Mario Francesco Pompedda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mario Francesco Pompedda |
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|---|---|
| President of the Commission for Advocates | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 7 March 2000 |
| Reign ended | 18 October 2006 |
| Predecessor | Zenon Grocholewski |
| Successor | Agostino Vallini |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Deacon of Annunciazione della Beata Vergine Maria a Via Ardeatina (2001–06) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 23 December 1951 |
| Consecration | 6 January 1998 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created Cardinal | 21 February 2001 |
| Rank | Cardinal-deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Mario Francesco Pompedda |
| Born | 18 April 1929 Ozieri, Sardinia, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 18 October 2006 (aged 77) Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic, Rome, Italy |
| Buried | Ozieri Cathedral (since 2010) |
| Previous post |
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| Alma mater | Pontifical Gregorian University Pontifical Biblical Institute Pontifical Lateran University |
| Motto | Soli Deo |
| Coat of arms |  |
Mario Francesco Pompedda (born April 18, 1929 – died October 18, 2006) was an important leader in the Catholic Church. He was an Italian Cardinal, which is a very high rank. He served as the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. This is the highest court in the Catholic Church. Cardinal Pompedda worked in the Church's court system for almost 50 years. He held many different jobs from 1955 to 2004.
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Early Life and Education
Mario Francesco Pompedda was born in Ozieri, a town in Sardinia, Italy. He began his studies at special schools called seminaries in Sassari and Cuglieri. Later, he moved to Rome to continue his education.
On December 23, 1951, he became a priest in Rome. He earned advanced degrees from important universities. He received a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also earned a doctorate in both civil and canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University. Canon law is the set of rules and laws that govern the Catholic Church.
Career in the Church Courts
Pompedda started working in the Church's legal system in 1955. He joined the Roman Rota, which is like a general appeals court for the Catholic Church. He first worked as a "defender of the bond." This role involves protecting the rules of marriage in Church court cases.
In 1969, he became an "auditor" at the Roman Rota. This means he was a judge who heard cases. He served in this role for many years. In 1993, he became the Dean of the Roman Rota. This made him the chief judge of that court.
Leading the Highest Church Court
In 1999, Cardinal Pompedda was appointed Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. This is the highest court in the entire Catholic Church. It handles very important legal matters. He held this top position until he turned 75 years old. It is a tradition for cardinals to retire at this age. His resignation was accepted in May 2004.
Cardinal Pompedda also served as the president of the appeals court for Vatican City. From 1999, he was also the president of the Court of Cassation for Vatican City. This is another high court that reviews legal decisions.
Becoming an Archbishop and Cardinal
On November 29, 1997, Pompedda was appointed titular Archbishop of Bisarcio. A titular archbishop is a bishop who holds the title of an old diocese that no longer exists. He was officially made a bishop on February 6, 1998.
On February 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a Cardinal-Deacon. This is a special rank within the College of Cardinals. He was given the title of the church Santissima Annunciazione della Beata Vergine Maria a Via Ardeatina.
Participating in a Papal Election
As a cardinal, he was one of the cardinal electors who took part in the 2005 papal conclave. This was the special meeting where cardinals vote to choose a new Pope. In 2005, they chose Pope Benedict XVI.
| Styles of Mario Francesco Pompedda |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Bisarcio (titular) |
Important Church Documents
Cardinal Pompedda taught canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also helped update the code of canon law in 1983. This was the first major update to the Church's laws since 1917.
He was also the main editor of Universi Dominici Gregis. This is an important document from Pope John Paul II published in 1995. It set the rules for what happens when a Pope dies or resigns. It also explains how the cardinals should elect the next Pope.
Cardinal Pompedda supported ideas to make it simpler to get an annulment of marriage. An annulment is a Church declaration that a marriage was not valid from the start. He gave talks about these proposed changes in 2003. However, he retired before the new rules were put into place. The final document, Dignitas connubii, did not include all the changes he had hoped for.
Other Roles and Honors
Cardinal Pompedda was also appointed as the Cardinal Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. This is an old and respected Catholic order. In November 2003, Pope John Paul II also made him the Ecclesiastical Counsellor of the Order. He continued in this role under Pope Benedict XVI.
Death and Burial
Cardinal Pompedda passed away in Rome on October 18, 2006. He died from a brain hemorrhage. He was first buried in a tomb in the cathedral in Ozieri, his hometown.
On February 18, 2010, his remains were moved to a special stone coffin, called a sarcophagus. This sarcophagus was built in the chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament in the Ozieri cathedral. A special mass was held for the reburial. A message from Pope Benedict XVI was read during the service, honoring Cardinal Pompedda.
