Pericle Felici facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Pericle Felici |
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| Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura | |
Cardinal Felici in 1968
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 15 August 1977 |
| Reign ended | 22 March 1982 |
| Predecessor | Dino Staffa |
| Successor | Aurelio Sabattani |
| Other posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 28 October 1933 |
| Consecration | 28 October 1960 by Pope John XXIII |
| Created Cardinal | 26 June 1967 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Pericle Felici |
| Born | 1 August 1911 Segni, Rome, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 22 March 1982 (aged 70) Foggia, Italy |
| Parents | Luigi Felici Anna Roscioli |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | Fructificat Domino |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Pericle Felici |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Samosata (titular) |
Pericle Felici (born August 1, 1911 – died March 22, 1982) was an important leader in the Catholic Church from Italy. He held many key positions in the Roman Curia, which is like the central government of the Catholic Church. From 1947 until his death, he worked in various roles.
He was the Secretary General of the Second Vatican Council, a very important meeting of Catholic bishops. He also led the group that updated the Church's laws, called Canon Law. Later, he became the head of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, which is the highest court in the Catholic Church. In 1967, he became a cardinal. In 1978, he was the one who announced to the world that new popes had been chosen. Cardinal Felici was known for his traditional views throughout his career.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pericle Felici was born in Segni, a town near Rome, Italy, on August 1, 1911. He studied to become a priest at local and Roman seminaries. A seminary is a special school for training priests. He was ordained as a priest in 1933.
He earned advanced degrees in philosophy, theology, and canon law. For ten years, he served as the rector (head) of the Pontifical Roman Seminary. In 1947, he began his work in the Roman Curia. His first job was as an auditor for the Roman Rota, which is the Holy See's highest court for trials.
Role in the Second Vatican Council
In 1959, Pope John XXIII created a committee to plan the Second Vatican Council. This was a major event for the Catholic Church. Felici was chosen as a member and the secretary of this committee. As secretary, he was the main spokesperson. He explained the committee's plans to the media.
He said the council would discuss current issues, not just old church practices. He also welcomed journalists to report freely. Pope John XXIII thought Felici was very smart and hardworking.
Becoming a Bishop
In 1960, Felici was appointed the titular archbishop of Samosata. This means he was given the title of archbishop for a historical diocese that no longer exists. He was ordained as a bishop on October 28, 1960. When Pope John XXIII died in 1963, Felici led the services for the Pope's burial.
Council Procedures and Debates
As the Secretary General of the council, Felici was responsible for many important tasks. He took the required oath for all council participants. He also announced the agenda and rules to the bishops in Latin. When voting began in 1963, he announced the results.
During the council, Felici sometimes tried to control what information was shared. For example, he stopped a speech by Cardinal Helder Pessoa Camara. This speech criticized the council for not focusing enough on social issues. He also tried to prevent bishops from sharing certain statements. Some people saw him as a strict leader. He worked with other leaders to try and keep the Roman Curia in control of the council's discussions.
Later Church Appointments
After the Second Vatican Council, Cardinal Felici continued to hold important roles. He became the president of a special group. This group was in charge of explaining and putting into action the decisions made during the council. They also wrote rules for Christian education and the role of regular church members.
He was also part of a group that reviewed a new catechism (a book of Catholic teachings) from Dutch bishops. They asked for clarifications before it could be translated.
Updating Church Law
Starting in 1967, he led the group that updated the Code of Canon Law. This was a huge project that finished just before he died. The first ideas for this new law faced some criticism. People felt it was too strict or old-fashioned. Felici shared a draft with bishops around the world in 1971. He reported that it had been largely rejected.
In 1970, Felici also helped announce new, more relaxed rules. These rules were for Catholics who married people who were not Catholic. He was also a member of a group that updated Canon Law for Eastern Rite churches.
Becoming a Cardinal
On June 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI made him a cardinal. He was given the title of Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Apollinare alle Terme Neroniane-Alessandrine. When asked what this new role meant to him, he replied, "A lot of work and loyalty to the boss."
On September 14, 1977, he was appointed Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. This made him the chief judge of the Holy See.
Papal Elections of 1978
In 1978, Cardinal Felici took part in two important meetings called papal conclaves. These are the meetings where cardinals choose a new pope. He was considered a possible candidate for pope himself. However, some cardinals thought he was too traditional.
Because he was the most senior Cardinal Deacon, he had the important job of announcing the new popes to the world. He announced the elections of Albino Luciani as Pope John Paul I and Karol Wojtyła as Pope John Paul II. He also placed the pallium (a special scarf worn by popes) on both new popes during their inauguration ceremonies.
His title changed from cardinal-deacon to cardinal-priest on June 30, 1979.
Views and Final Years
Cardinal Felici was known for his conservative views. He often spoke about them at meetings of the Synod of Bishops. For example, in 1971, he preferred that the Pope alone decide on priestly celibacy. In 1974, he criticized those who linked social freedom with freedom from sin. He felt this lessened the importance of religion.
In 1978, Pope John Paul II appointed Felici to a council for the Synod of Bishops. This was likely because of his role in marriage annulments. Annulments are declarations that a marriage was never valid in the eyes of the Church. Felici was against making it easier to get annulments. He reported that annulments were increasing quickly. He warned that church law should not be ignored for other reasons.
Felici was a master of Latin, the traditional language of the Church. He was known for his sharp sense of humor, especially when it came to Latin. He even wrote poetry in Latin and preferred to speak it.
He had a heart attack in 1980. He passed away on March 22, 1982, in Foggia, Italy. At the time of his death, he was a member of several important Church departments. His diaries from his work during the Second Vatican Council were published in 2015.
Selected Works
- Council Digest: The Basic Message of Vatican Council II (1981)
- Concilio vitam alere: Meditationes super decretis Concilii Vaticani II (1975), with Trento Longaretti
- Il diario conciliare di monsignor Pericle Felici (2015), edited by Vincenzo Carbone and Agostino Marchetto
- Magistero e Autorità nella Chiesa (1969)
Images for kids
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Monsignor Felici photographed during the Second Vatican Council
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Cardinal Felici in Fátima in May 1968
See also
In Spanish: Pericle Felici para niños
