SCHIAFFINO, PLACIDO MARIA
Cardinal. Born in Genoa on 5 Sept. 1829, died at Subiaco on 23 Sept. 1889.
Having entered in 1846 the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto, he completed his studies at the Gregorian University, and after being ordained priest (1852) he devoted himself with great fruit to preaching. Leo XIII, who had heard him preach at Perugia in 1867, immediately summoned him to Rome, entrusting him with high offices. In 1878 he was elected titular bishop of Nissa and president of the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics; in 1884 he succeeded Masotti as secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, until on 27 July 1885 he was created cardinal and subsequently (1889) became librarian of the Holy Roman Church and apostolic administrator of Subiaco. Also remembered is his journalistic activity, with uninterrupted collaboration in ecclesiastical periodicals and reviews; in 1880 he founded the political-religious-literary daily *L'aurora*, which played a notable role in spreading the thought of Leo XIII and in addressing the grave problems of the day, all with great balance and sincere love for the Church and for Italy.
His numerous writings were published by the Olivetan monks in 10 volumes (Siena 1890–92), edited by Abbot G. Di Negro and Dom Ildefonso Polliuti.