SALOTTI, CARLO. – Cardinal, b. at Grotte di Castro (diocese of Montefiascone) on 25 July 1870, d. in Rome on 24 Oct. 1947. Having completed his studies at the Seminary of Orvieto from 1891 to 1894, during his military service in Rome he devoted himself to the study of philosophy and theology.
Ordained priest in 1894, he earned degrees in theology, philosophy, canon law, and civil law at the Roman Seminary, and in letters at the Sapienza. He engaged in preaching and the development of Catholic Action and the dissemination of Leo XIII’s thought on the social question. He was also professor of philosophy at the Liceo S. Apollinare (1902–12) and initiated new forms of apostolate in the field of apologetics, delivering philosophical lectures at the Artigiana Operaia and in the parish of S. Crisogono in Trastevere. At the same time, he carried out an intense activity at the Congregation of Rites as an advocate in causes of the Saints. Appointed by Benedict XV in 1915 as sub-promoter of the faith, he collaborated in drafting the canons of the Code of Canon Law relating to the beatification and canonization of God’s servants. In 1925, Pius XI named him promoter general of the faith, and in 1930 he was elected titular archbishop of Philippopolis in Thrace and secretary of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide. In this office, he worked for the formation and elevation of the indigenous clergy and hierarchy as well as for Catholic Action in the Missions. As rector of the Pontifical Urban Athenaeum, he founded the Missionary Scientific Institute, a laboratory of experimental psychology, established new chairs, and expanded the library. He then began, through Vatican Radio, messages to the world for Mission Sunday, also delivering explanatory lectures in various Italian cities and urging the faithful to give generously of their spiritual and material support for the propagation of the faith throughout the world.
Pius XI, in the Consistory of 13 March 1933, created him cardinal in pectore, and he was published on 16 Dec. 1935, with the title of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola, which he relinquished on 16 Dec. 1939 when he opted for the see of Palestrina. In 1938 he was called to succeed Cardinal Camillo Laurenti as prefect of the Congregation of Rites. His elevation to the cardinalate did not interrupt his apostolic activity, whether in word or in writing. In this regard, one recalls his consistent opposition to Fascism and his intrepid firmness during the Nazi occupation. Alongside his numerous hagiographical publications, the following are noteworthy: *L’opera diplomatica e sacerdotale del card. Domenico Ferrata* (Turin 1914); *La crisi della società contemporanea. Studi apologetici* (Rome 1922); *Un campione dell’Azione Cattolica: Filippo Tolli* (ibid. 1924); *Il card. Giovanni Bonzano* (ibid. 1927); *Profili di santi, apostoli, eroi* (Pisa 1944); *Sulle trincee per la verità e per la fede* (Rome 1944); *La romanità dei santi* (ibid. 1946), as well as many excellent letters to the faithful of Palestrina. Recently, his *Memorie* (Rome 1951), prefaced by Don Luigi Sturzo, have been published, of great interest for the knowledge of men and events.