President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

Vatican City State

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Vatican City State

Other countries · Atlas
Politics portal

The President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is the leader of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, the legislative body of Vatican City. As a senior member of the Roman Curia, the president is normally a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is appointed to a five-year term by the Pope.[1]

In addition to his legislative role, the President is delegated executive authority for Vatican City by the Pope,[1] under the title President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.[2] This title is distinct from the former title of Governor of Vatican City. Administrations and departments of Vatican City's government, including the Corpo della Gendarmeria, the Vatican Observatory, the Vatican Museums, and the Department of Pontifical Villas (which administers Castel Gandolfo) report to the Governorate.[3]

The structure of the Governorate consists of:

During a sede vacante, the term of the president ends, as do most other offices in the Curia. However, the holder of the office prior to the death or resignation of the pope becomes a member of a Commission, with the former Cardinal Secretary of State and the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, that handles some of the functions of the head of state until a new pope can be chosen.[4]

Prior to the death of Pope John Paul II, the President was Cardinal Edmund Szoka, the Archbishop of Detroit Emeritus. Pope Benedict XVI reappointed Cardinal Szoka to the position on 21 April 2005. On 22 June 2006, it was announced that Cardinal Szoka had resigned his position and would be replaced by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Giovanni Lajolo, effective 15 September 2006.

List of Presidents

# Name Born-Died Term start Term end
1 Nicola Canali 1874–1961 20 March 1939 3 August 1961
2 Amleto Giovanni Cicognani 1883–1973 12 August 1961 30 April 1969
3 Jean-Marie Villot 1905–1979 2 May 1969 9 March 1979
4 Agostino Casaroli 1914–1998 28 April 1979 8 April 1984
5 Sebastiano Baggio 1913–1993 8 April 1984 31 October 1990
6 Rosalio José Castillo Lara 1922–2007 31 October 1990 14 October 1997
7 Edmund Szoka 1927– 14 October 1997 15 September 2006
8 Giovanni Lajolo 1935– 15 September 2006 1 October 2011
9 Giuseppe Bertello 1942– 1 October 2011 Incumbent

References

  1. ^ a b Pope John Paul II (26 November 2000). "Fundamental Law of Vatican City State" (PDF). http://www.vaticanstate.va/NR/rdonlyres/3F574885-EAD5-47E9-A547-C3717005E861/2522/FundamentalLaw1.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-11. 
  2. ^ "Legislative and Executive Bodies". Office of the President of Vatican City State. 2007. http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/StateDepartments/Legislative_and_executive_bodies.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-11. 
  3. ^ "Administrations and Central Offices". Office of the President of Vatican City State. http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/Structure_Governorate/Administrations_and_Central_Offices.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-11. 
  4. ^ Pope John Paul II (22 February 1996). "Universi Dominici Gregis". http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
Heads of state and government of Europe
Heads of state
States recognised by the United Nations
States recognised by at least one United Nations member
States not recognised by any United Nations members
Heads of government
States recognised by the United Nations
States recognised by at least one United Nations member
States not recognised by any United Nations members
1 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border between Europe and Asia.