Birth. June 8, 1938, Molfetta, Italy. His father was a shipbuilder. He was the eldest of four children.

Education. Elementary education at the school of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Bari; secondary education at Nautical School, Bari. Entered the Congregation of St. Francis of Sales of St. John Bosco (Salesians) in Torre Annunziata in 1953; novitiate in Portici Bellavista, from 1955 to 1956; he did his first profession on August 16, 1956. Finished secondary education in 1959, in Gymnasium San Gregorio in Catania; from 1959-1962, studied at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome (licentiate in philosophy). Made his final profession on June 28, 1962. From 1962 to 1964, he studied at the Salesian University, Brindisi; from 1964 to 1967, at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome; and at the Pontifical Gregorian University (doctorate in theology, 1974; dissertation: I pronunciamenti tridentini sulla necessità della confessione sacramentale nei canoni 6-9 della Sessione XIV (The Tridentine pronouncements on the need for sacramental confession in canons 6-9, Session XIV), relator was Father Zoltan Alszeghy, S.J. Post graduate studies at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Thessaloniki, from 1978-1979. Besides his native Italian, he speaks English, French, Greek and Spanish.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 22, 1967, Rome. He celebrated his first mass in the chapel of the Eucharist in the patriarchal Vatican basilica. Ordinary professor of dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Salesian University; later, dean of its theological faculty, 1981-1987 and 1994-1999; its vice-rector, 1997-2000. In the late 1970s, he lived for nearly two years (1978-1979) in Greece as a fellow of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, where he deepened his knowledge in Orthodox theology and spirituality. Consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and of Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialog. Also, counselor of the Pontifical Marian International Academy and of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. From 1996 to 2000, he was member of the Pontificial Historical-Theological Commission for the Jubilee Year of 2000. He has authored numerous books and articles (1).

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Sila and appointed secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, December 19, 2002; he worked closely with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of that congregation. Consecrated, January 6, 2003, in the patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Leonardo Sandri, titular archbishop of Cittanova, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by Antonio Maria Vegliò, titular archbishop of Eclano, secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. His episcopal motto is Sufficit Gratia Mea. Named prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, July 9, 2008.

Birth. March 18, 1935, Samalout, eparchy of Minya of the Copts, Egypt. His father was a merchant and his mother dedicated herself entirely to raising the children. He is the second of seven children, four boys and three girls; the eldest child, Marie Georgette, is today superior general of the Egyptian Congregation of the Sacred Heart; his brother Yousef died in 1977. His name before his priestly ordination was Antoun.

Education. Primary schooling at the Franciscan Sisters in Beni-Suef; secondary education at the Coptic Seminary in Cairo; he then entered the Seminary of Maadi; and later, he attended the Pontifical Collegio Urbaniano de Propaganda Fide, Rome, from 1953 until 1958; after finishing his studies, went back to Egypt to serve his military service; then, a year later, he returned to Rome and obtained a licentiate in theology and a diploma in religious sociology in 1962; and one in Sacred Scriptures in 1964, from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Besides his native Arabic, he knows Italian, French, English and German.

Priesthood. Ordained, October 30, 1960, Minya, by Stéphanos I Sidarouss, C.M., patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts. He was pastor for a year at El-Fikryak, Minya. Further studies in Rome, 1962-1964. Professor of Sacred Scriptures in the Interritual Seminary of Maadi, Cairo, from 1964. He collaborated with group of Protestant and Orthodox specialists preparing the Arabic translation of biblical texts.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Minya of the Copts, July 26, 1977. Consecrated, September 9, 1977, Minya, by Cardinal Stephános I Sidarouss, C.M., assisted by Youhanna Nuer, bishop of Assiut of the Copts, by Youhanna Kabes, titular bishop of Cleopatride, by Andraos Ghattas, bishop of Luqsor of the Copts, and by Athanasios Abadir, titular bishop of Appia. His episcopal motto was Caritas Veritas. Resigned the pastoral government of the eparchy of Minya because of reasons of health, September 29, 2002. Elected patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, March 30, 2006. Pope Benedict XVI granted him the ecclesiastical communio, April 7, 2006. President of the Synod of the Coptic-Catholic Church in Egypt and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Egypt. Relator general of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 10 to 24, 2010; elected member of the Special Council for the Middle East of the Secretariat General of the Synod of Bishops, October 23, 2010.

