Jean-Baptiste-François Pitra, OSB (1 August 1812 – 9 February 1889) was a French Catholic cardinal, archaeologist and theologian.

He was born in Champforgeuil. Joining the Benedictine Order, he entered the Abbey of Solesmes in 1842, and was collaborator of Abbe Migne in the latter's Patrologia latina and Patrologia Graeca. He was created cardinal in 1863, and was given the titular church of San Callisto in 1867, before being appointed librarian of the Vatican Library in 1869. He is especially noteworthy for his great archaeological discoveries, including the Inscription of Autun, and is the author of numerous works on archaeological, theological, and historical subjects.

Jean-Baptiste-François Pitra

Pitra died in Rome.

Jean-Baptiste-François Pitra

Works

See also

List of Roman Catholic scientist-clerics

Notes

References

1812 births

1889 deaths

19th-century French cardinals

Cardinal-bishops of Frascati

Cardinal-bishops of Porto

French Benedictines

Benedictine cardinals

Cardinals created by Pope Pius IX

Catholic clergy scientists

French archaeologists

Jean-Baptiste-François Pitra