Mario Toso
Encyclopedia
Mario Toso SDB
(2 July 1950-) is the current Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 22 October 2009.
Toso was born in Mogliano Veneto
(Province of Treviso
). He was professed a member the Salesians of Don Bosco
on 16 August 1967. He studied philosophy and theology at the Faculty of Theology
in Turin
. He obtained a baccalaureate in theology. He was ordained a priest on 22 July 1978.
He holds a doctorate
in philosophy
at the Catholic University of Sacro Cuore
in Milan
in 1978. He earned a licentiate
in philosophy
from the Pontifical Salesian University in 1981 and a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
in 1982. Since 1980 he hass served as Professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Salesian University from 1991 and is Professor of Theoretical Philosophy, from 1994 to 2000. He was Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the same University and from 2003 to 2009, he was Rector
. He served as a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
. Toso was one of the collaborators consulted by Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical
Caritas in veritate
.
On 22 October 2009 he was appointed as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Titular Bishop
of Bisarcio, the titular see held by Bishop Crepaldi before his transfer to Trieste, and was ordained on 12 December 2009 by Cardinal Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone.
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
(2 July 1950-) is the current Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church...
since his appointment 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...
on 22 October 2009.
Toso was born in Mogliano Veneto
Mogliano Veneto
Mogliano Veneto is a town and comune in the province of Treviso, Veneto, northern Italy, located halfway between Mestre and Treviso.-Culture:...
(Province of Treviso
Province of Treviso
The Province of Treviso is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Treviso.The province has an area of 2,477 km², and a total population of 886.886 . There are 95 municipalities in the province .-Municipalities:-External links:*...
). He was professed a member the Salesians of Don Bosco
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
on 16 August 1967. He studied philosophy and theology at the Faculty of 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...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. He obtained a baccalaureate in theology. He was ordained a priest on 22 July 1978.
He holds a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the Catholic University of Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a privately-owned Catholic university founded in 1921 by Agostino Gemelli. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, Rome, and Campobasso...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1978. He earned a licentiate
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...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the Pontifical Salesian University in 1981 and a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
in 1982. Since 1980 he hass served as Professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Salesian University from 1991 and is Professor of Theoretical Philosophy, from 1994 to 2000. He was Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the same University and from 2003 to 2009, he was Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. He served as a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church...
. Toso was one of the collaborators consulted by Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical
Encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
Caritas in veritate
Caritas in Veritate
Caritas in Veritate is the third encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI and his first social encyclical. It was signed on June 29, 2009, and was published on July 7, 2009...
.
On 22 October 2009 he was appointed as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace 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 Bisarcio, the titular see held by Bishop Crepaldi before his transfer to Trieste, and was ordained on 12 December 2009 by Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
Tarcisio Bertone.