Ennio Antonelli

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (1995–2001)
  • Archbishop of Florence (2001–08)
  • Apostolic Administrator of Florence (2008)
  • Alma mater
    MottoVoluntas Dei pax nostra
    Coat of armsCoat of arms
    Styles of
    Ennio Antonelli
    His Eminence
    Spoken styleYour Eminence
    Informal styleCardinal
    SeeFlorence (emeritus)

    Ennio Antonelli (born 18 November 1936) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was president of the Pontifical Council for the Family from 2008 to 2012. He has been a bishop since 1982, serving as bishop of Gubbio from 1982 to 1988, archbishop of Perugia from 1988 to 1995, and archbishop of Florence from 2001 to 2008. He led the Italian Episcopal Conference from 1995 to 2001 and was raised to the rank of cardinal in 2003.

    Biography

    Antonelli, right, greeting Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in 2007

    Born in

    Diocese of Todi on 2 April 1960.[1]

    Cardinal Antonelli's coat-of-arms on the basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte

    He worked at the Seminary of Perugia as vice-rector, professor, and finally rector. He also taught theology at the regional seminary in Assisi, as well as art history in secondary schools in Assisi and Deruta. He was also a chaplain to Catholic teachers and student groups and a parish priest.[1]

    On 25 May 1982, Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Gubbio.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on 29 August 1982 from Decio Lucio Grandoni, Bishop of Todi.[citation needed]

    On 6 October 1988 he was promoted to

    Archbishop of Perugia-Città del Pieve.[3]

    He resigned as archbishop to serve a five-year term as Secretary-General of the

    He served in this position until 21 March 2001, when he was named archbishop of Florence.[1] He was installed there on 20 May.[citation needed]

    Pope John Paul made him

    Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte in the consistory held on 21 October 2003.[4]

    Antonelli served as a cardinal elector in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.[5] He was viewed as papabile, a possible candidate for election to the papacy.[6]

    On 7 June 2008, Pope Benedict named him president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.[7]

    On 29 January 2011, Pope Benedict named Antonelli a member of the

    Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants.[8]

    He retired as president of the Pontifical Council for the Family on 26 June 2012.[9]

    On 15 September 2012 he was appointed to a five-year term as a member of the

    Congregation for the Causes of Saints.[10]

    He was one of the

    Views

    Antonelli is generally seen as a moderate, with a strong interest in social justice and peace issues. In response to demands that the Church denounce divorcees who were candidates for political office in the 1990s, he said the Church should be more concerned with their voting record.[6] When in 2009 the Italian Court of Cassation declared there was no substantial difference in law between a family based on marriage and one resulting from cohabitation, he reacted by saying that, in the light of recent sociological studies that reveal the benefits to society of what is called the traditional family and the disadvantages for society of single-parent families and those of cohabiting couples, the traditional family is needed more than ever today both for family members and for society as a whole.[12]

    References

    1. ^ a b c d "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.03.2001" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 March 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    2. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXIV. 1982. p. 807. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    3. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXX. 1988. p. 1481. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    4. ^ "Assignment of the Titles or the Deaconries to the new Cardinals". The Holy See. Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    5. ^ "Elenco degli Em.mi Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine di precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of the Eminent Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    6. ^ a b Allen Jr., John L. (2005). "Who Will Be the Next Pope?". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    7. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.06.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    8. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 29.01.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    9. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 26.06.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    10. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.09.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    11. ^ "Elenco dei Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine e precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
    12. ^ Thavis, John. "Traditional family vital for modern society, Vatican official says". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.

    External links

    Catholic Church titles
    Preceded by
    Cesare Pagani
    Bishop of Gubbio
    25 May 1982 – 6 October 1988
    Succeeded by
    Archbishop of Perugia–Città della Pieve
    6 October 1988 – 26 May 1995
    Succeeded by
    Giuseppe Chiaretti
    Preceded by
    Secretary-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference

    26 May 1995 – 5 April 2001
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Archbishop of Florence
    21 March 2001 – 7 June 2008
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    Thomas Joseph Winning
    Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte
    21 October 2003 –
    Incumbent
    Preceded by President of the Pontifical Council for the Family
    7 June 2008 – 26 June 2012
    Succeeded by