Roman Catholic Cardinal. Pergola born Francesco Roberti received his education at the pre-seminary of Pesaro, the Pontifical Roman Seminary, the Royal University of Rome and the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare, earning doctorates in philosophy, theology and utroque iure in both canon and civil laws. Ordained priest in August 1913, he rendered pastoral ministry within the diocese of Rome at Tor di Mezzavia d'Albano and Torretta Massimi. Appointed vice-rector of the Pontifical Minor Roman Seminary in 1915, being named rector the following year, holding the position until 1929, he was named privy chamberlain of His Holiness on March 2, 1917. Professor of canon law at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare between 1918 and 1938, Roberti received the title of domestic prelate of His Holiness on March 23, 1922. Advocate of the Sacred Roman Rota and the Holy Office from 1927 until 1931, he was appointed referendary prelate of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature on March 17, 1928. Founder and director of the journal 'Apollinaris', organ of the faculty of canon law, he was named undersecretary of the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and Universities on April 24, 1931. One of the organizers and contributors of the 4th International Juridical Congress for the commemoration of the 7th centennial of the decretali of Pope Gregory IX and the 14th centennial of the codice Giustinianeo celebrated in Rome in 1934, gathering the leading international specialists in canon and Roman law, he was named auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota on June 5, 1936. Dean of the Pontifical Institute "Utriusque Iuris" from 1937 until 1943 and official of the Roman vicariate, he became secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Council on March 9, 1946 and legal consultor of the Secretariat of State on October 6, 1952. Pope John XXIII created him cardinal deacon in the consistory of December 15, 1958 with the deaconry of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Appointed prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature on November 14, 1959, under his direction, the famous "Dictionary of Moral Theology", edited by Monsignor Pietro Palazzini, was compiled. Elected archbishop of the titular see of Colonnata, he received his episcopal consecration on April 19, 1962 at the Patriarchal Lateran Basilica from the named Pope John XXIII, assisted by Cardinals Giuseppe Pizzardo and Benedetto Aloisi Masella. Opting for the order of cardinal priests and the title of Ss. XII Apostoli on June 26, 1967, he resigned the prefecture on March 24, 1969. Passing away in Rome, his body was transferred to his native Pergola and interred in the family plot inside the local cemetery.