He was the vice president of the Italian Senate for two terms and the minister of justice in the period 1954–1956.

[1] His parents were Pasquale Domenico De Pietro, a lawyer, and Addolorata Lunch.

[3] In the 1953 elections he was again elected to the Senate and became vice president of the Senate which he held until 18 January 1954 when he was appointed minister of grace and justice to the first cabinet led by Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani.

[2] On 4 July 1957 De Pietro was again elected vice president of the Senate.

Between 1958 and 1967 he was also president of the National Center for Prevention and Social Defense, succeeding Alessandro Casati and Enrico De Nicola in this position.