Benedetto Lorenzelli (11 May 1853 – 15 September 1915) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church[1] He served as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Studies from 1914 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1907.

Benedetto Lorenzelli was born in Castel di Casio, and studied at the seminary in Bologna and the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare in Rome, from where he obtained his doctorates in philosophy, theology, and civil and canon law.

[2] After being named as member of the Pontifical Academy "S. Tommaso", Lorenzelli served as an ablegatus to Vienna on 3 April 1884 and later received an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the University of Laval in Canada.

On 1 October 1896 Lorenzelli was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria, and later Titular Archbishop of Sardes on 30 November by Pope Leo XIII.

He received his episcopal consecration on the following 8 December from Cardinal Mariano Rampolla, with Archbishops Ernesto Respighi and Lorenzo Passerini serving as co-consecrators, in the church of the Oblates in Tor de' Specchi.