Elio Sgreccia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Elio Sgreccia |
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| Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria | |
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| Appointed | 20 November 2010 |
| Predecessor | Augusto Álvaro da Silva |
| Successor | Incumbent |
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| Ordination | 29 June 1952 |
| Consecration | 6 January 1993 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created Cardinal | 20 November 2010 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 June 1928 Arcevia, Italy |
| Died | 5 June 2019 (aged 90) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | none |
Elio Sgreccia (born June 6, 1928 – died June 5, 2019) was an important Italian cardinal and expert in bioethics. Bioethics is a field that looks at the moral questions that come up in medicine and biology. He led the Pontifical Academy for Life, which is a group that advises the Pope on life issues. He also directed a medical ethics journal and founded several organizations focused on bioethics.
Contents
Elio Sgreccia: A Life Dedicated to Ethics
His Early Life in Italy
Elio Sgreccia was the youngest of six children. He grew up in a farming family in Nidastore, a small town in central-eastern Italy. His dream of entering the seminary (a school for priests) was put on hold because of World War II. During this time, he helped his family on their farm and attended a vocational school.
His Journey in the Church
After the war, Elio Sgreccia entered the seminary in Fano. He became a priest on June 29, 1952. His first role was working with young people in a group called Catholic Action.
He earned university degrees in classical studies, philosophy, and theology. He then worked as a professor and leader at a seminary in Fano until 1972. After that, he became a vicar general for the Diocese of Fossombrone.
Becoming a Bishop and Cardinal
On November 5, 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him a Titular Bishop and secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family. He became a bishop on January 6, 1993, with Pope John Paul II leading the ceremony. He served in this role until 1996.
In 2005, Pope John Paul II named him president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. He held this important position until he retired in 2008 due to his age.
In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal. This is a very high rank in the Catholic Church, given to those who have made great contributions. Cardinal Sgreccia was installed as a cardinal deacon on March 12, 2011.
His Important Work in Bioethics
From 1974 to 1984, Sgreccia worked at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. He helped guide healthcare professionals and studied moral issues in medicine. In 1984, he started teaching bioethics at the university.
Founding Bioethics Centers
In 1985, he founded the university's Bioethics Center, which focused on ethical questions in medical care. He directed this center until 2006. He also joined Italy's National Bioethics Committee in 1990, helping to shape many expert opinions on ethical matters.
In 2003, he founded the International Federation of Bioethics Centers and Institutions of Personalist Inspiration (FIBIP). This group connects different centers that study bioethics from a specific philosophical viewpoint.
His Famous Book: Manuale di bioetica
Cardinal Sgreccia wrote a very important book called Manuale di bioetica (which means 'Manual of Bioethics'). This book explains a way to think about bioethics using reason and natural law, which also aligns with Catholic Church teachings. He called his approach "ontologically grounded personalism." It uses scientific facts, human philosophy, and moral reasoning to make ethical decisions.
The book was first published in 1986. It has been updated many times and translated into about ten different languages, including Spanish and French. The first full English version, called Personalist Bioethics: Foundations and Applications, came out in 2012.
In 2011, he received an honorary doctorate from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome. This university was the first to offer full degree programs in bioethics.
His Passing
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia passed away on June 5, 2019, at his home in Rome, just one day before his 91st birthday. His funeral was held in St. Peter's Basilica. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re led the service, and Pope Francis also took part in the final prayers.
See also
In Spanish: Elio Sgreccia para niños
