Leonardo Sandri
Encyclopedia
Leonardo Sandri is a Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
in the Roman Curia
, having previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
(1997–2000), Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
(2000) and Substitute for General Affairs (2000–2007). He was elevated to the cardinalate
in 2007.
to Antonio Enrico Sandri and Nella Righi, who had emigrated to Argentina
from Ala, a village in Trentino in Italy
. He studied humanities
, philosophy
and theology
at the Metropolitan Seminary
of Buenos Aires, and earned a Licentiate in Theology
from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina
. On 2 December 1967, he was ordained
to the priesthood
by Archbishop Juan Carlos Aramburu.
of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Villa Urquiza
and secretary
to Archbishop Aramburu until 1970, when he was sent to further his studies in Rome
. He there attended the Pontifical Gregorian University
, from where he obtained a doctorate in canon law
, and the Pontifical Latin American College
. In 1971, he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
, which trains papal diplomats
.
in Madagascar
and Mauritius
, which also serves as the Apostolic Delegation
in the islands of Comoros
and Réunion
in the Indian Ocean
.
He then served in the Vatican Secretariat of State, as secretary of the Substitute for General Affairs, from 1977 to 1989; and in the Apostolic Nunciature in the United States, as permanent observer
of the Holy See
before the Organization of American States
, from 1989 to 1991.
He became regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household on 22 August 1991, and assessor of the Section for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State on 2 April 1992. On 22 July 1997, Sandri was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
and Titular Archbishop
of Aemona
by Pope John Paul II
.
on the following 11 October from Cardinal Angelo Sodano
, with Cardinal Aramburu and Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Peter's Basilica
. He selected as his episcopal motto
: "Ille Fidelis", meaning, "He (Christ) remains faithful" . After two years in Venezuela
, he briefly served as Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
from 1 March to 16 September 2000, when he was named Substitute for General Affairs.
(after the Cardinal Secretary of State
and the Pope
himself), serving essentially as the chief of staff
of the Secretariat of State.
During the time of John Paul II's declining health, he would read the texts that the Pope could not personally deliver; he later announced the Pope's death to the world from St. Peter's Square
on the evening of 2 April 2005, saying, "Our Holy Father John Paul has returned to the house of the Father...We all feel like orphans this evening."
of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
by Pope Benedict XVI
. Succeeding Ignatius I Daoud, he heads the curial congregation
that handles matters regarding the Eastern Catholic Churches and is the ex officio Grand Chancellor
of the Pontifical Oriental Institute
.
Sandri, who visited the Holy Land
in February 2008, has lamented the emigration of Christians from that region, saying, "This lack of peace
makes Christians emigrate and leave their land behind. So we're left with a purely geological, physical presence of Jesus
, and not with the presence of those that grew with him and lived his faith, and that continue to follow him today like disciples of his very homeland." Some have attributed the delay in the canonization process
for John Paul II to Sandri's apparent reluctance to testify in the effort.
of S. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari
in the consistory
of 24 November 2007. He delivered the message of thanksgiving to the Pope on behalf of the new cardinals.
In addition to his duties as Cardinal Prefect, Cardinal Sandri is a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
, Pontifical Commission for Latin America
and Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
. On 2 March 2010 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops
, and gets to assist in the appointment of Latin Rite bishops in non-missionary dioceses. On 31 May 2011 he was appointed a member of the Apostolic Signatura
. He is eligible to participate in a papal conclave
until he reaches the age of 80 on 18 November 2023.
Cardinal Sandri, in his role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, was named by Pope Benedict XVI
be one of two co-presidents of the special Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, to be held at the Vatican in October 2010.
He speaks English
, French
, German
, Italian
and Spanish
.
memorial and commented that his speech was a source of joy for both Christians and Jews.
and the Vatican Publishing House
for their work in combatting religious, biblical and ecclesial illiteracy.
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...
. He is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
in the Roman Curia
Roman 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...
, having previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
The Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela is the holder of a diplomatic position within the Catholic Church, who acts as Ambassador of the Holy See to Venezuela.-Apostolic Nuncios to Venezuela:*Serafino Vannutelli...
(1997–2000), Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
The Apostolic Nunciature to the Republic of Mexico is an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador....
(2000) and Substitute for General Affairs (2000–2007). He was elevated to the cardinalate
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...
in 2007.
Early life and ordination
Sandri was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to Antonio Enrico Sandri and Nella Righi, who had emigrated to 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...
from Ala, a village in Trentino in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He studied humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Metropolitan Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Buenos Aires, and earned a Licentiate in Theology
Licentiate in Theology
The Licentiate of Theology or the Licence in Theology is a theological qualification commonly awarded for ordinands and laymen studying theology in the United Kingdom, Malta, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...
from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina
Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina
The Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina is a university in Argentina with campus in the cities of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Rosario, Paraná, Mendoza and Pergamino. The main campus is located in Puerto Madero, one of the most modern neighborhood of Buenos Aires...
. On 2 December 1967, he was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Archbishop Juan Carlos Aramburu.
Pastoral work
He then served as parochial vicarCurate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Villa Urquiza
Villa Urquiza
Villa Urquiza is a barrio or neighborhood of Buenos Aires city, capital of Argentina. It is located between the barrios of Villa Pueyrredón, Belgrano, Villa Ortúzar, Coghlan, Saavedra and Agronomía. Its limits are the streets and avenues Constituyentes, Crisólogo Larralde, Galván, Núñez, Tronador,...
and secretary
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
to Archbishop Aramburu until 1970, when he was sent to further his studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He there attended the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, from where he obtained a doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
, and the Pontifical Latin American College
South American College in Rome
The South American College in Rome is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church, for students from Central and South America.-History:...
