[3] He completed his studies at the Roman studium of the Dominican Order at Santa Maria sopra Minerva, which later developed into the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and was professor of theology and philosophy there before 1640.
He devoted himself to the study of Oriental languages, and had the opportunity of applying his knowledge of Hebrew for the conversion of the Jews, to whom Urban VIII had appointed him preacher in Rome.
In 1657 Ciantes published a "monumental bilingual edition of the first three Parts of Thomas Aquinas' Summa contra Gentiles, which includes the original Latin text and a Hebrew translation prepared by Ciantes, assisted by Jewish apostates, the Summa divi Thomae Aquinatis ordinis praedicatorum Contra Gentiles quam Hebraice eloquitur….
Until the present this remains the only significant translation of a major Latin scholastic work in modern Hebrew.
[2][3] While bishop, he was the principal co-consecrator of:[3] This article incorporates public domain material from McClintock, John; Strong, James (1867–1887).