Angelo Acerbi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angelo Acerbi |
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| Cardinal Apostolic Nuncio |
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Acerbi in 2010
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| Appointed | 22 June 1974 |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino (2024–) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 27 March 1948 |
| Consecration | 30 June 1974 by Pope Paul VI, Giovanni Benelli and Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy |
| Created Cardinal | 7 December 2024 |
| Rank | Cardinal deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 September 1925 Sesta Godano, Kingdom of Italy |
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| Motto | Fide Et Lenitate |
| Coat of arms | [[File:.svg) |50px|Angelo Acerbi's coat of arms|alt={{{coat_of_arms_alt}}}]] |
| Styles of Angelo Acerbi |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Angelo Acerbi (born September 23, 1925) is an Italian leader in the Catholic Church. He has been an archbishop since 1974 and a cardinal since 2024. He worked as a diplomat for the Holy See, which is the central government of the Catholic Church. His roles included being an Apostolic Nuncio (the Pope's ambassador) in countries like New Zealand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Hungary, and Moldova. He also served as a leader for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. He is currently the oldest living archbishop and cardinal.
Contents
Angelo Acerbi's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Angelo Acerbi was born in Sesta Godano, Italy, on September 23, 1925. He became a priest for the Diocese of La Spezia on March 27, 1948.
He studied and earned a degree in canon law, which is the law of the Catholic Church. He also got a license in theology, which is the study of religious faith. In 1954, after finishing his studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, he began working as a diplomat for the Holy See.
Working as a Diplomat
Acerbi worked in different countries as a diplomat for the Holy See. These countries included Colombia, Brazil, Japan, and France. He also worked in the International Relations Department of the Holy See's Secretariat of State. This department handles the Holy See's relationships with other countries.
In March 1974, he was sent to Spain. His mission was to help calm tensions between the church and the government. This happened after a bishop spoke out for more freedom for people in Spain's Basque region.
Becoming an Archbishop
On June 22, 1974, Pope Paul VI made him the Archbishop of Zella in Tunisia. He also became the Pope's ambassador (apostolic pronuncio) to New Zealand and a special representative (apostolic delegate) to the Pacific Ocean. On June 30, Pope Paul VI officially made him a bishop. In February 1979, he was also named the Pope's ambassador to Fiji.
Serving in Colombia
On August 14, 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed him as the Pope's ambassador to Colombia. On February 27, 1980, a group of communist rebels took him and many other diplomats hostage at an embassy in Bogota. He was held captive for about two months. He was one of the last people to be released on April 28 in Havana, Cuba. During his time as a hostage, he was allowed to celebrate Mass every day.
Later Diplomatic Roles
On March 28, 1990, he became the Pope's ambassador to Hungary. He was the first ambassador to be named there after the country became communist. During his time in Hungary, the Holy See and Hungary made an agreement about religious support for the armed forces. They also prepared another agreement about funding for Catholic Church activities, especially education.
On January 13, 1994, he was also appointed as the Pope's ambassador in Moldova. Then, on February 8, 1997, he moved to the Netherlands to serve as ambassador there. His active career as an ambassador ended on February 27, 2001, when Pope John Paul II appointed someone else to take his place.
Later Years and Becoming a Cardinal
After his diplomatic career, Pope John Paul II gave Acerbi new roles. On June 2, 2001, he became a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. This group helps spread the Catholic faith around the world. He also joined a council of cardinals and bishops that works with the Section for Relations with States. This section handles the Holy See's relationships with other countries. On April 4, 2002, he also became a member of the Congregation for Bishops, which helps the Pope choose new bishops.
On June 21, 2001, he was appointed as a leader for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. His job was to help the priests in the Order and support its leaders in encouraging members to follow their religious duties. On July 4, 2015, Pope Francis appointed a new leader for this role.
In September 2022, Acerbi was asked to lead a spiritual meditation for a meeting of the Holy See's diplomats.
On December 7, 2024, Pope Francis made Angelo Acerbi a cardinal. He became a Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino. At 99 years old, he became the oldest living cardinal, taking the place of Estanislao Esteban Karlic. He is thought to be the oldest person ever to be named a cardinal.
More to Explore
- List of heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy See
- Cardinals created by Pope Francis
See also
In Spanish: Angelo Acerbi para niños
