DIODATI, GIOVANNI

born June 6, 1576, Lucca, Italy died Nov. 3, 1649, Geneva Swiss Calvinist pastor known for his translation of the Bible into Italian. Born of a refugee Protestant family from Lucca, Diodati became a pastor at Geneva in 1608 and professor of theology in 1609. A leader of the Reformers, he was an eloquent, bold, and fearless preacher and a rigid Calvinist. He conducted a mission to France in 1614 and was appointed to record the proceedings of the Synod of Dort (161819). His Italian translation of the Bible was first published in 1603. He was also the author of a translation into French and of biblical annotations and polemical treatises.