Beniamino Stella

His Eminence
Beniamino Stella
Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy
See Santi Cosma e Damiano
Appointed 21 September 2013
Predecessor Mauro Cardinal Piacenza
Other posts
Orders
Ordination 19 March 1966
by Constantino Stella
Consecration 5 September 1987
by Pope John Paul II
Created Cardinal 22 February 2014
by Pope Francis
Rank Cardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Born 18 August 1941
Pieve di Soligo, Kingdom of Italy
Nationality Italian
Denomination Roman Catholic
Previous post
  • Titular Archbishop of Midila (1987-2014)
  • Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Republic of Congo (1987-1992)
  • Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba (1992-1999)
  • Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia (1999-2007)
  • President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (2007-2013)
Styles of
Beniamino Stella
Reference style The Eminent
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal

Beniamino Stella (born 18 August 1941) is an Italian cardinal and prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.

Life

Beniamino Stella was born in Pieve di Soligo, Province of Treviso, Italy. His parish priest was instrumental in his entering the seminary. After finishing secondary education, he went to Rome and entered the Pontifical Roman Seminary, where he studied philosophy and theology; then, studied at the Pontifical Lateran University.

In 1965, his bishop, Albino Luciani of Vittorio Veneto, future Pope John Paul I, sent him to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome, to study diplomacy. He studied at the academy from 1966 to 1970 and at the same time he obtained a doctorate in canon law.

He was ordained on 19 March 1966, by his uncle, Archbishop Costantino Stella of L'Aquila as a priest of the diocese of Vittorio Veneto. Entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1970. Worked in the nunciatures in the Dominican Republic as adetto from 1970 to 1973; and Zaire as secretary from 1973 to 1976. Named chaplain of His Holiness on 5 September 1974. From 1976 to 1978, he served in the Second Section of the Secretariat of State; then, he worked in the nunciature in Malta, as auditor. From 1978 to 1983 the nuncio was sent away by Malta's prime minister Don Mintoff, and Monsignor Stella stayed there as a chargé d'affaires. In 1983, he was assigned to the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. Named counselor of nunciature on February 1, 1983.

Episcopate

In 1987 Stella was appointed titular archbishop of Midila by Pope John Paul II, who was also his principal consecrator. In the following years he served as apostolic nuncio to the Republic of Congo, Cuba, and Colombia. In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, a position he held until Pope Francis nominated him Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy on 21 September 2013.[1]

On 30 November 2013, Pope Francis named Archbishop Stella a Member of the Congregation for Catholic Education.[2] On 16 December 2013 he was appointed as a member of the Congregation for Bishops.[3] In January 2014 it was announced that he will be elevated to the cardinalate at the next consistory on 22 February 2014.[4]

He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano.

On Tuesday, 10 March 2015, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Stella to serve as a Member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.[5][6]

See also

Sources

External links


Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
John Bulaitis
Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Republic of Congo
1987–1992
Succeeded by
Diego Causero
Preceded by
Faustino Sainz Muñoz
Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba
1992–1999
Succeeded by
Luis Robles Díaz
Preceded by
Paolo Romeo
Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia
1999–2007
Succeeded by
Aldo Cavalli
Educational offices
Preceded by
Justo Mullor García
President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
2007–2013
Succeeded by
Giampiero Gloder
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Mauro Piacenza
Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy
2013–present
Incumbent