Alberto di Jorio
Encyclopedia
Alberto di Jorio was a cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
and for many years along with the layman Bernadino Nogara the powerhouse behind the growing wealth of the Vatican and the Istituto per le Opere di Religione
(popularly known as the "Vatican Bank").
. He entered the most prestigious of Roman seminaries, the Pontifical Roman Seminary, and after becoming a priest in 1908 soon took up a role as an official in the vicariate of Rome. Despite doing some work as a pastor in Rome, di Jorio was always chiefly concerned with his work in the Vatican bureaucracy, and in 1918 he took up a role as president of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione ("Institute of Religious Works").
Under the direction of Pope Pius XI
, who was eager to settle the "Roman Question" that had kept the Pope as a "prisoner of the Vatican
" since Italian unification in 1870, di Jorio formed a close association with Bernadino Nogara in the 1920s. After the Lateran Treaty settled the "Roman Question" and made the Vatican an independent state, di Jorio was chosen by Nogara to run the Vatican Bank, and aided by laws that allowed Nogara to freely buy shares in any company even if it made products contrary to Catholic Church teaching, the Vatican grew immensely wealthy, buying extensively into such wealthy corporations as General Motors
, Standard Oil
, General Electric
and IBM
- as well as Italgas, the major supplier of gas in Italy at the time.
during the election of Pope John XXIII
, who almost immediately elevated di Jorio to Cardinal (by bestowing his scarlet zuchetto immediately after his election as Pope) although he had not been consecrated a bishop. Six weeks after the conclave, di Jorio was elevated to Cardinal-Deacon of S. Pudenziana in the consistory of December 15, 1958. He was later consecrated on April 19, 1962 when Pope John decreed that all cardinals had to be bishops in order to prevent the nepotism
that had corrupted the Church for many centuries.
As a cardinal, di Jorio participated in the Second Vatican Council and in the conclave of 1963 that elected Pope Paul VI
. Although already seventy-nine at the time, he continued as effective head of the Vatican Bank until 1968, when the job was handed to the controversial Archbishop Paul Marcinkus
and the Bank became subjected to severe mismanagement of its resources.
Because he was already eighty-six when Ingravescentem aetatem decreed that cardinals over eighty could no longer vote for the election of a Pope, Alberto di Jorio was excluded from participation in any future conclave. After the death of José da Costa Nunes on November 29, 1976, Alberto di Jorio became the oldest member of the College of Cardinals until his own death in 1979. He was well regarded enough in old age for Pope Paul VI to preach a special homily for him on the seventieth anniversary of his priestly ordination.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and for many years along with the layman Bernadino Nogara the powerhouse behind the growing wealth of the Vatican and the Istituto per le Opere di Religione
Vatican Bank
The Institute for Works of Religion , commonly known as the Vatican Bank, is a privately held institute located inside Vatican City run by a professional bank CEO who reports directly to a committee of cardinals, and ultimately to the Pope...
(popularly known as the "Vatican Bank").
Early life
From his earliest years di Jorio was destined for a career in the Roman CuriaRoman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. He entered the most prestigious of Roman seminaries, the Pontifical Roman Seminary, and after becoming a priest in 1908 soon took up a role as an official in the vicariate of Rome. Despite doing some work as a pastor in Rome, di Jorio was always chiefly concerned with his work in the Vatican bureaucracy, and in 1918 he took up a role as president of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione ("Institute of Religious Works").
Under the direction of Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
, who was eager to settle the "Roman Question" that had kept the Pope as a "prisoner of the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
" since Italian unification in 1870, di Jorio formed a close association with Bernadino Nogara in the 1920s. After the Lateran Treaty settled the "Roman Question" and made the Vatican an independent state, di Jorio was chosen by Nogara to run the Vatican Bank, and aided by laws that allowed Nogara to freely buy shares in any company even if it made products contrary to Catholic Church teaching, the Vatican grew immensely wealthy, buying extensively into such wealthy corporations as General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
and IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
- as well as Italgas, the major supplier of gas in Italy at the time.
Episcopal Career
Father di Jorio continued to run the Istituto per le Opere di Religione until after Vatican II but he also played many other roles in the Curia during these years, most notably becoming Secretary of the Sacred College of Cardinals in 1947. He was thus secretary of the conclavePapal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
during the election of Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
, who almost immediately elevated di Jorio to Cardinal (by bestowing his scarlet zuchetto immediately after his election as Pope) although he had not been consecrated a bishop. Six weeks after the conclave, di Jorio was elevated to Cardinal-Deacon of S. Pudenziana in the consistory of December 15, 1958. He was later consecrated on April 19, 1962 when Pope John decreed that all cardinals had to be bishops in order to prevent the nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
that had corrupted the Church for many centuries.
As a cardinal, di Jorio participated in the Second Vatican Council and in the conclave of 1963 that elected Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. Although already seventy-nine at the time, he continued as effective head of the Vatican Bank until 1968, when the job was handed to the controversial Archbishop Paul Marcinkus
Paul Marcinkus
Paul Casimir Marcinkus was an American archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He was best known for his tenure as President of the Vatican Bank from 1971 through 1989.-Early life:...
and the Bank became subjected to severe mismanagement of its resources.
Because he was already eighty-six when Ingravescentem aetatem decreed that cardinals over eighty could no longer vote for the election of a Pope, Alberto di Jorio was excluded from participation in any future conclave. After the death of José da Costa Nunes on November 29, 1976, Alberto di Jorio became the oldest member of the College of Cardinals until his own death in 1979. He was well regarded enough in old age for Pope Paul VI to preach a special homily for him on the seventieth anniversary of his priestly ordination.
External references
- Yallop, David; In God's Name: An Investigation into the Murder of Pope John Paul IPope John Paul IJohn Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
; published 1984 by Poetic Product Limited; pp. 146-161.