Camillo Cardinal Ruini
Encyclopedia
Camillo Ruini is an Italian
cardinal
of the Catholic Church. He served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome
from 1991 to 2008 http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22350.php?index=22350&po_date=27.06.2008&lang=en. He was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1991.
He was very active in the mass media
and was one of the cardinals who most often appeared on Italian
television
, newspaper
s and magazine
s. On 14 February 2006, he was confirmed as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference
by Pope Benedict XVI
a post at which he served until March 2007.
, Emilia-Romagna
. Having studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
, he obtained a licentiate in philosophy
and a licentiate in sacred theology
.
He was ordained
to the priesthood
on 8 December 1954, by Archbishop Luigi Traglia. In 1957 he returned to Reggio Emilia
and taught philosophy at the diocesan seminary
until 1968. From 1958 to 1966 he served as chaplain
to university graduates and from 1966 to 1970 he served as a delegate for Azione Cattolica
.
Among his teaching posts, from 1968 until 1986 he taught dogmatic theology
at the Studio Teologico Interdiocesano of Modena
-Reggio Emilia-Carpi-Guastalla
, where he was also headmaster from 1968 to 1977.
On 16 May 1983, he was named auxiliary bishop
of Reggio Emilia and titular bishop
of Nepte, and was consecrated a bishop
by Bishop Gilberto Baroni the following 29 June. As vice president of the Preparatory Committee, he contributed to the realization of the Ecclesial Convention of Loreto (1985), which has become a reference point in the dialogue between the Church and Italian
society following the wounds of the 1960s and 1970s.
In June 1986 the Pope John Paul II
named him secretary-general
of the Italian
bishops' conference. From 1988 to 2011 he was been a consultor of the Congregation for Bishops
.
In January 1991 he was named auxiliary bishop and pro
-vicar general
for the Diocese of Rome. In March 1991 he became president of the Italian bishops' conference. He was elevated to Cardinal-Priest of the Title of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura
in June 1991, and was named vicar general of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome and archpriest
of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano in July 1991. He was also grand chancellor of the Lateran University and Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
.
In addition to serving as the Cardinal Vicar, Cardinal Ruini served in the Roman Curia
as a member of the Congregation for Bishops
, the Pontifical Council for the Laity
, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See
, and the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Affairs of the Holy See. He held these memberships until the 80th birthday in 2011.
Ruini was one of the cardinal electors
who participated in the 2005 papal conclave
that elected Pope Benedict XVI
. Ruini remains eligible to participate in any future papal conclaves following a pope's death before Ruini's 80th birthday on 19 February 2011.
On 17 March 2010 the Vatican announced that it has formed a commission to look into the phenomenon of Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where six young people have said they have had visions of Mary since the early 80s. The international investigative commission on Medjugorje has been constituted, under the presidency of Cardinal Ruini and dependent upon the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Ruini received accolades for his tireless efforts and unitary vision in the making of the documentary of Pope John Paul II.
, close to the positions of Popes John Paul II
and Benedict XVI. He was very active in the mass media
, and was the strongest voice of the Church against the spring 2005 referendum
for the abolition of parts of Italy's laws on artificial insemination
. He commented, like Pope Benedict XVI, upon the issue of the 1999 French Pacte civil de solidarité
for unmarried couples of the same or opposite sex. In 2007 a bill was proposed in the Italian Senate for a law on civil unions
. The bishops conference opposed this proposal.
named Archbishop
Angelo Bagnasco
to succeed Cardinal Ruini as President of the Italian Episcopal Conference
.
Ruini remained vicar for the diocese of Rome
until 27 June 2008, when his resignation, for reasons of age, from that post and from that of Archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
was accepted and Cardinal Agostino Vallini
was appointed as his successor.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Catholic Church. He served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome
Cardinal Vicar
Cardinal Vicar is a title commonly given to the vicar general of the diocese of Rome for the portion of the diocese within Italy. The official title, as given in the Annuario Pontificio , is "Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome"...
from 1991 to 2008 http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22350.php?index=22350&po_date=27.06.2008&lang=en. He was elevated to the cardinalate
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in 1991.
He was very active in the mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
and was one of the cardinals who most often appeared on Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s and magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s. On 14 February 2006, he was confirmed as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
The Italian Episcopal Conference is the episcopal conference of the Italian bishops of the Catholic Church and as such is the official assembly of all the bishops in Italy. The conference was founded in 1971 and carries out certain tasks as well as having authority assigned to setting the...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
a post at which he served until March 2007.
Biography
Ruini was born in SassuoloSassuolo
Sassuolo is an important industrial centre of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The town stands on the right bank of the river Secchia some 17 km south-west of Modena.-History :...
, Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
. Having studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, he obtained a licentiate in philosophy
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
and a licentiate in sacred theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
.
He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 8 December 1954, by Archbishop Luigi Traglia. In 1957 he returned to Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
and taught philosophy at the diocesan seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
until 1968. From 1958 to 1966 he served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to university graduates and from 1966 to 1970 he served as a delegate for Azione Cattolica
Azione Cattolica
The Azione Cattolica Italiana, or Azione Cattolica for short, is a widespread lay Roman Catholic association in Italy.-History:...
.