Birth. June 15, 1945, Ourous, district of Koundara, apostolic vicariate of Conakry (now archdiocese), Guinea. He is second-generation Christian. He is the only child of Alexandre Sarah and Claire Nemelo, two exemplary Christians. He grew up in mud huts in a remote, mountainous bushland region of Guinea in a town that is today made up of just a thousand inhabitants, about 300 miles from Conakry, near the border with Senegal.

Education. Initial studies in Ourous; in 1957, he entered the Seminary of Bingerville, Ivory Coast. On October 2, 1958, Guinea became independent after the referendum of September 28. The Guinean seminarists who were studying in Bingerville returned to the new country and entered the Seminary of Dixinn in 1960, but only for a year because on August 15, 1961, the Democratic Party of Guinea nationalized all the private Catholic schools including the Seminary of Dixinn. After staying in their respective parishes, the seminarians, including Robert Sarah, gathered at the locals of the parish of Sainte Croix, Kindia, waiting for the opening of the Seminary Jean XXIII, situated 135 kilometers from Conakry; after obtaining a baccalaureate in 1964, young Robert was sent to France to study at the Grand Seminary of Nancy. But because of the political relations between France and Guinea, he had to go to Sébikotane, Sénégal, to finish his theological formation. Later, in 1964, he was sent to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he obtained a licentiate in theology; and at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem, where he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Scriptures. He returned to Guinea in 1974. He speaks French, English and Italian.

Priesthood. Ordained, July 20, 1969, cathedral of Sainte-Marie, Conakry, by Raymond-Maria Tchidimbo, C.S.Sp., archbishop of Conakry. Incardinated in the archdiocese of Conakry. Further studies in Rome and Jerusalem, 1969 to 1974. Upon returning to Guinea, he was parish priest of Boké from 1974 to 1976. Then, director and professor at the Seminary Jean XXIII of Kindia from 1976 to 1978. In April 1978, he became private secretary of Monsignor Louis Barry, the apostolic administrator of Conakry. Pastor of the parishes of Boké, Katace, Koundara and Ourous. Apostolic administrator of Kankan from August 23, 1979 until November 17, 1993.

Episcopate. Elected archbishop of Conakry, August 13, 1979. Consecrated, December 8, 1979, cathedral of Notre-Dame, Conakry, by Cardinal Giovanni Benelli, archbishop of Florence, assisted by Luc Auguste Sangaré, archbishop of Bamako, Mali, and by Jean Pierre Marie Orchampt, bishop of Angers, France. His episcopal motto is Sufficit tibi gratia mea. At that time he was the world's youngest bishop. He strongly criticized the hostility of the regimes of Sékou Touré and Lansana Conté. President of the Bishops' Conference of Guinea. President of the Bishops' Conference of the francophone West-Africa (CERA). Head of the Catholic Bible Federation for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM). Named secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, October 1, 2001. On that same date he resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Conakry. Named president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum on October 7, 2010.

