Father Pietro Pirri, a Jesuit between study and spirituality
An in-depth look at Father Pirri, on the occasion of the conference to be held on 10 May at the Sala Assunta of the Residenza del Gesù in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jesuit’s death. The conference is entitled: “A life solely dedicated to writing. Father Pietro Pirri and the Battle of the Pian Perduto’, in reference to a literary work to which the Jesuit dedicated part of his studies.
The conference, realised in collaboration with the Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli Study Centre, through speeches by university professors and researchers will retrace the biographical and human story of the religious man through his multifaceted work as a writer and scholar.
P. Pietro Pirri was born on 11 January 1881 in Cerreto di Spoleto (Perugia) and entered the Company on 31 October 1919; he had already been ordained a priest on 19 December 1903. He took his last vows on 2 February 1931. After a few years of formation for the study of philosophy and theology, given the marked predisposition and aptitude for study shown by the Jesuit, he was destined for the Writers’ House in Via dei Penitenzieri, where the infirmary and General Curia are today.
Here Fr. Pirri dedicated himself to his studies, drafting texts, scientific articles and publications, which are still highly appreciated and studied today. Fr. Pirri’s research topics were truly numerous and varied: from architecture to history, passing through Umbrian dialects and literature.
He died on 5 May 1969 in Rome; today he is buried in the Chapel of the Society of Jesus in the Verano Monumental Cemetery in Rome.
Our provincial archives preserve Father’s personal file, containing official documents relating to his life in the Company; the photo shows some of the documents in the file.
Maria Macchi