Among his teaching posts, from 1968 until 1986 he taught dogmatic theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Studio Teologico Interdiocesano of Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
-Reggio Emilia-Carpi-Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
, where he was also headmaster from 1968 to 1977.
On 16 May 1983, he was named auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Reggio Emilia and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Nepte, and was consecrated a bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
by Bishop Gilberto Baroni the following 29 June. As vice president of the Preparatory Committee, he contributed to the realization of the Ecclesial Convention of Loreto (1985), which has become a reference point in the dialogue between the Church and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
society following the wounds of the 1960s and 1970s.
In June 1986 the Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
named him secretary-general
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
bishops' conference. From 1988 to 2011 he was been a consultor of the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
.
In January 1991 he was named auxiliary bishop and pro
Promagistrate
A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
-vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
for the Diocese of Rome. In March 1991 he became president of the Italian bishops' conference. He was elevated to Cardinal-Priest of the Title of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura
Sant'Agnese fuori le mura
The church of Saint Agnes Outside the Wall is a titulus church, minor basilica in Rome, on a site sloping down from the Via Nomentana, which runs north-east out of the city, still under its ancient name. What is said to be the remains of Saint Agnes's are below the high altar...
in June 1991, and was named vicar general of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome and archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano in July 1991. He was also grand chancellor of the Lateran University and Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family is a Roman Catholic pontifical institute of theological studies with locations around the world....
.
In addition to serving as the Cardinal Vicar, Cardinal Ruini served in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
as a member of the Congregation for Bishops
Congregation for Bishops
The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
, the Pontifical Council for the Laity
Pontifical Council for the Laity
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in lay ecclesial movements or individually, and their contributions to the Church. The Cardinal President of the Council is Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko. The Secretary is Bishop Josef...
, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See
Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See
The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See is the office of the Roman Curia that deals with the "properties owned by the Holy See in order to provide the funds necessary for the Roman Curia to function" . It was established by Pope Paul VI on 15 August 1967.- Organization :It is...
, and the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Affairs of the Holy See. He held these memberships until the 80th birthday in 2011.
Ruini was one of the cardinal electors
Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005
The following is a list of the 115 cardinal electors in the 2005 papal conclave, arranged by region and, within each region, alphabetically. Two cardinals who were eligible to participate in the conclave, namely Adolfo Suarez Rivera and Jaime Sin, did not attend due to ill health.-Roman...
who participated in the 2005 papal conclave
Papal conclave, 2005
The Papal conclave of 2005 was convened as a result of the death of Pope John Paul II on 2 April 2005. After his death, the cardinals who were in Rome met and set a date for the beginning of the conclave to elect John Paul's successor. The conclave began on 18 April 2005 and ended on the following...
that elected Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. Ruini remains eligible to participate in any future papal conclaves following a pope's death before Ruini's 80th birthday on 19 February 2011.
On 17 March 2010 the Vatican announced that it has formed a commission to look into the phenomenon of Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where six young people have said they have had visions of Mary since the early 80s. The international investigative commission on Medjugorje has been constituted, under the presidency of Cardinal Ruini and dependent upon the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Ruini received accolades for his tireless efforts and unitary vision in the making of the documentary of Pope John Paul II.
Politics
Camillo Ruini was seen as a conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, close to the positions of Popes John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
and Benedict XVI. He was very active in the mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, and was the strongest voice of the Church against the spring 2005 referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
for the abolition of parts of Italy's laws on artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
. He commented, like Pope Benedict XVI, upon the issue of the 1999 French Pacte civil de solidarité
Pacte civil de solidarité
In France, a pacte civil de solidarité commonly known as a PACS /paks/ , is a form of civil union between two adults for organising their joint life. It brings rights and responsibilities, but less so than marriage...
for unmarried couples of the same or opposite sex. In 2007 a bill was proposed in the Italian Senate for a law on civil unions
Diritti e doveri delle persone stabilmente conviventi
DiCo, an acronym for Diritti e doveri delle persone stabilmente conviventi , refers to a bill presented to the Senate of Italian Parliament on February 8th 2007 by the Prodi II Cabinet, concerning a number of rights for heterosexual and homosexual cohabiting couples...
. The bishops conference opposed this proposal.
Retirement
On 7 March 2007 Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
named Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Angelo Bagnasco
Angelo Bagnasco
Angelo Bagnasco is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Genoa and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference , and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2007....
to succeed Cardinal Ruini as President of the Italian Episcopal Conference
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
The Italian Episcopal Conference is the episcopal conference of the Italian bishops of the Catholic Church and as such is the official assembly of all the bishops in Italy. The conference was founded in 1971 and carries out certain tasks as well as having authority assigned to setting the...
.
Ruini remained vicar for the diocese of Rome
Diocese of Rome
The Diocese of Rome is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy. The bishop of Rome is the Pope, who is the Supreme Pontiff and leader of the Catholic Church...
until 27 June 2008, when his resignation, for reasons of age, from that post and from that of Archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran
The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , commonly known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica and St. John Lateran's Basilica, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope...
was accepted and Cardinal Agostino Vallini
Agostino Vallini
Agostino Vallini is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Vicar General of Rome, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2006.-Biography:...
was appointed as his successor.