Giovanni Battista Re facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Giovanni Battista Re |
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| Dean of the College of Cardinals | |
Re in 2023
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Sabina-Poggio Mirteto Ostia |
| Appointed | 18 January 2020 |
| Predecessor | Angelo Sodano |
| Other posts |
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| Ordination | 3 March 1957 |
| Consecration | 7 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created Cardinal | 21 February 2001 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Bishop (2002–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 January 1934 Borno, Italy |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Matteo Re (father) |
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| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Giovanni Battista Re |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Ostia and Sabina-Poggio Mirteto (suburbicarian dioceses) |
Giovanni Battista Re, born on January 30, 1934, is an important leader in the Italian Catholic Church. He has been the Dean of the College of Cardinals since 2020. He became a cardinal in 2001. From 2000 to 2010, he was in charge of the Congregation for Bishops, a key department in the Vatican. He also led the meeting of cardinals, called a papal conclave, in 2013 that chose Pope Francis.
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Early Life and Education
Giovanni Battista Re was born in Borno, Italy. His father, Matteo Re, was a carpenter. Giovanni Battista Re became a priest on March 3, 1957, in Brescia.
He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. There, he earned a special degree in canon law, which is the law of the Church. He also taught at the seminary in Brescia. In 1961, he joined the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy to prepare for a career working for the Vatican in different countries.
Serving the Vatican
Giovanni Battista Re started working for the Roman Curia in 1963. The Roman Curia is like the main government of the Catholic Church. He worked as a personal secretary to Archbishop Giovanni Benelli.
He was later given the title of monsignor. He held several diplomatic jobs before becoming a bishop and secretary of the Congregation for Bishops on October 9, 1987. Pope John Paul II made him a bishop a month later, on November 7.
A Key Role in the Vatican
On December 12, 1989, he became the "sostituto" for general affairs. This is a very important position in the Vatican's Secretariat of State. It is one of the main jobs under the Cardinal Secretary of State.
Leading the Congregation for Bishops
On September 16, 2000, Cardinal Re was chosen to lead the Congregation for Bishops. This department helps the Pope choose new bishops around the world. He also led the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
He became a Cardinal-Priest on February 21, 2001. The next year, on October 1, he was named Cardinal Bishop of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto. He continued in these roles until June 30, 2010.
Important Decisions
In 2006, Cardinal Re supported Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska. Bishop Bruskewitz had said that Catholics who joined certain groups would be automatically excommunicated. These groups had beliefs that went against Catholic teachings. Cardinal Re, as the head of the Congregation for Bishops, confirmed that Bishop Bruskewitz had the authority to do this.
In 2007, Cardinal Re spoke about the resignation of Stanisław Wielgus as Archbishop of Warsaw. Wielgus resigned because it was revealed he had worked with the Polish communist secret police many years before. Cardinal Re said that the Vatican did not know about this when Wielgus was first chosen.
In January 2009, Cardinal Re issued a decree. This decree removed the excommunications from the bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X.
Other Important Roles
Cardinal Re was also a member of several other important offices in the Vatican. In May 2008, Pope Benedict XVI made him a member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. He was also part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. He held these roles until he turned 80 years old.
College of Cardinals
Cardinal Re was one of the cardinal electors who took part in the 2005 papal conclave. This was the meeting where cardinals chose Pope Benedict XVI. Many people thought he might become Pope himself.
When Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013, Cardinal Re was the most senior cardinal who was still young enough to vote. Because of this, he led the conclave that elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis. At Pope Francis's inauguration on March 19, 2013, Cardinal Re was one of six cardinals who publicly promised to obey the new Pope.
On June 10, 2017, Pope Francis approved Cardinal Re's election as the subdean of the College of Cardinals. The subdean is like the assistant leader of the cardinals. Then, on January 18, 2020, Pope Francis approved his election as the dean of the College of Cardinals for a five-year term. He was approved for a second five-year term as dean on January 7, 2025.
As the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Re, along with Pope Francis, led the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI on January 5, 2023. This was the first funeral for a retired pope since Pope Gregory XII in 1415. On April 26, 2025, Cardinal Re also led the funeral of Pope Francis. He also led the general meetings of the College of Cardinals before the 2025 papal conclave. However, because he was over 80 years old, he did not lead the conclave itself. Instead, the senior cardinal bishop, Pietro Parolin, led the conclave. Cardinal Re did, however, lead a special Mass before the conclave began on May 7, 2025.
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of Giovanni Battista Re
See also
In Spanish: Giovanni Battista Re para niños
