Gasparri, Pietro (1852–1934)

Italian cardinal who was chiefly responsible for negotiating the Lateran Treaties between the Vatican and the Italian fascist government of Benito Mussolini, which were signed on 11 February 1929.

Gasparri was born at Ussita, and educated at the Pontifical Seminary in Rome. He was professor of canon law at the Catholic Institute, Paris, from 1880–98. In 1904 he was entrusted by Pope Pius X with the codification of canon law. He was made a cardinal in 1907 and became secretary of state to Pius XI when he became pope in 1914.