DAMIANI, PIETRO, SAINT (c. celebrated ecclesiastic, was born at Ravenna, and of ter some years of teach ing about 1035 entered the hermitage of Fonte Avellana, near Gubbio, where he became superior some eight years later. He en tered into communication with the emperor Henry III., addressed to Pope Leo IX. in 1049 his Liber Gomorrhianus denouncing the vices of the clergy, and soon became associated with Hildebrand in the work of reform. As a trusted counsellor of successive popes he was made cardinal bishop of Ostia in 1057, and pre sided over a council at Milan in 10S9. He assisted Alexander II.
in his struggle with the antipope, Honorius II.; and having served the papacy as legate to France and to Florence, was al lowed to resign his bishopric in 1067. After a period of retirement at Fonte Avellana, he proceeded in 1069 as papal legate to Ger many, and persuaded the emperor Henry IV. to give up his inten tion of divorcing his wife Bertha. He died at Faenza on Feb. 22, 1072. Damiani was a determined foe of simony and clerical marriage, and a vigorous controversialist.
His works published by Cardinal Cajetan, 4 vols. (Rome, 16o6-15) are reprinted in Migne, Patrol Lat. v. 144 and 145. See F. Neukirch, Das Leben des Peter Damiani (Gottingen, 1875) ; Kleinermanns, Der heilige Petrus Damiani (Steyl, 1882) ; R. Biron, St. Pierre Damien (1938) ; J. A. Endres, Petrus Damiani and die weltliche Wissenschaft (Munster, i91o) .