Birth. May 28, 1934, Barletta, archbishopric of Trani e Barletta (now archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie), Italy. Son of Domenico Monterisi and Palma Di Paola. His baptismal name is Francesco Marco Nicola. One of his grand-uncles, Nicola, was archbishop of Salerno; and another, Ignazio, was bishop of Potenza e Marsico Nuovo. Another member of the family was Father Giuseppe Filograssi, professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

Education. After his elementary and secondary studies in Barletta, he entered the Pontifical Minor Seminary, Rome; and then, the Pontifical Major Seminary, Rome; later, from 1951 to 1958, he studied at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in theology; after finishing his studies, he returned home; he was called back to Rome in 1961 to study diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy; at the same time, he studied canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned a doctorate in canon law in 1964. Besides his native Italian, he speaks English, French, German and Spanish.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 16, 1957, in the cathedral of Barletta. Vice-rector and spiritual director of the Seminary of Biscelgie, 1958-1961. Professor at the Regional Seminary of Molfetta, 1960-1961. Further studies in Rome, from 1961 to 1964. Entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1964, as addetto di nunziatura, in the apostolic delegation in Madagascar. Two years later, he was named secretary of the nunciature in Egypt. From 1970, he worked at Council for Public Affairs of the Church, at the Vatican.

Birth. August 6, 1935, Valfabbrica, diocese of Assisi (now Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino), Italy. Son of Guglielmo Baldelli and Clotilde Notari. His siblings were Domenico, Igino, Giuseppe, Nazzareno, Bruno, Pierino and Maria.

Education. After finishing his primary education, he entered in 1947 the Seminary of Assisi, where he finished his secondary education; at the death of his parents, he was able to continue his formation because of the help of his brothers and the assistance of Bishop Giuseppe Placido Maria Nicolini, O.S.B., of Assisi. In 1957, the bishop sent him to the Major Roman Seminary; he attended the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, and obtained a licentiate in theology. Sent by his bishop, he studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, from 1964 to 1966; he studied diplomacy and obtained a doctorate in canon law. Besides his native Italian, he spoke French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 18, 1961, in the cathedral of S. Rufino of Assisi. From 1961 to 1964, he was vice-rector of the Minor Seminary of Assisi. In 1964, the bishop sent him to Rome to complete his studies and take courses in diplomacy. Entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1966. Addetto in the nunciature in Cuba from 1966 to 1967; and secretary from 1967 to 1970. Secretary in the nunciature in United Arab Republic (Egypt) from 1970 to 1975. In 1975, he returned to Rome to work at the Secretariat of State; and later, he was transferred to the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. In 1979, he was named special envoy, with functions of permanent observer of the Holy See, to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Bevagna (Mevania) and appointed apostolic delegate in Angola, February 12, 1983. Consecrated, April 23, 1983 in the lower basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, by Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, secretary of State, assisted by Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy, archbishop emeritus of Bangalore, secretary of the S.C. for the Evangelization of Peoples, and by Sergio Goretti, bishop of Assisi; also concelebrating were Cesare Pagani, archbishop of Perugia; André Muaca, archbishop of Luanda; Cesare Zacchi, titular archbishop of Maura, president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy; Carlo Urru, bishop of Città di Castello; Monsignor Tiziano Scalzotto, undersecretary of the S.C. for the Evangelization of Peoples; and other priests. Named pro-nuncio to São Tomé and Príncipe, remaining as apostolic delegate in Angola, on May 4, 1985, when that republic and the Holy See established diplomatic relations. Named nuncio in the Dominican Republic and apostolic delegate in Puerto Rico, April 20, 1991. Decorated with the grand cross silver plaque of the Order of Duarte, Sánchez y Mella of the Dominican Republic. Named nuncio in Perú, April 23, 1994. Appointed nuncio in France, June 19, 1999. Named commander of the Legion d'honneur of the Republic of France. Named penitentiary major, June 2, 2009. Participated in the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, October 4 to 25, 2009, Vatican City, on the theme "The Church in Africa, at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace: You Are the Salt of the Earth; You Are the Light of the World".

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of November 20, 2010; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Anselmo all'Aventino on that same day. Named member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on December 29, 2010; and of the second section of the Secretariat of State on January 29, 2011. The pope accepted his resignation for limit of age from the charge of penitentiary major on January 5, 2012. He resided at Domus Internationalis Paolo VI, Rome.

