Giuseppe Versaldi

Giuseppe Versaldi (born 30 July 1943) is the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, since his appointment, by Pope Francis on 31 March 2015. Previously, Versaldi served as President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See since 21 September 2011. Versaldi had served before that as Bishop of Alessandria. Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the rank of cardinal on 18 February 2012.

His Eminence Giuseppe Versaldi
Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education
Appointed	31 March 2015
Predecessor	Zenon Grocholewski
Other posts	Cardinal-Deacon of Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio
Orders
Ordination	29 June 1967 by Albino Mensa
Consecration	26 May 2007 by Enrico Masseroni
Created cardinal	18 February 2012 by Benedict XVI
Rank	Cardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Birth name	Giuseppe Versaldi
Born	30 July 1943 Villarboit, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Previous post	President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See (2011–2015) Bishop of Alessandria (della Paglia) from 2007 to 2011
Alma mater	Pontifical Gregorian University Roman Rota
Motto	Christi Minister
Coat of arms

Styles of Giuseppe Versaldi
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal

Biography

Versaldi was born in 1943 in Villarboit in the Province of Vercelli, Region of Piedmont, and was ordained a priest on 29 June 1967. In 1972 he was sent to Rome to study psychology and then canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a degree in psychology and a doctorate in canon law. Versaldi returned to Vercelli in 1976, where he was given the task of starting the diocesan Family Counseling centre. At the same time he attended courses at the Roman Rota. He received his law degree in 1980.

In 1977 he was made pastor of the Parish of Larizza. Beginning in 1980 he taught canon law and psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1985 he was appointed by the Holy See and in 1990 voter referendum at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

On 25 March 1994 he was appointed Vicar General of Vercelli by Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone.

Pope Benedict XVI named him Bishop of Alessandria on 4 April 2007. He was consecrated on 26 May 2007, by Enrico Masseroni, Archbishop of Vercelli, as principal consecrator, and Bishops Fernando Charrier and Natalino Pescarolo as co-consecrators. He was installed in his cathedral on 10 June 2007.

After four years as Bishop of Alessandria, on 21 September 2011, Versaldi was named President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI.

On 18 February 2012 he was created Cardinal-Deacon of Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio by Benedict XVI. On 21 April 2012 Cardinal Versaldi was appointed a member of the Apostolic Signatura, the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.[1]

Versaldi was one of the 117 cardinal electors who took part in the 2013 conclave.[2] On 31 March 2015 Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, replacing Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski.[3]

On 4 October 2017 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On 14 April 2018 he was named a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.[4]

References

2. "List of Cardinal Electors". Zenit. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
3. Tornielli, Andrea (31 March 2015). "Versaldi is the new "minister" of Catholic education". Vatican Insider. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
4. "Rinunce e Nomine, 14.04.2018" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.

Sources

• Martin Bräuer, Handbuch der Kardinäle: 1846-2012 (Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, 2014).

External links

• "Versaldi Card. Giuseppe". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2017.