Filippo Giustini

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cardinal name=Filippo Cardinal Giustini
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
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Filippo Cardinal Giustini (May 8, 1852—March 17, 1920) was an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments from 1914 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1914.

Biography

Filippo Giustini was born in Cineto Romano to Andrea and Dorotea (née Caponetti) Giustini. He studied at the seminaries of Subiaco, next to the Benedictine monastery, and of Tivoli. He entered the Pontifical Pio Seminary in Rome in November 1871. Giustini was ordained to the priesthood on December 23, 1876, and then taught at the Tivoli seminary until 1878.

From 1878 to 1896, he was Professor of Roman Law at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum "S. Apollinare", from where he obtained his doctorate as well in 1880. Giustini was named Prefect of Studies at the Athenaeum on February 26, 1878, a Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness on December 11, 1886, and a canon of "S. Maria in Trastevere" on May 21, 1891.

On June 22, 1892, he entered the service of the Roman Curia, as counselor of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. He was made a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness on August 18, 1896, auditor of the Roman Rota on February 11, 1897, and later a judge of the Vatican Tribunal of First Instance. After becoming Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops and Regulars on April 28, 1902, he was made counselor of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office on the following August 27.

On October 24, 1908, Giustini was appointed Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Pius X. As Secretary, he served as the second-highest official of that dicastery under Domenico Cardinal Ferrata. Pope Pius then created him Cardinal Deacon of "S. Angelo in Pescheria" in the consistory of May 25, 1914.

Giustini was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1914 papal conclave, which selected Pope Benedict XV, who named him Prefect of the Discipline of the Sacraments on October 14 of that same year. He also served as a member of the Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, and as Protector of the Order of the Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans. In 1919, Giustini served as papal legate to the centennial celebration of St. Stephen of Hungary in Capua, and to the Holy Land for the celebration of the seventh centennial of St. Francis of Assisi’s visit to Egypt and Palestine.

Eight days before reaching the age of 68, Cardinal Giustini died from pulmonary disease at 11:20 a.m., in his Roman residence. After an exposition and funeral Mass at the church of "S. Maria Nuova", he was buried in the crypt of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide at the Campo di Verano cemetery.

External links

* [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-g.htm#Giustini Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgiustini.html Catholic-Hierarchy]