Death. September 20, 2012, in the evening, at Istituto Internazionale del Clero in Rome. Upon learning the news of his death, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the eternal repose of his soul and sent his brother a telegram of condolence (1). The funeral took place on Saturday September 22, 2012, at 6 p.m., in the altar of the Cathedra of the papal Vatican Basilica. The mass was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, who also delivered the homily and imparted the final absolution. Concelebrating were Cardinals Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., secretary of State, and Paul Poupard, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, together with numerous other cardinals, archbishops and bishops. Following the requiem mass, his body was transferred to Casacastalda, where Domenico Sorrentino, archbishop-bishop of Assisi, presided over another mass at Santuario della Madonna dell'Olmo on Sunday September 23, at 9 am. Interment took place at the Cemetery of Valfabbrica.

Birth. June 30, 1948, Richland Center, diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States of America. He is the youngest of the six children of Thomas and Marie Burke. He was baptized on July 11, 1948. He was raised in Stratford, Wisconsin.

Education. He entered the Holy Cross Seminary, La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1966; then, attended The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., where he obtained a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy, in 1970; and a master of arts degree in philosophy, in 1971; sent to study in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, he obtained a bachelor of sacred theology, in 1974; a master of arts degree in theology, in 1975; a licentiate in canon law, in 1982; a diploma in Latin letters, in 1983; and a doctorate in canon law, with specialization in jurisprudence, in 1984.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 29, 1975, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope Paul VI. Associate rector, cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman, La Crosse, 1975. Instructor of Religion, Aquinas High School, La Crosse, 1977-1980. Moderator of the curia and vice-chancellor of the diocese of La Crosse, 1984. Adjunct judicial vicar of the diocese of La Crosse, 1985. Visiting professor of Canonical Jurisprudence, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, 1985-1994. Prelate of Honor of His Holiness, 1993. Member of the College of Judges of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature; he became the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, the Church's highest court, 1989.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of La Crosse, December 10, 1994. Consecrated, January 6, 1995, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Giovanni Battista Re, titular archbishop of Vescovio, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by Jorge María Mejía, titular archbishop of Apollonia, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops. His episcopal motto is Secundum Cor Tuum. President of the Board of Directors, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 1996-2001. Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, March 12, 1997. National Director of the Marian Catechist Apostolate, 2000. President of the board of directors of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, 2001-2008. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Saint Louis, December 2, 2003; ceased as archbishop, June 27, 2008. Apostolic Visitor for Seminaries in the United States, 2005-2006. Awarded a doctorate Honoris Causa by Ave Maria University, May 7, 2005. Named prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, June 27, 2008. He is one of the world's foremost authorities on Roman Catholic canon law. A prolific writer, he has published numerous books and articles (1).

Birth. March 15, 1950, Emmenbrücke, diocese of Basel, canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. His father was a worker and his mother a housewife

Education. Studied theology at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland; and at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Münich, Germany. He obtained a diploma in theology in 1975. He worked as pastoral assistant in Sursee from 1975 to 1976. He was research assistant at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Lucerne from 1976 to 1981. He earned a doctorate in theology in 1987 (dissertation: "Der Gott der Geschichte. Theologie der Geschichte bei Wolfhart Pannenberg als Paradigma einer philosophischen Theologie in ökumenischer Perspektive"); he obtained the "Habilitation" in 1989.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 20, 1982, St. Eusebius, Grenchen, by Otto Wüst, bishop of Basel. From 1982 to 1985, he was chaplain in St. Marien in Bern. In 1986, lecturer in dogmatic and moral theology at the Theological Faculty Lucerne (Department of Catechesis). Further studies, 1986-1989. Professor of dogmatics, liturgy and ecumenical theology at the Theological Faculty of the University of Lucerne from 1989 until February 29, 1996. Dean of this faculty and rector of the University of Lucerne, October 1 to December 13, 1995.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Basel by the cathedral chapter on August 21, 1995; confirmed by the pope on December 6, 1995. Consecrated, January 6, 1996, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Giovanni Battista Re, titular archbishop of Vescocio, substitute of the Secretariat of State, section of General Affairs, and by Jorge María Mejía, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops. His episcopal motto is Ut sit in omnibus Christus primatum tenens / Christus hat in allem den Vorrang. He took possession of the see on February 23, 1996. Since February 29, 1996, Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Lucerne. Vice-president of the Swiss Bishops Conference for nine years. He has served as a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 2002. He has also been a member of the International Catholic-Orthodox Theological Commission and a member of the International Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue Commission. President of the Swiss Bishops Conference, 2007-2010. He is a member of the Swiss Council of Religions. Appointed president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and promoted to the rank of archbishop, July 1, 2010. Apostolic administrator of the see until a successor is appointed. He is the author of around 70 ecumenical articles and discussion papers. Among the subjects covered are AIDS, the future of the Church and priests' celibacy. He has authored numerous books (1).

