Ennio Antonelli

Ennio Antonelli (born 18 November 1936) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was president of the Pontifical Council for the Family from 2008 to 2012. He has been a bishop since 1982, serving as bishop of Gubbio from 1982 to 1988, archbishop of Perugia from 1988 to 1995, and archbishop of Florence from 2001 to 2008. He led the Italian Episcopal Conference from 1995 to 2001 and was raised to the rank of cardinal in 2003.

For the actor, see Ennio Antonelli (actor).

His Eminence

Ennio Antonelli
President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Family
Antonelli in Madrid in 2012.
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed7 June 2008
Term ended26 June 2012
PredecessorAlfonso López Trujillo
SuccessorVincenzo Paglia
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte (2003–)
Orders
Ordination2 April 1960
by Ilario Alcini
Consecration29 August 1982
by Decio Lucio Grandoni
Created cardinal21 October 2003
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born (1936-11-18) 18 November 1936
Todi, Kingdom of Italy
NationalityItalian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
Alma mater
MottoVoluntas Dei pax nostra
Coat of armsCoat of arms
Styles of
Ennio Antonelli
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeFlorence (emeritus)

Biography
Antonelli, right, greeting Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in 2007

Born in Todi on 18 November 1936, he attended the seminary there, the regional seminary in Assisi, and the pontifical major seminary in Rome. He studied at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, earning a licentiate in sacred theology. He later earned a doctorate in classics at the University of Perugia. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Todi on 2 April 1960.[1]

Cardinal Antonelli's coat-of-arms on the basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte

He worked at the Seminary of Perugia as vice-rector, professor, and finally rector. He also taught theology at the regional seminary in Assisi, as well as art history in secondary schools in Assisi and Deruta. He was also a chaplain to Catholic teachers and student groups and a parish priest.[1]

On 25 May 1982, Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Gubbio.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on 29 August 1982 from Decio Lucio Grandoni, Bishop of Todi.

On 6 October 1988 he was promoted to Archbishop of Perugia-Città del Pieve.[3]

He resigned as archbishop to serve a five-year term as Secretary-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference on 26 May 1995.[1]

He served in this position until 21 March 2001, when he was named archbishop of Florence.[1] He was installed there on 20 May.

Pope John Paul made him Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte in the consistory held on 21 October 2003.[4]

Antonelli served as a cardinal elector in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.[5] He was viewed as papabile, a possible candidate for election to the papacy.[6]

On 7 June 2008, Pope Benedict named him president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.[7]

On 29 January 2011, Pope Benedict named Antonelli a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants.[8]

He retired as president of the Pontifical Council for the Family on 26 June 2012.[9]

On 15 September 2012 he was appointed to a five-year term as a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.[10]

He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.[11]

Views

Antonelli is generally seen as a moderate, with a strong interest in social justice and peace issues. In response to demands that the Church denounce divorcees who were candidates for political office in the 1990s, he said the Church should be more concerned with their voting record.[6] When in 2009 the Italian Court of Cassation declared there was no substantial difference in law between a family based on marriage and one resulting from cohabitation, he reacted by saying that, in the light of recent sociological studies that reveal the benefits to society of what is called the traditional family and the disadvantages for society of single-parent families and those of cohabiting couples, the traditional family is needed more than ever today both for family members and for society as a whole.[12]

References
  1. "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.03.2001" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 March 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  2. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXIV. 1982. p. 807. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXX. 1988. p. 1481. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. "Assignment of the Titles or the Deaconries to the new Cardinals". The Holy See. Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  5. "Elenco degli Em.mi Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine di precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of the Eminent Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. Allen Jr., John L. (2005). "Who Will Be the Next Pope?". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. "Rinunce e Nomine, 07.06.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. "Rinunce e Nomine, 29.01.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  9. "Rinunce e Nomine, 26.06.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.09.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. "Elenco dei Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine e precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. Thavis, John. "Traditional family vital for modern society, Vatican official says". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
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