Silvano Piovanelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Silvano Piovanelli |
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|---|---|
| Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Florence | |
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| See | Florence (emeritus) |
| Enthroned | 18 March 1983 |
| Reign ended | 21 March 2001 |
| Predecessor | Giovanni Benelli |
| Successor | Ennio Antonelli |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria delle Grazie a Via Trionfale (1985–2016) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 13 July 1947 |
| Consecration | 24 June 1982 by Giovanni Benelli |
| Created Cardinal | 25 May 1985 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Silvano Piovanelli |
| Born | 21 February 1924 Borgo San Lorenzo, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 9 July 2016 (aged 92) Florence, Italy |
| Previous post | Auxiliary Bishop of Florence (1982–1983) |
| Alma mater | University of Florence |
| Motto | In verbo Tuo |
| Signature |  |
Silvano Piovanelli (21 February 1924 – 9 July 2016) was an important leader in the Catholic Church. He was an Italian prelate, which is a high-ranking church official. He served as the Archbishop of Florence from 1983 to 2001. In 1985, he was given the special title of Cardinal.
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Early Life and Education
Silvano Piovanelli was born on February 21, 1924. His hometown was Borgo San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. When he was 11 years old, in 1935, he began studying at the seminary in Florence. A seminary is a school where people train to become priests. He studied there until 1947.
Becoming a Priest
On July 13, 1947, Silvano Piovanelli became a priest. He was ordained by a very important church leader, Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa. After becoming a priest, he worked as a curate in a town called Rifredi. A curate is a priest who helps the main priest in a church.
In October 1948, he took on a new role. He became the vice-rector of the minor seminary in Florence. A rector is like the head of a school. He returned to working directly with people in churches in 1961. He became a parish priest in Castelfiorentino. A parish priest is in charge of a local church and its community.
In 1966, he was given the title of Chaplain of His Holiness. This is an honorary title given by the Pope. From 1979 to 1982, he served as the vicar general for the Archdiocese of Florence. A vicar general helps the archbishop manage the entire area.
Becoming a Bishop and Cardinal
On May 28, 1982, Pope John Paul II chose Piovanelli to be an Auxiliary Bishop of Florence. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop. He also became a Titular Bishop of a place called Tubunae in Mauretania. This means he had the title of bishop for a historical area.
He officially became a bishop on June 24, 1982. This ceremony is called episcopal consecration. Cardinal Giovanni Benelli led the ceremony. Piovanelli chose his special motto for his time as a bishop: "In Verbo Tuo", which means "In Your Word."
Sadly, Cardinal Benelli passed away unexpectedly in October 1982. Because of this, Silvano Piovanelli was promoted. On March 18, 1983, he became the Archbishop of Florence. An archbishop is the main bishop of a large area called an archdiocese.
Pope John Paul II then gave him an even higher honor. On May 25, 1985, Piovanelli was made a Cardinal-Priest. This happened during a special meeting called a consistory. Cardinals are very important advisors to the Pope.
Later Years and Passing
Cardinal Piovanelli served as Archbishop for 18 years. He retired from this role on March 21, 2001. When he turned 80 on February 21, 2004, he lost the right to vote in a papal conclave. A papal conclave is the meeting where cardinals choose a new Pope.
Silvano Piovanelli passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 9, 2016. He was 92 years old. He had been in a retirement home for priests in Florence for three months before he died. Just a few days before his passing, Pope Francis called him while visiting Florence.
His funeral was held on July 12, 2016. Cardinal Giuseppe Betori led the service. Silvano Piovanelli was buried in the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral in Florence.
