Roberto Tucci
Encyclopedia
Roberto Tucci, SJ
(born 19 April 1921) is a Roman Catholic Cardinal
and theologian
. He was created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II
on 21 February 2001.
He was born in Naples
, Italy
. He became a priest choosing to join the Society of Jesus
on 1 October 1936. He studied classics
at the University of Naples
, where he also eventually received a doctorate in philosophy. He subsequently earned a licentiate in sacred theology
from the Pontifical University of Louvain
and a doctorate in sacred theology
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
.
He was ordained on 24 August 1950. After his ordination he taught as a faculty member at the Theological Faculty of "San Luigi" in Naples. He founded the journal Digest religioso, which was later renamed Rassegna di Teologia. He later worked a member of the preparatory commission on lay apostolate of the Second Vatican Council
. He attended the Council as a peritus
and was a member of the editorial committee of the Council's pastoral instruction on social communications "Communio et progressio
" in its final phase. He was a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
from 1965 until 1989.
He served as Secretary General of the Italian branch of the Society of Jesus from 1967 until 1969. He also worked for Vatican Radio
and was its director general until 1985. He was also a member of the board of directors of Georgetown University
, Washington
from 1977 to 1983.
He was awarded the Légion d'honneur
by France in 1976, and was granted an honorary degree
in law
by the University of Notre Dame
.
in the consistory of 21 February 2001. He almost immediately lost the right to participate in a papal conclave
, when on 19 April 2001 he turned 80 years of age. He obtained from Pope John Paul II
dispensation from the rule, introduced by Pope John XXIII
and included in the Code of Canon Law, that all cardinals be ordained to the episcopate
. On 21 February 2010, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(born 19 April 1921) is a Roman Catholic 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...
and theologian
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...
. He was created Cardinal by 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 ...
on 21 February 2001.
He was born in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
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...
. He became a priest choosing to join the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
on 1 October 1936. He studied classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at the University of Naples
University of Naples Federico II
The University of Naples Federico II is a university located in Naples, Italy. It was founded in 1224 and is organized into 13 faculties. It is the world's oldest state university and one of the oldest academic institutions in continuous operation...
, where he also eventually received a doctorate in philosophy. He subsequently earned 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,...
from the Pontifical University of Louvain
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
and a doctorate in sacred theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
from 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 was ordained on 24 August 1950. After his ordination he taught as a faculty member at the Theological Faculty of "San Luigi" in Naples. He founded the journal Digest religioso, which was later renamed Rassegna di Teologia. He later worked a member of the preparatory commission on lay apostolate of 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...
. He attended the Council as a peritus
Peritus
Peritus is the title given to Roman Catholic theologians who are present to give advice at an ecumenical council. At the most recent council, the Second Vatican Council, some periti accompanied individual bishops or groups of bishops from various countries...
and was a member of the editorial committee of the Council's pastoral instruction on social communications "Communio et progressio
Communio et Progressio
Communio et progressio is a pastoral instruction of the Roman Catholic Church, issued on 23 May 1971, that was prepared in accordance with the Second Vatican Council’s 1963 decree Inter Mirifica...
" in its final phase. He was a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Pontifical Council for Social Communications
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications is a dicastery of the Roman Curia...
from 1965 until 1989.
He served as Secretary General of the Italian branch of the Society of Jesus from 1967 until 1969. He also worked for Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service of the Vatican.Set up in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi, today its programs are offered in 47 languages, and are sent out on short wave , medium wave, FM, satellite and the Internet. The Jesuit Order has been charged with the management of Vatican...
and was its director general until 1985. He was also a member of the board of directors of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1977 to 1983.
He was awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by France in 1976, and was granted an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
by the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
Cardinalate
He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo MarzioSant'Ignazio
The Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius is Roman Catholic titular church dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, located in Rome, Italy...
in the consistory of 21 February 2001. He almost immediately lost the right to participate in a papal conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
, when on 19 April 2001 he turned 80 years of age. He obtained from 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 ...
dispensation from the rule, introduced by 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...
and included in the Code of Canon Law, that all cardinals be ordained to the episcopate
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. On 21 February 2010, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title.