SCHIAFFINO, PLACIDO MARIA. — Cardinal, born in Genoa on 5 September 1829, died at Subiaco on 23 September 1889.
In 1846 he entered the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto, completed his studies at the Gregorian University, and, having been ordained a priest (1852), devoted himself with considerable success to preaching. Leo XIII, who had heard him at Perugia in 1867, immediately summoned him to Rome, entrusting him with important offices. In 1878 he was elected titular bishop of Nissa and president of the Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles; he succeeded Masotti (1884) 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. S. is also remembered for his journalistic activity, with uninterrupted collaboration in periodicals and ecclesiastical journals; in 1880 he founded the political, religious, and literary daily L'aurora, which played a notable role in disseminating the thought of Leo XIII and in developing solutions to the serious problems of the time, all with great balance and sincere love for the Church and for Italy.
The numerous writings of C. S. were published by the Olivetan Monks in 10 vols. (Siena 1890–92), edited by Abbot G. Di Negro and 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.