Carafa was born in Naples, Italy on 12 July 1805. He was the son of Palatine Prince and Count Francesco Carafa della Spina, 3rd duke of Traetto, and Paola Orsini, of the princes of Solofra and the dukes of Gravina.
On 12 May 1879, Carafa received his final assignment; appointment as Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina. He died the following month on 17 June 1879, though some biographies suggest he died the previous day on 16 June 1879.[1]
He lay in state in the metropolitan cathedral of Naples and was buried, temporarily, in the chapel of the archconfraternity of the Bianchi dello Spirito Santo, in the new cemetery of that city.
On his death he was the last surviving cardinal elevated by Pope Gregory XVI.