Birth. September 1, 1934, Ricaldone, a small village in Piedmont, diocese of Acqui, Italy. His father Francesco, was a farmer and his mother, Rosina, a teacher at the primary school. His brother Stefano was also a priest. A brother of his paternal grandmother was a priest, as was his mother's brother.

Education. After finishing the primary education in his home village, he entered the Minor Seminary in Acqui for his secondary education. After this, he entered the Major Seminary in Torino; from October 1954, he studied theology and philosophy at the Pontificial Gregorian University in Rome and obtained a licentiate in theology in 1958; later, he studied canon law at the same university and obtained a doctorate in this discipline in 1963; then, he studied jurisprudence at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 29, 1958. From 1963 he taught moral theology at the Theological Faculty of the diocese of Acqui; and later he taught the same discipline at the Theological Faculty in Turin until 1976, when he was called to the Vatican to work in the Secretariat of State. On July 30, 1978, he was named chaplain of His Holiness. On December 24, 1987, he was named prelate of honor of His Holiness. In 1992, he was appointed vice assessor of the Secretariat of State; and in 1997, he was appointed assessor.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Sutri and appointed apostolic nuncio with special responsibilities on December 10, 1996. Consecrated on January 6, 1997, in the patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Giovanni Battista Re, titular archbishop of Vescovio, substitute of the secretariat of State, and by Miroslav Stefan Marusyn, titular archbishop of Cadi, secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. His episcopal motto was Caritas omnia sustinet . Named vice-camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on October 23, 2004. In 2005 he was decorated as knight grand cross of the Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. Named pro-patron of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta on June 6, 2009.

Birth. September 15, 1944, Genoa, Italy.

Education. After finishing his secondary education, he entered the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Genoa in 1964. After his ordination he was sent to Rome to complete his studies; he attended the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained a doctorate, summa cum laude, in canon law.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 21, 1969, metropolitan cathedral of S. Lorenzo, Genoa, by Cardinal Giuseppe Siri, archbishop of Genoa. Incardinated in the archdiocese of Genoa. Further studies in Rome. Parochial vicar of the parish of Santa Agnese e Nostra Signora del Carmine, 1970-1975. Confessor at the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Genoa 1973-1978. Chaplain and later archiepiscopal delegate to the University of Genoa. Professor of canon law at the Theological Faculty of Liguria. Judge at the diocesan ecclesiastical tribunals and at the Ligurian regional tribunal. Archbishop's press officer. Diocesan assistant of the ecclesial Movement of Cultural Commitment. Professor of contemporary culture and history of atheism at the Ligurian Higher Institute of Religious Studies Professor of dogmatic theology at the Diocesan Institute of Theology for the Lay "Didascaleion". He also taught theology at several state lyceums. Named canon of the metropolitan cathedral chapter of Genoa in 1986. In 1990, he entered the service of the Roman Curia and was named capo ufficio and then undersecretary of the Congregation for the Clergy.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Vittoriana and appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, October 13, 2003. Consecrated, November 15, 2003, metropolitan cathedral of S. Lorenzo, Genoa, by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, archbishop of Genoa, assisted by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, and by Alberto Tanasini, titular bishop of Suelli, auxiliary of Genoa. His episcopal motto is Una quies in veritate. In addition, he was named president of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology on August 28, 2004. Named secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy and promoted to the rank of archbishop on May 7, 2007. Named prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy on October 7, 2010. Named president of the Pontifical Foundation of Aid to the Church in Need on December 6, 2011.

