Roman Catholic Cardinal. Ravenna born Francesco Salesio Della Volpe came from a noble family. Receiving his education at the seminary of Bertinoro and the Pio Seminary of Rome, he was ordained priest in December 1867, and successively pursued further studies at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles between 1868 and 1874. Privy chamberlain participant and domestic prelate of His Holiness, he was named canon of the Patriarchal Vatican Basilica in 1878 and secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Relics in 1882. One of the members of the extraordinary mission to the coronation of Tsar Alexander III of Russia, he was appointed master of chamber of His Holiness on August 17, 1886 and prefect of the Pontifical Household on December 31, 1891. Appointed commander of the Order of Saint-Anne of Russia, he was decorated with the grand cross of the Order of Franz Joseph of Austria. Created cardinal in the consistory of June 19, 1899 by Pope Leo XIII and reserved 'in pectore', his name was ultimately published in the consistory of April 15, 1901, with Della Volpe receiving the red hat and the deaconry of Santa Maria In Aquiro. Assigned as prefect of the Economy of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda Fide and president of the Reverend Chamber of the Wealth of the Apostolic See on July 23, 1903, he became cardinal protodeacon in 1907. Furthermore, he was appointed prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives on October 26, 1908, prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Index on January 26, 1911, archchancellor of the Roman University, and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on May 25, 1914, an office which he held until his death. Participating in the conclave of 1914, he crowned Pope Benedict XV on September 6 of that year. The Cardinal died in Rome and lies buried in the chapel of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda Fide at the local Campo Verano Cemetery.