Filippo Iannone | |
|---|---|
| Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 26 September 2025 |
| Predecessor | Robert Francis Prevost |
| Previous posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 26 June 1982 by Antonio Ambrosanio |
| Consecration | 26 May 2001 by Michele Giordano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-12-13)13 December 1957 (age 68) |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Lateran University |
| Motto | Latin:Sub tuum praesidium |
| Coat of arms |  |
Filippo IannoneO.Carm. (born 13 December 1957) is an Italian prelate of theCatholic Church who has been prefect of theDicastery for Bishops since 15 October 2025. He was prefectDicastery for Legislative Texts from 2022 to 2025. He has been a bishop since 2001 and an archbishop since 2012. He is a member of the Carmelites.
Filippo Iannone was born on 13 December 1957 inNaples. On 1 August 1976, he entered theCarmelites. He was a novice at theSan Martino ai Monti inRome and then studied at theSanta Maria del Carmine in Naples. He later studied at theSan Luigi Papal Theological Seminary of Southern Italy for his bachelor's degree in theology and at thePontifical Lateran University, where he earned a doctorate in civil and canon law. After a course of study at theRoman Rota, he gained the title ofavvocato rotale. He took his first vows on 1 October 1977 and his final vows on 15 October 1980. He received his priestly ordination on 26 June 1982.[1]
He was associate professor of canon law at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy and a visiting professor at several other institutions. Within the Carmelite order he worked in the regional Treasury Commissioner's office from 1985 to 1988 and for the national body from 1988 to 1991. From 1988 to 1994 he was President of the Commission for the Revision of the Constitution. For theArchdiocese of Naples, he held the position of Defender of the Faith in the Regional Court from 1987 to 1990; andJudicial vicar at the Naples Diocese Tribunal from 1990 to 1994. He was episcopal vicar for part of the Archdiocese from 1994 to 1996 and vicar general from 1996 to 2001.[1]
On 12 April 2001, Iannone was appointedauxiliary bishop of theArchdiocese of Naples andtitular bishop ofNebbi byPope John Paul II.[1] He received his episcopal ordination on 26 May 2001 from CardinalMichele Giordano. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest Italian bishop.[2] As part of the reorganisation of theArchdiocese of Naples undertaken by CardinalCrescenzio Sepe, he was nominated asVicar General, co-ordinating with the clergy andmoderator curiae) (lit. "Court moderators") in matters of Church administration.[citation needed]
On 19 June 2009,Pope Benedict XVI named him Bishop of theDiocese of Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo.[3]
On 31 January 2012, Pope Benedict named himvicegerent of theDiocese of Rome, elevating him to the rank ofarchbishop.[4] His appointment to that position was requested by CardinalAgostino Vallini, the pope'svicar for Rome, who had himself come to Rome from Naples and knew Iannone's work there.[5]
While vicegerent, Iannone played a role in handling a case of alleged financial corruption at the Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, a hospital sponsored by theCongregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception. His mandate concerned the impact on the Congregation.[6]
As of December 2015, he was a member of theSupreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, a consultant to theCongregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, a member of the Council for Legal Affairs of theItalian Episcopal Conference, and president of the Education and Culture Committee of the Lazio episcopal region.[7]
On 11 November 2017, Pope Francis named him adjunct secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, identifying him by the title "Archbishop–Bishop emeritus of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo".[8] He was the first to hold the title of adjunct secretary since 2000.[5] On 7 April 2018,Pope Francis named him President of that body,[9] which was unusual in that he was promoted above the Council's secretary, BishopJuan Ignacio Arrieta.[5] On 5 December 2020, Pope Francis named him a member of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints.[10]
On 21 July 2022, as part of the Vatican's critique of theGerman bishops' approach to synodality, Iannone described German plans to establish a permanent synod council that included lay members as threat to episcopal authority. He objected that the German synod presumed to address issues beyond its regional jurisdiction.[11] He has participated in ongoing discussions between senior Curial officials and the German hierarchy.[12][13][14]
On 26 September 2025,Pope Leo XIV named Iannone his successor as prefect of theDicastery for Bishops and president of thePontifical Commission for Latin America. The appointments took effect on 15 October.[15] He continues to chair working group defining the crime of spiritual abuse, a responsibility originally assigned to the Dicastery for Legislative Texts.[16]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop ofSora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo 2009–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Vicegerant of Rome 2012–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of thePontifical Council for Legislative Texts 2018–2022 | Curia reorganization |
| New title | President of theDicastery for Legislative Texts 2022–2025 | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Prefect of theDicastery for Bishops 2025–present | Incumbent |
