire, through his influence he brought back to Pope Alessandro III a part of Christendom that was leaning toward schism. P. had two meetings in this regard with the emperor Federico I Barbarossa (1158 and 1170). He went to Rome, summoned there by the Pope, who in 1173 charged him with reconciling Enrico II of England with Ludovico VII of France. During the journey undertaken for this purpose, he died at Bellevaux. He was canonized on 10 May 1191. His head and relics are venerated at Tamiè. Feast day: 10 May.