His Eminence Paolo Sardi | |
|---|---|
| Patron of theSovereign Military Order of Malta | |
| Appointed | 6 June 2009 |
| Term ended | 8 November 2014 |
| Predecessor | Pio Laghi |
| Successor | Raymond Leo Burke |
| Other post | Cardinal Deacon ofSanta Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana |
| Previous posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 29 June 1958 by Giuseppe Dell'Omo |
| Consecration | 6 January 1997 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created cardinal | 20 November 2010 byPope Benedict XVI |
| Rank | Cardinal deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1934-09-01)1 September 1934 |
| Died | 13 July 2019(2019-07-13) (aged 84) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Motto | Esto vigilans ('Be watchful';Revelation 3:2) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Paolo Sardi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Religious style | (autofilled) |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Paolo Sardi (1 September 1934 – 13 July 2019) was an Italiancardinal of theCatholic Church who spent his career in theRoman Curia. He was patron of theSovereign Military Order of Malta from 2009 to 2014.
Sardi was born inRicaldone,Province of Alessandria; his father was a farmer and his mother a schoolteacher. He studied at the local seminary of theDiocese of Acqui and then inTurin and Rome, where he earned a licentiate in theology from thePontifical Gregorian University in 1958.[1] Sardi was ordained a priest on 29 June 1958.
He graduated incanon law from the Gregorian in 1963 and completed a degree in jurisprudence at theUniversità Cattolica Milano in 1968. He taughtmoral theology in Turin until 1976, when he began his career in the Roman Curia, working in theSecretariat of State. In 1990, he was made manager of its Office of General Affairs.[1] In 1992 he was appointed Vice Councillor for General Affairs.[1]
On 10 December 1996 Sardi was given the titleApostolic Nuncio with special responsibilities and appointedTitular Archbishop ofSutrium byPope John Paul II. Sardi coordinated the Vatican office that writes and edits the pope's texts and addresses.[1][2] On 6 January 1997, Pope John Paul consecrated him an archbishop inSaint Peter's Basilica.[3] Among his pastoral duties while at the Secretariat, he for many years said Mass daily at the tomb ofPope John XXIII in St. Peter's.[1] Sardi would serve as the speechwriter for John Paul II as well.[4]
On 23 October 2004,Pope John Paul II appointed him Vice Camerlengo (chamberlain) of the Holy Roman Church.[5] In this position he was one of a small number of Vatican officials to visit Pope John Paul in his last days.[6] He held that post untilSantos Abril y Castelló was named to replace him on 22 January 2011.[7] The role of vice camerlengo was in addition to his duties at the Secretariat; he complained to Pope Benedict about poor management there in 2009 and joked that, "I'm trying to see in these situations (which, to tell the truth, are numerous) the benevolent intervention of Providence, that wants to prepare me to leave the Secretariat without regrets".[8]
He was appointed Pro-Patron of theSovereign Military Order of Malta on 6 June 2009.[9][10] On 30 November 2010, after he became a cardinal, his title changed from Pro-Patron to Patron of the Order of Malta.[11] He held that position until 8 November 2014.[12]
On 20 November 2010,Pope Benedict XVI created himCardinal-Deacon ofSanta Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana.[13][14]
On 29 December 2010 he was appointed a member of theCongregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life; theCongregation for the Causes of Saints; and thePontifical Council for the Laity.[15] To this Pope Benedict added membership in theSupreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura on 31 May 2011.[16]
He was one of thecardinal electors who participated in the2013 papal conclave that electedPope Francis.[17] One analysis of Vatican politics following that conclave described Sardi as "one of [Cardinal Tarcisio]Bertone's political adversaries within the Curia".[18] In 2009 Sardi had complained to Pope Benedict about Vatican mismanagement when Bertone as Secretary of State was the Curia's most powerful figure, writing to Benedict that "for some time in various parts of the church, including among people extremely faithful to it, critical voices have been raised about the lack of coordination and confusion which reigns at its center".[8][19]
Sardi died in Rome'sGemelli University Hospital after a brief illness on 13 July 2019 at the age of 84.[2][1] Bertone led his concelebrated funeral Mass in St. Peter's on 15 July; Pope Francis delivered the final commendation and blessing.[20]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Pro-Patron or Patron of theSovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta 6 June 2009 – 8 November 2014 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
