Dionigi Tettamanzi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Dionigi Tettamanzi |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan | |
Tettamanzi in 2011
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| See | Milan |
| Appointed | 11 July 2004 |
| Enthroned | 14 September 2004 |
| Reign ended | 28 June 2011 |
| Predecessor | Carlo Maria Martini |
| Successor | Angelo Scola |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Ambrogio e Carlo |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 28 June 1957 |
| Consecration | 23 September 1989 by Carlo Maria Martini |
| Created Cardinal | 21 February 1998 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1934 Renate, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 5 August 2017 (aged 83) Triuggio, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | Gaudium et pax (Joy and peace) |
| Signature |  |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Dionigi Tettamanzi |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Milan (emeritus) |
Dionigi Tettamanzi (born March 14, 1934 – died August 5, 2017) was an important leader in the Roman Catholic Church from Italy. He became a cardinal in 1998. A cardinal is a high-ranking official who helps the Pope. Tettamanzi served as the Archbishop of Genoa from 1995 to 2004. After that, he became the Archbishop of Milan from 2004 to 2011.
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Early Life and Education
Dionigi Tettamanzi was born on March 14, 1934, in a town called Renate, in Italy. He went to special schools called seminaries to study to become a priest. He studied at the Minor Seminary of Seveso and the Seminary of Venegono Inferiore. Later, he went to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. There, he earned a special degree called a doctorate in theology, which is the study of religious faith.
On June 28, 1957, he became a priest. He was ordained by Archbishop Giovanni Battista Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI. After becoming a priest, he worked in the Archdiocese of Milan. He was a pastor and also taught at the Minor Seminary of Masnago and Seveso San Pietro from 1960 to 1966. He continued teaching at the Seminary of Venegono from 1966 to 1986.
Becoming a Bishop and Cardinal
On July 1, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Tettamanzi to be the Archbishop of Ancona-Osimo. He was officially made a bishop on September 23, 1989, by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini. This ceremony took place at the Milan cathedral.
In 1991, Tettamanzi stepped down from his role as bishop. He then took on a new job for five years as the Secretary-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference. This is a group that brings together all the Catholic bishops in Italy.
Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Genoa on April 20, 1995. He also helped Pope John Paul II write an important letter called Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) in 1995.
At a special meeting called a consistory on February 21, 1998, Pope John Paul II made Tettamanzi a Cardinal-Priest. This meant he was now a cardinal. He was later chosen to become the Archbishop of Milan on July 11, 2002. He took over from Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini.
When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, many people thought Cardinal Tettamanzi might be chosen as the next Pope. However, he was not very well known outside of Italy. He also mostly spoke only Italian. He received few votes during the conclave, which is the meeting where cardinals choose a new Pope.
In 2006, Cardinal Tettamanzi gave a speech at a big meeting of the Italian Catholic Church. He suggested that the Church should be more open to working with different political groups. He famously said, "It is better to be Christian without saying it, than to proclaim it without being it."
In March 2009, when he turned 75, Cardinal Tettamanzi offered to step down from his role as Archbishop of Milan. Pope Benedict accepted his resignation on June 28, 2011. After retiring, Tettamanzi lived in a retreat house in Triuggio.
In July 2012, he was asked to be a temporary leader for the Diocese of Vigevano. He served in this role for one year. He was also one of the cardinals who voted in the 2013 papal conclave that chose Pope Francis.
In 2015, Pope Francis asked him to study how to create a new department in the Church called the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. In September 2015, Pope Francis also asked him to join a meeting about families. During this meeting, he supported the idea of allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion in some situations.
Cardinal Tettamanzi passed away on August 5, 2017, after being ill for a long time. He is buried in the metropolitan Cathedral of Milan.
His Views
Social Relations
Cardinal Tettamanzi often spoke about social issues. In 2008, he said that Muslims should have the right to build their mosques in countries where most people are Catholic. In 2010, he defended immigrants in Italy. He spoke against people who tried to label immigrants as criminals.
Divorced and Remarried Catholics
Cardinal Tettamanzi showed great care for divorced and remarried Catholics. He wanted to talk with them and understand their lives. He said, "The Church has not forgotten nor rejected you... For the Church, and for me, as a bishop, you are my beloved brothers and sisters."
In 2014, he wrote a book called Il Vangelo della misericordia per le famiglie ferite (The Gospel of Mercy for Wounded Families). In this book, he suggested that divorced and remarried Catholics could receive communion. He believed this was possible as long as it was clear that the Church still teaches that marriage is for life. He also said they needed to show a strong commitment to their Christian faith.
Images for kids
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Signature of Dionigi Tettamanzi
See also
In Spanish: Dionigi Tettamanzi para niños
