Cajetan, Thomas de Vio

(1469–1534)

   Bishop and Theologian.

   Cajetan was born in Gaeta, Italy. Against the wishes of his noble parents, he joined the Dominican Order at the age of fifteen. A distinguished commentator on the writings of St thomas aquinas, he taught metaphysics at various Italian universities. In 1508 he became General of the Dominican Order; he was made a Cardinal in 1517 and he was consecrated Bishop of Gaeta in 1519. He was deeply involved in the ecclesiastical affairs of his time and his achievements include the defence of papal power at the 1511 Council of Pisa, the sending of the first Dominican missionary to the Americas and the election of Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor in 1519. However, he is chiefly remembered as the opponent of the Reformer Martin luther. In 1518 they met for three days in Augsburg, but Cajetan was unable to persuade Luther to recant his opinions.

   Catholic University of America, Catholic Encyclopaedia (1967).