Roman Catholic Cardinal. Florentine born Mario Luigi Ciappi entered seminary in Lucca, joining later the Order of Preachers, making his solemn profession in the convent of Santa Maria della Quercia in Viterbo. Furthering his studies at the convent of San Domenico in Pistoia and at the Pontifical Angelicum Athenaeum in Rome, from where he earned a doctorate in theology, he was ordained priest by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on March 26, 1932. Upon finishing further studies at the Universities of Fribourg and Louvain in Switzerland, Ciappi lectured moral and dogmatic theology at his alma mater, the Angelicum, where he also served as dean of the theological faculty from 1935 until 1955. He also lectured Thomistic aesthetics at the Beato Angelico Institute. Named Master of the Sacred Palace on May 5, 1955, in this capacity, Ciappi served as the personal theologian to the Pope, with the title being later renamed to that of Theologian of the Pontifical Household on March 28, 1968 by Pope Paul VI's Motu Proprio 'Pontificalis Domus'. Advising the named Pontiff during the preparation of the encyclical letter 'Humanae Vitae', he later defended it against charges that it was in conflict with Thomistic principles. On June 10, 1977, in advance for his cardinalatial elevation, Ciappi was appointed titular bishop of the see of Misenum, receiving his episcopal consecration eight days later from Cardinal Dino Staffa, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of Apostolic Signature, in the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome. Paul VI created him cardinal deacon with the deaconry of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore in the consistory of June 27 of that same year. From 1977 till 1989, Ciappi continued his role under the title of pro-theologian of the Pontifical Household. Opting for the order of cardinal priests, receiving the title of Sacro Cuore di Gesù Agonizzante a Vitinia on June 22, 1987, Cardinal Ciappi died in Rome and was there buried at the local Campo Verano Cemetery. During his almost forty year long tenure as Papal theologian, he served Popes Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II.