Birth. September 19, 1935, Sonnino, diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno, Italy. Son of Americo de Paolis and Quirina Altobelli. He had three brothers and a sister.

Education. He entered the congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians) at a young age and received his formation in the congregation's seminaries. He made his temporal profession on September 20, 1955, in Crespano del Grappa; and his perpetual profession on October 4, 1958, in Piacenza. After ordination, he went to Rome to continue his academic formation, obtaining in 1965 a doctorate in canon law from the canon law faculty at the Pontifical Gregorian University; a licentiate in theology from the theology faculty at the University of S. Tommaso d'Aquino (Angelicum); and a law degree at La Sapienza University in Rome. He also completed a two-year degree in moral theology at the Alphonsianum Academy.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 18, 1961, Piacenza. Further studies, 1961-1965. From 1965 to 1970, he was a professor of moral theology and canon law at the Theological Faculty of Piacenza and in one his own congregation's centers for philosophical and theological formation. Afterwards, he was named rector of the Scalabrinian Fathers' International College in Rome (1970-1974), while also serving as provincial vicar. In 1974, he was called to the general government of his congregation as counselor and general procurator. From 1971 to 1980, he was an extraordinary professor, and from 1983 onward, an ordinary professor of the canon law faculty at the Pontifical Gregorian University. From 1987 on, he was also named a professor at the Pontifical Urbanian University; and became dean of the Faculty of Theology in 1998. He has authored more than 200 books and articles, and is a regular contributor to the review Periodica de re canonica. He is a member of various associations dedicated to the study of canon law. Throughout all these years, he has dedicated himself to apostolic activities, especially to preaching spiritual exercises.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Telepte and appointed secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, December 30, 2003. Consecrated, February 21, 2004, at the patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, sub-dean of the College of Cardinals, assisted by Silvano Maria Tomasi, C.S., titular archbishop of Asolo, permanent observer of the Holy See before the United Nations Organization and Specialized Institutions in Genève, and by Francesco Saverio Salerno, titular bishop of Cere, former secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature. His episcopal motto was Iustitia in Caritate. Named president of the prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. Promoted to the rank of archbishop, April 12, 2008. Appointed pontifical delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ on July 9, 2010.

Birth. October 18, 1942, Merate, in Brianza, archdiocese of Milan, Italy. His family was originally from Osnago. He is the eldest of three children, the other two were girls. His father was an anti-Fascist tax official who served in Sicily during the Second World War, but later deserted the army; it took him 18 months to return to his family. His mother was a schoolteacher, who loved literature and died relatively early, which was a severe blow for Gianfranco.

Education. He was sent from the countryside to the small town of Merate to study and lived there with an aunt; he attended the Major Seminary of Milan, Venegono, where he earned a licentiate in theology; then he went to Rome and studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at Pontifical Biblical Institute, obtaining a licentiate in Sacred Scriptures. He spent summers in in Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey, where he worked as an archaeologist with such scholars as Kathleen Kenyon and Roland de Vaux. He studied numerous ancient and modern languages, among them Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

Birth. September 24, 1931, Chundamira, parish of St. John in Katete, region of M'bang'ombe, diocese of Chipata, Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia). Son of Joseph Adrian Mazombwe, one of the first catechists of the diocese of Chipata, and Eugenia Phiri, known for her religiosity. He had five brothers (all dead) and two sisters (one is still living).

