Salvatore Cardinal De Giorgi
Encyclopedia
Salvatore De Giorgi is an Italian churchman
, Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo
in Sicily
.
De Giorgi was born in Vernole
, in Apulia
(Southern Italy
). He was ordained as a priest in 1953 and first became a bishop
in 1973, when he was made Titular Bishop
of Tulana and an auxiliary bishop of Oria
. Seven years later, in 1981, he was made archbishop of Foggia. From 1987 to 1990, he served as archbishop of Taranto. In 1990, he was appointed General Chaplain of Italian Catholic Action
, a position which he held until becoming archbishop of Palermo in 1996. At the same time, he was also elected President of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference.
De Giorgi was proclaimed a Cardinal-Priest
of Santa Maria in Aracoeli
in 1998. He was one of the cardinal electors
who participated in the 2005 papal conclave
that selected Pope Benedict XVI
.
He retired as Archbishop of Palermo on 19 December 2006, and was replaced by Archbishop
Paolo Romeo
, who had been apostolic nuncio to Italy
and San Marino. Romeo is likely to be named a cardinal in the near future.
Cardinal De Giorgi is noted as a writer and journalist. He has been the author of several religious publications.
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...
, Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palermo
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palermo was founded as the Diocese of Palermo in the 1st Century but was raised to the level of an archdiocese in the 11th century...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
De Giorgi was born in Vernole
Vernole
Vernole is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy....
, in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
(Southern 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 was ordained as a priest in 1953 and first became a 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...
in 1973, when he was made 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 Tulana and an auxiliary bishop of Oria
Oria
-Places:Italy* Oria, Apulia, a town in the Apulia region, Province of Brindisi* Oria, Lombardy, a village in the municipality of Valsolda, in the Province of ComoSpain* Oria, Spain, a municipality in the Province of Almería, Andalusia...
. Seven years later, in 1981, he was made archbishop of Foggia. From 1987 to 1990, he served as archbishop of Taranto. In 1990, he was appointed General Chaplain of Italian Catholic Action
Azione Cattolica
The Azione Cattolica Italiana, or Azione Cattolica for short, is a widespread lay Roman Catholic association in Italy.-History:...
, a position which he held until becoming archbishop of Palermo in 1996. At the same time, he was also elected President of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference.
De Giorgi was proclaimed a Cardinal-Priest
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 Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is a titular basilica in Rome, located on the highest summit of the Campidoglio. It is still the designated Church of the city council of Rome, which uses the ancient title of Senatus Populusque Romanus...
in 1998. He was one of the cardinal electors
Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005
The following is a list of the 115 cardinal electors in the 2005 papal conclave, arranged by region and, within each region, alphabetically. Two cardinals who were eligible to participate in the conclave, namely Adolfo Suarez Rivera and Jaime Sin, did not attend due to ill health.-Roman...
who participated in the 2005 papal conclave
Papal conclave, 2005
The Papal conclave of 2005 was convened as a result of the death of Pope John Paul II on 2 April 2005. After his death, the cardinals who were in Rome met and set a date for the beginning of the conclave to elect John Paul's successor. The conclave began on 18 April 2005 and ended on the following...
that selected 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...
.
He retired as Archbishop of Palermo on 19 December 2006, and was replaced by Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Paolo Romeo
Paolo Romeo
Paolo Romeo STL JCD is the current Cardinal Archbishop of Palermo. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 December 2006.Romeo was the fifth of nine children...
, who had been apostolic nuncio to 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...
and San Marino. Romeo is likely to be named a cardinal in the near future.
Cardinal De Giorgi is noted as a writer and journalist. He has been the author of several religious publications.
External links
- Vatican bio
- Speculation on De Giorgi's chances of becoming pope