| Styles of Fortunato Baldelli |
|
|---|---|
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | none |
Fortunato Baldelli (born 6 August 1935) is an Italian Catholic Cardinal. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France from June 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. [1]
Baldelli was ordained priest for the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino on 18 March 1961. He has a degree in canon law. Joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1966, he worked in Cuba and Egypt.
His career continued at the Secretariat of State and the Council for Public Affairs of the Church and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, as a special envoy with a permanent observer of the Holy See.
On 12 February 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Archbishop of Mevania, and sent as apostolic delegate in Angola. In 1985 he was appointed Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in São Tomé and Príncipe, and in 1991 the Apostolic Nuncio in the Dominican Republic and then Peru in 1994.
He was appointed apostolic nuncio in France on 19 June 1999, succeeding Archbishop Mario Tagliaferri, who died unexpectedly on 21 May. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France from 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict. As such he deals with the forgiveness of the most grievous sins as well as indulgences. In addition to his duties as Major Penitentiary, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 24 July 2010 for the usual five-year period .[1] In addition to Italian, Cardinal Baldelli speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Cardinal Baldelli was present at the coronation of Albert II, Prince of Monaco as non-resident Apostolic Nuncio to Monaco, and read a letter of good wishes and blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.
On 20 October 2010 Pope Benedict announced that he would be among the list of new cardinals to be created in a consistory on 20 November. He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino.
In December 2010 Cardinal Baldelli was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.[2] On 29 January 2011 Cardinal Baldelli was appointed a member of Secretariat of State (second section)[3]
| Preceded by Luigi Dossena |
Apostolic Nuncio to Peru 23 April 1994–19 June 1999 |
Succeeded by Rino Passigato |
| Preceded by Mario Tagliaferri |
Apostolic Nuncio to France 19 June 1999–2 June 2009 |
Succeeded by Luigi Ventura |
| Preceded by James Francis Stafford |
Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary 2 June 2009–incumbent |
Succeeded by incumbent |