Ferretto was born in
Rome to Tommaso and Adele (née Stazi) Ferretto. He studied at the
Pontifical Roman Seminary (minor and major branches), the
Pontifical Lateran University (where he obtained his
doctorates in
theology and
canon and civil law), and the
Pontifical Institute of Christian Archeology in Rome.
Ordained to the
priesthood on 24 February 1923, Ferretto finished his studies in 1926 and then taught at the Pontifical Lateran University and the
Pontifical Urbaniana University until 1958. He served as an official in the
Vicariate of Rome from 1929 to 1939, when he was made a
referendary of the
Apostolic Signatura on 23 April. Before becoming a
canon of
St. Peter's Basilica on 1 May 1953, he was named substitute (7 June 1943) and later assessor (27 June 1950) of the
Sacred Consistorial Congregation. He was also a noted
archaeologist. On 14 December 1958, Ferretto was appointed
Titular Archbishop of
Serdica by
Pope John XXIII. He received his
episcopal consecration in
St. Peter's Basilica on the following 27 December from Pope John, with Bishops
Girolamo Bortignon,
OFM Cap and Gioacchino Muccin serving as
co-consecrators. Ferretto was named Secretary of the
College of Cardinals on 20 January 1959. He was created
Cardinal-Priest of
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme by Pope John in the
consistory of 16 January 1961. There had been speculation that he had been one of the cardinals appointed
in pectore on 28 March 1960, but his precedence in the College of Cardinals did not reflect such an appointment. Ferretto was named Cardinal Bishop of
Sabina e Poggio Mirteto on 26 March 1961. Pope John had recently changed the way cardinals were raised to the rank of cardinal bishop. Previously, the senior cardinal deacon and the senior cardinal priest had the right to opt for the title of cardinal bishop when one of the sees assigned to a cardinal bishop became vacant. Pope John made the appointment the prerogative of the pope. While the older method had ensured that only senior clerics of advanced age held the title of cardinal bishop, Pope John's first appointment under the new rule was Ferretto, who had just turned 62. A cardinal for just two months, he was the lowest ranking member of the order of cardinal priests. He attended the
Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. He participated in the
1963 papal conclave, where he was also thought to be a possible candidate for election to the papacy. Pope Paul named him a participant in the first post-Vatican II
Synod of Bishops in 1967. On 1 March 1973, he resigned as Major Penitentiary. Ferretto died on 17 March 1973 in Rome, at age 74. He had been suffering from a heart condition. He is buried in the church of Immacolata e S. Benedetto Giuseppe Labre a via Taranto. ==References==