His Eminence Giuseppe Versaldi | |
|---|---|
| Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education | |
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| Appointed | 31 March 2015 |
| Term ended | 5 June 2022 |
| Predecessor | Zenon Grocholewski |
| Other post | Cardinal priest ofSacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio |
| Previous post |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 29 June 1967 by Albino Mensa |
| Consecration | 26 May 2007 by Enrico Masseroni |
| Created cardinal | 18 February 2012 byBenedict XVI |
| Rank |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Giuseppe Versaldi (1943-07-30)30 July 1943 (age 82) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Gregorian University Roman Rota |
| Motto | Christi Minister |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Giuseppe Versaldi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Religious style | Cardinal |
| Posthumous style | none |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Giuseppe Versaldi (born 30 July 1943) is an Italian prelate of theCatholic Church who was the prefect of theCongregation for Catholic Education from 2015 until that body was merged into the newDicastery for Culture and Education in 2022. He served as president of thePrefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See from 2011 to 2015. Before that he wasBishop of Alessandria.Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal on 18 February 2012.
Versaldi was born in 1943 inVillarboit in the Province of Vercelli, Region of Piedmont, and was ordained a priest on 29 June 1967. In 1972 he was sent to Rome to studypsychology and thencanon law at thePontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a degree in psychology and a doctorate incanon law. Versaldi returned to Vercelli in 1976, where he was given the task of starting the diocesan Family Counseling centre. At the same time he attended courses at theRoman Rota. He received his law degree in 1980.
In 1977 he was made pastor of the Parish of Larizza. Beginning in 1980 he taught canon law and psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1985 he was appointed by the Holy See as tribunal clerk of theSupreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, as a voting member in 1990,[1] and a member of the Supreme Council of the Apostolic Signatura in 2007.[2]On 25 March 1994 he was appointedVicar General of Vercelli by ArchbishopTarcisio Bertone.
Pope Benedict XVI named him Bishop of Alessandria on 4 April 2007.[3] He was consecrated on 26 May 2007 byEnrico Masseroni, Archbishop of Vercelli, and BishopsFernando Charrier andNatalino Pescarolo as co-consecrators. He was installed on 10 June 2007.
After four years as Bishop of Alessandria, on 21 September 2011,Pope Benedict XVI named Versaldi President of thePrefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and gave him the rank of archbishop.[4]
On 18 February 2012 he was createdCardinal-Deacon ofSacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio by Benedict XVI.[5] On 21 April 2012, Versaldi was appointed a member of theApostolic Signatura, theCongregation for Bishops and theCongregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.[6]
Versaldi was one of the 117 cardinal electors who took part in the2013 conclave.[7] On 31 March 2015 Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of theCongregation for Catholic Education, replacing CardinalZenon Grocholewski.[8]
On 4 October 2017 he was appointed a member of theCongregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On 14 April 2018 he was named a member of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints.[9]
On 13 February 2019, Versaldi signed an agreement with the head of theMinistry of Education, University and ResearchMarco Bussetti for the application of theLisbon Recognition Convention for the mutual recognition of the academic qualifications released by the Italian public universities and by the Holy See's pontifical institutes. The agreement widened the variety of academic titles recognized for the teaching of Roman Catholic religion in the Italian public primary and secondary schools.[10][11]
On 4 March 2022, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal priest.[12]
His service as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education ended with the reorganization of the Curia that took effect on 5 June 2022.[13]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Alessandria 4 April 2007 – 21 September 2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See 21 September 2011 – 31 March 2015 | Office suppressed |
| Preceded by | Cardinal-Deacon of Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio 18 February 2012 – | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education 31 March 2015 – 5 June 2022 | Office suppressed |
