Girolamo Bortignon
Encyclopedia
Girolamo Bartolomeo Bortignon, OFM Cap
(March 31, 1905—March 12, 1992) was an Italian
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
, serving as Bishop of Padua from 1949 to 1982.
Born in Romano d'Ezzelino
, he was ordained
as a Capuchin
priest
on March 3, 1928, at the age of 22.
On April 4, 1944, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator
of Belluno e Feltre and Titular Bishop
of Lydda
by Pope Pius XII
. Bortignon received his episcopal consecration
from Cardinal Adeodato Giovanni Piazza, OCD
, on the following May 14. He later replaced the late Giosuè Cattarossi
as Bishop of Belluno e Feltre on September 9, 1945. In 1947, he named Fr. Albino Luciani
, the future Pope John Paul I, as his pro-vicar general
.
After almost five years of governing the diocese
, Bortignon was translated to Bishop of Padua on April 1, 1949. When Pope John XXIII
asked Bortignon for a name for Bishop of Vittorio Veneto, the latter offered his old vicar general in Belluno, Albino Luciani, saying, "I know him...He will do me fine." In 1960, he told his Vatican
connections that the activities surrounding Padre Pio
at San Giovanni Rotondo
should merit an investigation. Bortignon attended the Second Vatican Council
from 1962 to 1965.
He once served as the Vatican's preacher
of spiritual exercises
and as Vice-President
of the Triveneto
regional Episcopal Conference
.
The Capuchin bishop resigned his post in Padua on January 7, 1982, after thirty-two years of service. He later died at age 86.
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
(March 31, 1905—March 12, 1992) was an 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...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, serving as Bishop of Padua from 1949 to 1982.
Born in Romano d'Ezzelino
Romano d'Ezzelino
Romano d'Ezzelino is a town in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. SP74 goes through it.-Sources:*...
, 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....
as a Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
priest
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 March 3, 1928, at the age of 22.
On April 4, 1944, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Belluno e Feltre 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 Lydda
Lydda (titular see)
Lydda is a Catholic titular see. The city of Lydda was in Palestina Prima in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.-History:It was the Biblical Lod, founded by Samad of the tribe of Benjamin...
by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. Bortignon received his episcopal consecration
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....
from Cardinal Adeodato Giovanni Piazza, OCD
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
, on the following May 14. He later replaced the late Giosuè Cattarossi
Giosuè Cattarossi
Bishop Giosuè Cattarossi was a late 19th century/early-mid 20th century Italian cleric.Born 23 April 1863 at Cortale, he was ordained a priest in April 1888, aged 24....
as Bishop of Belluno e Feltre on September 9, 1945. In 1947, he named Fr. Albino Luciani
Pope John Paul I
John Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
, the future Pope John Paul I, as his pro-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...
.
After almost five years of governing the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, Bortignon was translated to Bishop of Padua on April 1, 1949. When Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
asked Bortignon for a name for Bishop of Vittorio Veneto, the latter offered his old vicar general in Belluno, Albino Luciani, saying, "I know him...He will do me fine." In 1960, he told his Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
connections that the activities surrounding Padre Pio
Pio of Pietrelcina
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina was a Capuchin priest from Italy who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He was born Francesco Forgione, and given the name Pio when he joined the Capuchins; he was popularly known as Padre Pio after his ordination to the priesthood. He became famous for his ...
at San Giovanni Rotondo
San Giovanni Rotondo
San Giovanni Rotondo is the name of a city and comune in the province of Foggia, Puglia region, southern Italy. As of 2006 it had a population of 26,442....
should merit an investigation. Bortignon attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
from 1962 to 1965.
He once served as the Vatican's preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
of spiritual exercises
Spiritual practice
A spiritual practice or spiritual discipline is the regular or full-time performance of actions and activities undertaken for the purpose of cultivating spiritual development. A common metaphor used in the spiritual traditions of the worlds great religions is that of walking a path...
and as Vice-President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the Triveneto
Northeast Italy
Northeast Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency...
regional Episcopal Conference
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
.
The Capuchin bishop resigned his post in Padua on January 7, 1982, after thirty-two years of service. He later died at age 86.
Literature
- Yallop, Daivd. "In God's Name: An Investigation into the Murder of Pope John Paul I". Carrol & Graff, 2007.