Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was an Italian Jesuit and a prominent theologian in the Catholic Church. He played a significant role during the Counter-Reformation, defending Catholic doctrine against Protestant reformers. Bellarmine was canonized as a saint in 1930 and later declared a Doctor of the Church for his influential writings. He is best known for his work, "Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith," which addressed various theological issues. Bellarmine also served as a cardinal and was involved in the governance of the Church, contributing to the development of Catholic teaching during a tumultuous period in history.