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 Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops |
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Re in 2023
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 16 September 2000 |
| Reign ended | 30 June 2010 |
| Predecessor | Lucas Moreira Neves |
| Successor | Marc Ouellet |
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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 | |
| Birth name | Giovanni Battista Re |
| Born | 30 January 1934 Borno, Kingdom of Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Matteo Re (father) |
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| 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 was born on January 30, 1934, in Italy. He is a very important leader in the Roman Catholic Church. He holds the title of cardinal and has served in many key roles within the Roman Curia, which is like the central government of the Catholic Church. From 2000 to 2010, he was the head of the Congregation for Bishops. In 2020, he became the Dean of the College of Cardinals, which is the leader of all the cardinals.
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Early Life and Education
Giovanni Battista Re grew up in Borno, Italy. His father, Matteo Re, was a carpenter. Giovanni Battista Re decided to become a priest and was ordained on March 3, 1957. He studied canon law, which are the laws of the Church, at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He also taught at a seminary in Brescia. In 1961, he began training for a diplomatic career, which means representing the Vatican in other countries.
Working for the Vatican
Since 1963, Cardinal Re has worked in the Roman Curia, the main administration of the Catholic Church. He started as a personal secretary to Archbishop Giovanni Benelli. Over time, he took on different diplomatic roles. In 1987, he was named a bishop and also became the secretary of the Congregation for Bishops. Pope John Paul II himself consecrated him as a bishop on November 7, 1987.
Key Roles in the Vatican
On December 12, 1989, he became the "substitute" for general affairs in the Vatican's Secretariat of State. This is a very important position, helping the Cardinal Secretary of State manage the daily activities of the Vatican.
Leading the Congregation for Bishops
On September 16, 2000, Cardinal Re was chosen to lead the Congregation for Bishops. This group helps the Pope choose new bishops around the world. He also led the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He became a cardinal on February 21, 2001. The next year, he was named a Cardinal Bishop. He held these important positions until June 30, 2010.
Other Important Roles
Cardinal Re was also a member of several other important offices within the Curia. These included groups that deal with Church teachings, missionary work, and the administration of Church property. He held these memberships until he turned 80 years old.
Role in Choosing Popes
Cardinal Re has played a significant role in choosing new Popes. He was one of the cardinals who voted in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, Cardinal Re was the most senior cardinal who was still young enough to vote. Because of this, he led the conclave that elected Pope Francis. At Pope Francis's inauguration on March 19, 2013, Cardinal Re was one of six cardinals who publicly promised their obedience to the new Pope.
On June 10, 2017, Pope Francis approved his election as the vice-dean of the College of Cardinals. Then, on January 18, 2020, Pope Francis approved his election as the Dean of the College of Cardinals. This means he is the leader of all the cardinals.
See also
In Spanish: Giovanni Battista Re para niños
