Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani

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Styles of
Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Reference style His Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
See Palestrina (suburbicarian), Ostia (suburbicarian)

Amleto Giovanni Cicognani (24 February 1883 - 17 December 1973) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and a prominent member of the Roman Curia in Vatican City.

He was born in Brisighella, Diocese of Faenza, Italy in 1883 and was ordained a priest in 1905 by Gioacchino Cantagalli, Bishop of his home diocese. In 1933, Cicognani was consecrated Titular Archbishop of Laodicea di Frigia by Raffaele Carlo Rossi, Secretary of the Consistorial Congregation. In the same year he also was appointed Apostolic Delegate to the United States, a post he held 25 years.

In the consistory of 15 December 1958 he was elevated to Cardinal by Pope John XXIII with the title of Cardinal-Priest of S. Clemente. His title was later changed to Cardinal-Bishop of the suburbicarian see of Frascati in 1962. His elevation to Cardinal is extraordinary in the fact that his brother Gaetano Cicognani (1881-1962) was also a Cardinal, having been elevated in 1953 and still living, and an exception to the Church law requiring that no brothers be in the Cardinalate together had to be made.

Amleto Giovanni Cicognani held a number of offices within the Roman Curia during his years as Cardinal. By far his most prominent position was Cardinal Secretary of State, a position he held from his appointment by John XXIII in August 1961 until his retirement in April 1969. He was a participant in the Second Vatican Council (1962 - 1965) and in the 1963 Papal conclave which elected Pope Paul VI.

In March 1972 Cicognani was elected Dean of the College of Cardinals, which meant he received the title of the suburbicarian see of Ostia in addition to his first suburbicarian title.

Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani died on 17 December 1973 and is buried in his title church of S. Clemente in Rome.

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Catholic Hierarchy

Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Preceded by:
Domenico Tardini
Cardinal Secretary of State
1961-1969
Succeeded by:
Jean-Marie Villot
Preceded by:
Eugène-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Tisserant
Dean of the College of Cardinals
1972-1973
Succeeded by:
Luigi Traglia


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