. In 1971, he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See....
, which trains papal diplomats
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Diplomatic work
In 1974, Sandri became an official of the Apostolic NunciatureApostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, which also serves as the Apostolic Delegation
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
in the islands of Comoros
Comoros
The Comoros , officially the Union of the Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar...
and Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
.
He then served in the Vatican Secretariat of State, as secretary of the Substitute for General Affairs, from 1977 to 1989; and in the Apostolic Nunciature in the United States, as permanent observer
Observer status
Observer status is a privilege granted by some organizations to non-members to give them an ability to participate in the organization's activities. Observer status is often granted by intergovernmental organizations to non-member states and international nongovernmental organizations that have...
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...
before the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
, from 1989 to 1991.
He became regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household on 22 August 1991, and assessor of the Section for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State on 2 April 1992. On 22 July 1997, Sandri was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela
The Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela is the holder of a diplomatic position within the Catholic Church, who acts as Ambassador of the Holy See to Venezuela.-Apostolic Nuncios to Venezuela:*Serafino Vannutelli...
and Titular Archbishop
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 Aemona
Aemona (Titular See)
The Diocese of Aemona is a Titular See in the Roman Catholic Church. The first Titular Bishop was appointed to this See on 3 July 1969. In Latin the diocese is known as Aemoniensis seu Civitatis Novae; in Italian it is Cittanova....
by 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 ...
.
Bishop
He received his episcopal consecrationBishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following 11 October from Cardinal Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Dean of the College of Cardinals and former Vatican Secretary of State, having held that post from 1990 to 2006, under both popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI...
, with Cardinal Aramburu and Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "Ille Fidelis", meaning, "He (Christ) remains faithful" . After two years in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, he briefly served as Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
The Apostolic Nunciature to the Republic of Mexico is an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador....
from 1 March to 16 September 2000, when he was named Substitute for General Affairs.
Secretariate of State
As Substitute, Sandri held the third most important position within the VaticanHoly 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...
(after the Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
and the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
himself), serving essentially as the chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of the Secretariat of State.
During the time of John Paul II's declining health, he would read the texts that the Pope could not personally deliver; he later announced the Pope's death to the world from St. Peter's Square
Saint Peter's Square
Saint Peter's Square is located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave within Rome .-History of St...
on the evening of 2 April 2005, saying, "Our Holy Father John Paul has returned to the house of the Father...We all feel like orphans this evening."
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
On 9 June 2007, Sandri was appointed PrefectPrefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
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...
. Succeeding Ignatius I Daoud, he heads the curial congregation
Congregation (Roman Curia)
A congregation is a type of dicastery of the Roman Curia, the central administrative organism of the Catholic Church....
that handles matters regarding the Eastern Catholic Churches and is the ex officio Grand Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the Pontifical Oriental Institute
Pontifical Oriental Institute
The Pontifical Oriental Institute is the premier center for the study of Eastern Christianity in Rome, Italy....
.
Sandri, who visited the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
in February 2008, has lamented the emigration of Christians from that region, saying, "This lack of peace
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
makes Christians emigrate and leave their land behind. So we're left with a purely geological, physical presence of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, and not with the presence of those that grew with him and lived his faith, and that continue to follow him today like disciples of his very homeland." Some have attributed the delay in the canonization process
Beatification and Canonisation of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City for almost 27 years. Since his death on 2 April 2005, many thousands of people have been supporting the case for beatifying and canonising the late Pope John Paul II as a saint...
for John Paul II to Sandri's apparent reluctance to testify in the effort.
Cardinal
Benedict XVI created him Cardinal-DeaconCardinal (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 S. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari
San Carlo ai Catinari
San Carlo ai Catinari, also called Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari is an early-Baroque style church in Rome, Italy....
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of 24 November 2007. He delivered the message of thanksgiving to the Pope on behalf of the new cardinals.
In addition to his duties as Cardinal Prefect, Cardinal Sandri is a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is a dicastery of the Roman Curia, erected by Pope Paul VI on 19 May 1964 as the Secretariat for Non-Christians, and renamed by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988....
, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts is part of the Roman Curia. Its work "consists mainly in interpreting the laws of the Church". ....
, Pontifical Commission for Latin America
Pontifical Commission for Latin America
The Pontifical Commission for Latin America is a department of the Roman Curia. Established by Pope Pius XII on 19 April, 1958, it is charged with providing assistance to and examining matters pertaining to the Church in Latin America...
and Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is the legislative body of Vatican City...
. On 2 March 2010 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
, and gets to assist in the appointment of Latin Rite bishops in non-missionary dioceses. On 31 May 2011 he was appointed a member of the Apostolic Signatura
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church...
. He is eligible to participate in a papal conclave
Papal 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...
until he reaches the age of 80 on 18 November 2023.
Cardinal Sandri, in his role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, was named 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...
be one of two co-presidents of the special Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, to be held at the Vatican in October 2010.
He speaks English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
Jewish-Christian relations
Cardinal Sandri was present at Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the Yad VashemYad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
memorial and commented that his speech was a source of joy for both Christians and Jews.
Iraqi Christians
Sandri has said that although the regime of Saddam Hussein was dictatorial, it is undeniable that Iraqi clergy and laity felt more secure under his regime and that their liturgical life went on undisturbed.Religious illiteracy
Cardinal Sandri has praised the work of L'Osservatore RomanoL'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano is the "semi-official" newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope's public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released...
and the Vatican Publishing House
Vatican Publishing House
The Vatican Publishing House is a publisher established by the Holy See in 1926. It is responsible for publishing official documents of the Roman Catholic Church, including Papal bulls and encyclicals....
for their work in combatting religious, biblical and ecclesial illiteracy.