Ferdinando Baldelli
Encyclopedia
Ferdinando Baldelli was an Italian Catholic Bishop
. He was President of the Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza
(1944–1959) and President of Caritas (charity)
Internationalis (1951–1962).
A native of Pergola
, Ferdinando Baldelli was ordained as Catholic priest in 1909. In 1944 he suggested to Pope Pius XII
the creation of a Papal Charity. Pascalina Lehnert credits Baldelli with the idea of a papal aid organization, which Pope Pius XII supported enthousiastically until his death. He founded Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza, sometimes called Pontificia Opera di Assistenza, together with Carlo Egger and Otto Faller
. The Pope was personally involved, constantly asking Cardinals
and Bishop
from the United States
Argentina
, Brazil
, Switzerland
, Canada
, Mexico
, and other countries for help. The Commissione existed until 1959.
During the Holy Year of 1950, Pope Pius XII
decided to link and internationalize Catholic Charity work. Following a suggestion by Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, a study week, with participants from 22 countries, was held in Rome to examine the problems of Christian Caritas work. As a result, the decision was made to set up an international conference of Catholic charities.
In December 1951, upon approval of the statutes by the Holy See, the first constitutive General Assembly of Caritas (charity)
took place. Ferdinando Baldelli was elected to be the first President. Founding members came from organisations in 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. In 1957, the Confederation changed its name to Caritas Internationalis.
Pope John XXIII
appointed him to be President of the Curia and Titular Bishop
of Aperlae. October 25, 1959 he was ordained Ferdinando Baldelli died September 20, 1963 in Rome.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was President of the Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza
Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza
Ponteficia Commissione di Assistenza , also known as “Ponteficia Commissione di Assistenza ai Profughi”, “Vatican mission” and “Vatican Relief”, was a papal ad-hoc commission, created by Pope Pius XII on April 18, 1944, to provide quick, non-bureaucratic and direct aid to needy populations,...
(1944–1959) and President of Caritas (charity)
Caritas (charity)
Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide....
Internationalis (1951–1962).
A native of Pergola
Pergola, Italy
Pergola is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche.The Gilt Bronzes of Cartoceto di Pergola were discovered in the communal territory in 1946. They are now exposed in a specific museum at Pergola....
, Ferdinando Baldelli was ordained as Catholic priest in 1909. In 1944 he suggested to Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
the creation of a Papal Charity. Pascalina Lehnert credits Baldelli with the idea of a papal aid organization, which Pope Pius XII supported enthousiastically until his death. He founded Pontificia Commissione di Assistenza, sometimes called Pontificia Opera di Assistenza, together with Carlo Egger and Otto Faller
Otto Faller
Rev.Otto Faller SJ was Provincial Superior of the Jesuit order in Germany, educator, teacher and Dean at Stella Matutina in Feldkirch, Austria and Kolleg St. Blasien in Germany, professor of patristic studies at the Gregorian University. He was life-long editor of the works of St. Ambrose...
. The Pope was personally involved, constantly asking Cardinals
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...
and Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and other countries for help. The Commissione existed until 1959.
During the Holy Year of 1950, Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
decided to link and internationalize Catholic Charity work. Following a suggestion by Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, a study week, with participants from 22 countries, was held in Rome to examine the problems of Christian Caritas work. As a result, the decision was made to set up an international conference of Catholic charities.
In December 1951, upon approval of the statutes by the Holy See, the first constitutive General Assembly of Caritas (charity)
Caritas (charity)
Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide....
took place. Ferdinando Baldelli was elected to be the first President. Founding members came from organisations in 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. In 1957, the Confederation changed its name to Caritas Internationalis.
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...
appointed him to be President of the Curia and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Aperlae. October 25, 1959 he was ordained Ferdinando Baldelli died September 20, 1963 in Rome.