Fortunato Baldelli
Encyclopedia
Fortunato Baldelli is an Italian Catholic Cardinal. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France
from June 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary
on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI
. http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/23952.php?index=23952&lang=en
Baldelli was ordained priest for the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino
on 18 March 1961. He has a degree in canon law
. Joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See
in 1966, he worked in Cuba
and Egypt
.
His career continued at the Secretariat of State and the Council for Public Affairs of the Church and the Council of Europe
in Strasbourg
, as a special envoy with a permanent observer of the Holy See.
On 12 February 1983, Pope John Paul II
appointed him Titular Archbishop of Mevania, and sent as apostolic delegate in Angola
. In 1985 he was appointed Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in São Tomé
and Príncipe, and in 1991 the Apostolic Nuncio in the Dominican Republic
and then Peru
in 1994.
He was appointed apostolic nuncio in France on 19 June 1999, succeeding Archbishop Mario Tagliaferri, who died unexpectedly on 21 May. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France
from 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary
on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict. As such he deals with the forgiveness of the most grievous sins as well as indulgences. In addition to his duties as Major Penitentiary, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
on 24 July 2010 for the usual five-year period . In addition to Italian, Cardinal Baldelli speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Cardinal Baldelli was present at the coronation of Albert II, Prince of Monaco
as non-resident Apostolic Nuncio to Monaco, and read a letter of good wishes and blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.
On 20 October 2010 Pope Benedict announced that he would be among the list of new cardinals to be created in a consistory on 20 November. He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino
.
In December 2010 Cardinal Baldelli was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
. On 29 January 2011 Cardinal Baldelli was appointed a member of Secretariat of State (second section)
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from June 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary
Apostolic Penitentiary
The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.The...
on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/23952.php?index=23952&lang=en
Baldelli was ordained priest for the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino
Roman Catholic Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino
The Italian Catholic diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, in Umbria, has existed since 1986. In that year the historic diocese of Assisi, known as the birthplace of Francis of Assisi, was combined with the diocese of Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino...
on 18 March 1961. He has a degree in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. Joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See
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...
in 1966, he worked in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
His career continued at the Secretariat of State and the Council for Public Affairs of the Church and the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, as a special envoy with a permanent observer of the Holy See.
On 12 February 1983, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
appointed him Titular Archbishop of Mevania, and sent as apostolic delegate in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. In 1985 he was appointed Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in São Tomé
São Tomé
-Transport:São Tomé is served by São Tomé International Airport with regular flights to Europe and other African Countries.-Climate:São Tomé features a tropical wet and dry climate with a relatively lengthy wet season and a short dry season. The wet season runs from October through May while the...
and Príncipe, and in 1991 the Apostolic Nuncio in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and then Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in 1994.
He was appointed apostolic nuncio in France on 19 June 1999, succeeding Archbishop Mario Tagliaferri, who died unexpectedly on 21 May. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary
Apostolic Penitentiary
The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.The...
on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict. As such he deals with the forgiveness of the most grievous sins as well as indulgences. In addition to his duties as Major Penitentiary, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
on 24 July 2010 for the usual five-year period . In addition to Italian, Cardinal Baldelli speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Cardinal Baldelli was present at the coronation of Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
as non-resident Apostolic Nuncio to Monaco, and read a letter of good wishes and blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.
On 20 October 2010 Pope Benedict announced that he would be among the list of new cardinals to be created in a consistory on 20 November. He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino
Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino
Sant' Anselmo all'Aventino is a church, monastery and college on the Aventine Hill in Rome, dedicated to Saint Anselm.They were designed by Hildebrand de Hemptinne and Fidelis von Stotzingen, and built in 1900...
.
In December 2010 Cardinal Baldelli was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
. On 29 January 2011 Cardinal Baldelli was appointed a member of Secretariat of State (second section)