Roman Catholic Cardinal. A native of Calcara di Visso, present day Ussita, Augusto Silj was the first cousin of renowned Cardinal Pietro Gasparri (1852-1934), former Secretary of State. Entering seminary in Norcia, Augusto furthered his studies at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, earning doctorates in philosophy and utroque iure in both canon and civil laws. Ordained priest there by Cardinal Costantino Patrizi in April 1874, he served as rector of the hospice Dei Convertendi before being named apostolic delegate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. Consultor of the Sacred Congregations of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs and Bishops and Regulars, and later to the Pontifical Commission for the Codification of Canon Law, Pope Pius X elected him archbishop of the titular see of Cesarea on December 26, 1906 and named him privy almoner five days later. Silj received his episcopal consecration on January 13 of the following year at the church of Sant'Apollinare in Rome from Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val. Appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Works of Religion and vice-camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Pope Benedict XV created him cardinal priest in the consistory of December 15, 1919 with the title of Santa Cecilia. Named Pontifical vicar of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii and its annex on February 6, 1920 and prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature on the following March 20, he was a member of the Sacred Congregations of the Council, Religious, Seminaries and Universities of Study and the Fabric of St. Peter's Basilica as well as protector of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Reggio Calabria, of the Archconfraternity of the Angels Custodian, of the Sisters Pious Workers Conceptionists of Ascoli Piceno and of the Angeliche Sisters founded by Saint Antonio Maria Zaccaria. The Cardinal passed unexpectedly away in Rome on February 27, 1926 and following the funeral mass celebrated in his title, was laid to rest at the local Campo Verano Cemetery. In spite of his wish that his remains would be interred near the baptismal font of the church of Sant'Andrea of Ussita, his wish was never fulfilled and his remains lie still at the Campo Verano.