Alberto Bovone | |
|---|---|
| Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 13 June 1995 |
| Term ended | 17 April 1998 |
| Predecessor | Angelo Felici |
| Successor | José Saraiva Martins |
| Other post | Cardinal-Deacon of Ognissanti in Via Appia Nuova (1998) |
| Previous posts | Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1973-1984) Titular Archbishop of Cesarea in Numidia (1984-1998) Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (1984-1995) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 26 May 1945 by Giuseppe Angrisani |
| Consecration | 12 May 1984 by Joseph Alois Ratzinger |
| Created cardinal | 21 February 1998 byPope John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alberto Bovone 11 June 1922 |
| Died | 17 April 1998(1998-04-17) (aged 75) |
| Alma mater | Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas |
| Motto | Fidelis et prudens ("Faithful and prudent") |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Alberto Bovone | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | none |
Alberto Bovone (11 June 1922 – 17 April 1998) was an ItalianCardinal of theCatholic Church. He served asPrefect of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints from 1995 until his death, and was elevated to thecardinalate in 1998.[1]
Alberto Bovone was born inFrugarolo, and attended theseminary inAlessandria.Ordained to thepriesthood on 26 May 1945, he then didpastoral work for a year before continuing his studies from 1946 until 1951 at theUniversity of Turin and thePontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) inRome (where he obtained hisdoctorate in canon law). Bovone entered theRoman Curia as an official of theCongregation for the Council in October 1951, and was later madeUndersecretary of theCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 21 May 1973.
Pope John Paul II named himTitular Archbishop ofCaesarea in Numidia on 5 April 1984 andSecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith three days later, on 8 April. Bovone received hisepiscopal consecration on the following 12 May fromCardinal Joseph Ratzinger, with BishopFerdinando Maggioni and ArchbishopLuigi Dadaglio serving asco-consecrators. Bovone was the first person ordained as a Bishop by Ratzinger, who would becomePope Benedict XVI.
As Secretary of the Doctrine of the Faith, he was the second-highest official of thatdicastery, under Cardinal Ratzinger. In 1987, he helped write the instructionDonum vitae on the respect for human life.[2]
Bovone was later appointed to head theCongregation for the Causes of the Saints on 13 June 1995. As he had yet to be raised to theCollege of Cardinals, he only held the title of Pro-Prefect of the congregation, until John Paul II created himCardinal- Deacon ofOgnissanti in Via Appia Nuova in theconsistory of 21 February 1998, and Bovone became full Prefect of the Causes of the Saints two days later, on 23 February.[3]
The Cardinal died in Rome two months later, at the age of 75. He is buried in his family's plot inFrugarolo.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 5 April 1984 – 13 June 1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints 13 June 1995 – 17 April 1998 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
