Angelo Sodano

Angelo Sodano (born the November 23rd 1927 with Isolated from Silk, Piedmont (Italy), was of February 1st 1990 with the September 15th 2006, the Cardinal Secretary of State of the Roman Curie and since the April 30th 2005 Doyen of the College of the cardinals. The office plurality of these two offices by only one person had not taken place any more since 1828 (cardinal Giulio Maria della Somaglia).

Curriculum vitae

Youth

Angelo Cardinal Sodano was born on November 23rd, 1927 in Isola from Silk, in the neighborhoods of Asti in Piedmont in Italy. It is the second of the 6 children whom his/her parents Giovanni and Delfina Sodano had. Its family and her social framework were marked by an intense religious life.

Studies and life of priest

At the conclusion of these studies of philosophy and theology, Angelo Sodano is ordered priest with Asti by Umberto Rossi, bishop of Silk. In 1959, it integrates the papal University of Lateran for studies of canonical right as well as the Grégoriana University to look further into its studies of theology. It supplements these studies by a formation within the papal diplomatic Academy. After its doctorate in theology and canonical right, it enters the diplomatic service of the the Holy See. As Secretary of Nonciature, he works in Ecuador, Uruguay and with the Chile. The election day before of the pope Paul VI, it obtains the title of Monsignore . In 1968, he becomes member of the Council for the Bilateral relations and multilateral of the Roman Curie.

Archbishop and nuncio

The November 30th 1977, it is named titular archbishop of Nuova Caesaris and Apostolic nuncio with the Chile. Before leaving for its new office to the Chile, it is devoted bishop by the cardinal Antonio Samorè in the church San Secondo to Asti. As apostolic nuncio, he plays a big role during the diplomatic negotiations in order to put an end to the conflict Canal Beagle which opposed Chile and the Argentine. Since 1881, these two countries clashed in a frontier conflict in Ground of Fire (located at the extreme south of the American continent). After more than one hundred years of confrontations, this treaty, negotiated thanks to the mediation of Angelo Sodano, was ratified by the two countries the May 2nd 1985.

Secretary for the Relations with the States

Returned with Rome in 1988, it becomes the right-hand man of the Cardinal Secretary of State Casaroli; and will be named Secrétaire for the Relations with the States on March first 1989, station which becomes thereafter affiliated to the Chancery of State at the time of a reorganization of the Roman curia. This office can be compared with a Ministry for Foreign Affairs. During this time, it represents the Saint Sits during a great number of International Conferences, in particular during the meetings of the Foreign Ministers of CSCE (Conference for Safety and the Co-operation in Europe, become SOEC in 1995) in Vienna, Copenhagen, New York and Paris.

Cardinal and cardinal Secretary of State

December first 1990, it is named temporary Secretary of State after the resignation of the Casaroli cardinal who reached 75 years the traditional age limit for the bishops. At the time of the consistory of the June 28th 1991, it east creates cardinal by the Pope Jean-Paul II and named Cardinal Priest with like titular church the church Santa Maria Nouva. Following this act, he is Cardinal Secretary of State since the June 29th 1991.

The January 10th 1994, it is named Cardinal Bishop by the Pape Jean-Paul II, with the title of the Diocèse Suburbicaire of Albano; and the November 30th 2002 - at the day close 25 years after its dedication of bishop - it is named Sous-Doyen of the College of the Cardinaux. Since August 1991, Angelo Cardinal Sodano accompagé the Saint Father Jean-Paul II at the time of 53 of its voyages in various countries.

In November 2002, it reaches the age limit 75 years and deposited its resignation. The pope Jean-Paul II asked him to remain at his station for one nongiven duration. Following the worsened disease of the pope, it dealt with obligations more and more. It was near the pope at the time of all his public interventions such as for example at the time of the prayer of the Angelus during the hospitalization of the pope Jean-Paul II in March 2005. Because of the bad conditions of health of the pope Jean-Paul II, Angelo Sodano celebrated the mass of Easter 2005 on the Place Saint-Pierre. After this mass, the pope gave the dumb blessing Urbi and orbi become legendary. Following the blessing, Angelo Sodano addressed himself in various languages to faithful for the wishes of Easter traditionnels.
After the advertisement of died of the pope Jean Paul II., the evening of April 2nd, 2005, Sodano entonné the " Regina" salvo; , begun again by the crowd joined together on the place St Pierre. Good numbers of media confused this song with that of the " De Profundis". Sodano will have been a Secretary of State, faithful and qualified servant of the pope Jean-Paul II, during 14 ans.
At the time of the Conclave of the month of April 2005, Sodano was among known as the papabile , which wants to say that it was among the possible successors of the late pope Jean-Paul II. After the election of the Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was then Doyen of the College of the Cardinals, it is Sodano, which as Sous-Doyen, raised the question: „Acceptasne electionem of you canonice factam in Pontificem Height? “(you accept the election…?). It is also him which dealt with all the other duties of the Senior at the time of this phase of transition as for example the transmission from the ring from the fisherman during establishment of the new pope. One of the first acts of the new office of the pope Benoît XVI was to again entrust to Angelo Sodano the station of the Cardinal Secretary of State. This office had been entrusted to him for almost fifteen years, which does of them one of the more long periods in the history of this office.

Thereafter, he was elected senior of the College of the Cardinals by the Cardinals Bishops, this election was confirmed by the pope Benoît XVI the April 30th 2005. The senior is always bishop titular of Ostie, title which it holds in supplement of his titular diocese of Albano.

In 2007, it was returned of its functions but it is remained in the Vatican in an unexpected way.

Affiliations

Member of the Congregation of the Doctrines of the Faith
Member of the Congregation of the Eastern Churches
Member of the Congregation of the Bishops
Member of the Papal Commission for the State of the Vatican
Member of the Cardinal Papal Commission of Vigilance of the Institute of the religious Operations.

Titles of honor

Honoris Causa doctorates

2002 Papieski Wydział Teologiczny we Wrocławiu (theological Faculty of Wrocłav)
2003 Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszynskiego W Warszawie (University Cardinal Stephan Wyszynski, Warsaw)

Internal bonds

External bonds

official Biographie of the Saint Sits (English)
Secrétairerie of State of the Vatican
Discours of the Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano
Organigramme of the Chancery of State of the Vatican

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