Schiaffino, Placido Maria

SCHIAFFINO, PLACIDO MARIA. - Cardinal, b. in Genoa on 5 Sept. 1829, d. 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, ordained a priest (1852), he devoted himself with great fruit to preaching. Leo XIII, who had heard him at Perugia in 1867, immediately summoned him to Rome, entrusting him with high offices. He was elected in 1878 titular bishop of Nissa and president of the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics, succeeded (1884) Masotti in the office of secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, until on 27 July 1885 he was created cardinal and then became (1889) librarian of the Holy Roman Church and apostolic administrator of Subiaco. The S. is also remembered for his journalistic activity, with uninterrupted collaboration on periodicals and ecclesiastical reviews; in 1880 he founded the political, religious and literary daily L'aurora, which carried out notable action to spread the thought of Leo XIII and to set up the resolution of the grave problems of the moment, all with great balance and sincere love for the Church and for Italy.

The numerous writings of Card. S. were published by the Olivetan Monks in 10 vols. (Siena 1890-92) edited by Abbot G. Di Negro and by dom. Ild. Polliuti.

Cara delle Oblate di S. Francesca Romana in Tor. de' Specchi, Rome 1933, p. 131; anon., Il card. P. M. S. benedett. di Monte Oliveto. Per la riposizione nella Basilica romana di S. Maria Nova, ibid. 1937.