Agostino Cardinal Vallini (born April 17, 1940) is an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Vicar General of Rome, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2006.
Biography
Agostino Vallini was born in Poli, but moved with his family to Barra as a child. He studied at the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples and the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, on the S. Tommaso d'Aquino campus, from where he obtained his licentiate in theology. Vallini also attended the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, earning his doctorate in canon and civil law with a dissertation on the new Code of Canon Law.He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Vittorio Longo on July 19, 1964. He then taught canon law at his alma mater of the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, and later served as dean of the S. Tommaso d'Aquino campus. Also teaching canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University, Vallini served as assessor of the Italian Catholic University Federation, of the movement Sigueme, and of the Union of Major Religious Superiors of Italy as well. He later became Rector of the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples and Regional Counselor of the Catholic Action.
On March 23, 1989, Vallini was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Naples and Titular Bishop of Tortibulum by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 13 from Michele Cardinal Giordano, with Archbishops Luigi Diligenza and Antonio Ambrosanio serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of Naples. Vallini was later named Diocesan Bishop of Albano on November 13, 1999, and Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, more commonly known as the Apostolic Signatura, on May 27, 2004. As Prefect, he serves as the highest judicial authority in the Church, only below the Pope himself. On that same date, he resigned as Bishop of Albano.
Upon the death of John Paul II on April 2, 2005, Vallini and all major Vatican officials, in accord with custom, automatically lost their positions during the sede vacante. He was later confirmed as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura by Pope Benedict XVI on the following April 21. Pope Benedict later created him Cardinal Deacon of S. Pier Damiani ai Monti di S. Paolo in the consistory of March 24, 2006.
Vallini was appointed Vicar General of Rome on June 27, 2008, succeeding Camillo Cardinal Ruini. As Vicar General, he serves as the unofficial bishop of Rome, as well as Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University
External links
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Last updated on Monday June 30, 2008 at 10:33:03 PDT (GMT -0700)
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