Loris Francesco Capovilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Loris Francesco Capovilla |
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| Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere | |
Loris Francesco Capovilla in 2014
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| In Office | 22 February 2014 – 26 May 2016 |
| Predecessor | Józef Glemp |
| Successor | Carlos Osoro Sierra |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 23 May 1940 |
| Consecration | 16 July 1967 by Pope Paul VI |
| Created Cardinal | 22 February 2014 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1915 Pontelongo, Veneto, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 26 May 2016 (aged 100) Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | Oboedientia et Pax ("Obedience and Peace") |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Loris Francesco Capovilla |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Loris Francesco Capovilla (born October 14, 1915 – died May 26, 2016) was an Italian Roman Catholic leader. He became a Cardinal in the Church. When he passed away, he was the oldest living Catholic bishop from Italy. He was also the fourth oldest in the whole world. When he became a cardinal in 2014, he was the oldest member of the College of Cardinals, which is a group of all the cardinals.
He worked as the personal secretary, or assistant, to Pope John XXIII from 1958 to 1963.
Biography
Early Life and Becoming a Priest
Loris Francesco Capovilla was born in Pontelongo, Italy, in 1915. His parents were Rodolfo Capovilla and Letizia Callegaro. He had one sister named Lia. He was baptized in Pontelongo. His father died in 1922. After this, Capovilla and his family faced difficult times. They moved to Mestre in 1929.
Capovilla studied at the Patriarchal Seminary in Venice. This is a special school for people who want to become priests. He was officially made a priest for the Archdiocese of Venice on May 23, 1940. Cardinal Piazza, who was the leader of the church in Venice, ordained him. Capovilla became the person in charge of ceremonies at the Basilica of Saint Mark. He also taught religious lessons in middle schools.
During World War II, Capovilla served in the military air force. After the war, from 1945 to 1953, he was a Sunday preacher on Radio Venezia. In 1949, he became the director of a church newspaper called La Voce di San Marco.
He became very good friends with Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. This cardinal later became Pope John XXIII. Capovilla started working for Roncalli on March 15, 1953. He always said he didn't see himself as Roncalli's friend, but as his bishop, his father, and his church leader. He stayed by Roncalli's side as his papal secretary after Roncalli was elected Pope in 1958. He continued in this role until the Pope's death in 1963.
Capovilla helped Roncalli during the election of the new Pope in 1958. Roncalli was chosen as Pope during this election. Capovilla was confirmed as the new Pope's secretary that same night. On December 12, 1958, he received a special title from the Pope. After Pope John XXIII died in 1963, Pope Paul VI appointed Capovilla as a special helper and advisor for the Second Vatican Council. This was a very important meeting for the Catholic Church.
Becoming a Bishop and Cardinal
Capovilla was appointed bishop of the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto on June 26, 1967. He was officially made a bishop on July 16, 1967, by Pope Paul VI. Two other bishops, Augusto Gianfranceshi and Jacques-Paul Martin, also helped with the ceremony. Capovilla chose the same motto that Pope John XXIII used. On September 23, 1971, he was appointed a special leader for the Loreto Prelature. He also received the special title of Titular Archbishop of Mesembria. He resigned from his position in Loreto on December 10, 1988.
On January 12, 2014, Pope Francis announced that Capovilla would be made a Cardinal. This ceremony took place on February 22, 2014. Capovilla said this honor was a "sign of attention" to all the priests around the world. He said it recognized those who have spent their lives quietly serving God and people. He felt it showed care for people who need "tenderness, friendship, respect and love," as Pope Francis often says.
Capovilla received special permission not to attend the ceremony where he was named cardinal. He said he wasn't strong enough and felt uncomfortable meeting so many people. He was named Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a senior cardinal, gave Capovilla the special red hat and cardinal's ring on March 1.
He passed away in Bergamo, Italy, on May 26, 2016. During his entire time as a cardinal, he was the oldest living Cardinal.
In 1964, he wrote a book called The Heart and Mind of John XXIII: His Secretary's Intimate Recollection. As of 2013, he lived in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, which is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Milan.
See also
In Spanish: Loris Francesco Capovilla para niños
- Cardinals created by Francis
