Gilberto Agustoni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Gilberto Agustoni |
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| Prefect Emeritus of the Apostolic Signatura | |
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| See | Santi Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta |
| Appointed | 26 November 1994 |
| Reign ended | 5 October 1998 |
| Predecessor | Achille Silvestrini |
| Successor | Zenon Grocholewski |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Santi Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 April 1946 |
| Consecration | 6 January 1987 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created Cardinal | 26 November 1994 |
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| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Gilberto Agustoni |
| Born | 26 July 1922 Schaffhausen, Switzerland |
| Died | 13 January 2017 (aged 94) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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| Motto | christus spes gloriae |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Gilberto Agustoni |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Gilberto Agustoni (born July 26, 1922 – died January 13, 2017) was an important leader in the Catholic Church from Switzerland. He worked for the Church in Rome, Italy for many years, from 1950 to 1998. He became a Cardinal in 1994. His last big job was leading the Apostolic Signatura, which is like the highest court in the Catholic Church.
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Early Life and Education
Gilberto Agustoni was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. He grew up with four brothers and one sister. Two of his brothers also became priests. His father was a civil servant, and his mother came from a village near Lake Constance.
He started his education at the Seminary of Lugano. He then studied in Rome for a year, where he earned a degree in philosophy. Because of World War II, he went back to Switzerland to continue his studies at the University of Fribourg. There, he completed a degree in sacred theology. On April 20, 1946, he became a priest in Lugano.
Later, Agustoni returned to Rome to study more. He attended the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Pontifical Lateran University. He earned special degrees in theology and law from these universities.
Working for the Church in Rome
In 1950, a very important Church leader, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, asked Agustoni to work in Rome. Agustoni began working for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) on July 1, 1950. This was a special opportunity because he was under 30 years old.
He moved up in his career, becoming the head of a department at the CDF. Later, he worked as a commissioner for another important office, the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments. After the Second Vatican Council, he helped organize different Church departments. This work was part of Pope Paul VI's plan to update Church practices, especially those related to worship. In May 1970, he became a judge in the Roman Rota, which is a high court in the Catholic Church.
On December 18, 1986, Pope John Paul II gave Agustoni the title of Titular Archbishop of Caprulae. He also became the Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. On April 2, 1992, he was appointed Pro-Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. He became the full Prefect when he was made a Cardinal-Deacon on November 26, 1994.
He retired from his position on October 5, 1998. In early 2005, after serving as a Cardinal-Deacon for ten years, he chose to become a Cardinal-Priest. Gilberto Agustoni passed away on January 13, 2017, at the age of 94.
Ottaviani Intervention Discussion
Gilberto Agustoni was the secretary to Cardinal Ottaviani when a document called the Ottaviani Intervention was written. This document questioned some of the changes made after the Second Vatican Council.
Some people, like Jean Madiran, claimed that this letter was presented to Cardinal Ottaviani in a way that might have tricked him into signing it, especially since the Cardinal was elderly and had poor eyesight. Madiran also claimed that Agustoni resigned shortly after this event. However, there was no official confirmation from Cardinal Ottaviani himself about this claim. Agustoni actually left his role as Ottaviani's secretary in 1970 to become a judge in the Roman Rota. His departure was a normal change of job, and there is no proof that it was related to any deception. Madiran himself admitted he was not present to witness the alleged event.
See also
In Spanish: Gilberto Agustoni para niños