Education. Primary education in Chasse; secondary education at St. Mary's Seminary in Kasina, Nyasaland (later Malawi). Studied philosophy and theology at the Regional Major Seminary of Kachebere, Nyasaland (later Malawi), and at "Lovanium" University, Leopoldville (later Kinshasa, Republic of Congo), where he obtained a bachelor's in theology; in Chikuni he obtained the "General Certificate of Education" and the "Certificate as a Qualified Teacher", for primary schools; later, he did further specialized studies in education at the civil University of Lusaka.

Priesthood. Ordained, September 4, 1960, Katete Boma. He was coadjutor; and later rector of the school "St. Mary"; diocesan promotor of ecclesiastical vocations; and professor of religion at state secondary school of Chadiza.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Chipata, November 11, 1970. Consecrated, February 7, 1971, cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, by Emmanuel Milingo, archbishop of Lusaka, assisted by Firmin Courtemanche, M. Afr., bishop emeritus of Chipata, and by James Corboy, S.J., bishop of Monze. President of the Episcopal Conference of Zambia, 1972-1975; 1988-1990; and 1999-2002. Chairman of the regional conferences under the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.), 1979-1986. Participated in the Special Assembly of Africa of the Synod of Bishops, April 10 to May 8, 1994. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Lusaka, November 30 1996. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Lusaka, October 28, 2006. He was an ardent campaigner who tirelessly advocated for Zambia's debt cancellation in the mid 1980s, through the Jubilee movement campaign and spearheaded several new developmental projects in many parts of the country including the Mumpanshya area in Chongwe District. Received a doctorate honoris causa from the University of Lusaka in 2009. Among some of his numerous pastoral initiatives was the sprawling cathedral of the Child Jesus in Pope Square, Lusaka.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of November 20, 2010; received the red biretta and the title of S. Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza on that same day. Member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; and of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. For the first time in the history of Zambia, an indigenous Zambian became cardinal. The only previous cardinal in Zambia was Adam Kozłowiecki, S.J., archbishop emeritus of Lusaka, named by Pope John Paul II. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when he turned eighty years old on September 24, 2011.

Death. August 29, 2013, around 5:40 p.m., local time, in Lusaka's University Teaching Hospital, after a long battle with cancer. After learning the news of the death of Cardinal Mazombwe, Pope Francis prayed for the eternal repose of his soul and sent a telegram of condolence to Telesphore George Mpundu, archbishop of Lusaka (1). The funeral Mass, presided over by Cardinal John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya, who also delivered the homily, took place on Tuesday September 3, 2013, at 9 a.m., in the metropolitan cathedral of the Child Jesus, Lusaka. The body of the late cardinal was buried in the grounds of that cathedral after the Mass (2). In 2017, a foundation named after him was launched during a fundraising dinner held at the Pamozdi Hotel in Lusaka following a Mass celebrated by Father Cleophas Lungu, secretary general of the Zambian Episcopal Conference. The aim of the foundation, officially registered on August 18, 2016, is that of helping the underprivileged. The Foundation is currently based in Chipata. The Mejocama School, founded by the late cardinal in Chipata in 2012, has been since renamed The Medardo Joseph Cardinal Mazombwe School.

Birth. January 1, 1934, Riobamba, diocese of Riobama, Ecuador. Fifth of the nine children of Antonio Vela and Carmela Chiriboga.

Education. After finishing his secondary education at Colegio Don Bosco of Riobamba, he entered the Major Seminary of San José, Quito (philosophy and theology). He also did part of his studies in Bogotá, Madrid and Buenos Aires.

Priesthood. Ordained, July 28, 1957, by Leonidas Eduardo Proaño Villalba, bishop of Riobamba. Incardinated into the diocese of Riobamba. Pastoral ministry in the diocese of Riobamba. General secretary of the episcopal curia of Riobamba from 1957 until 1967. Director of Caritas in Riobamba, from 1967 until 1968. Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador from 1968 to 1970; general secretary of that conference, from 1970 to 1975.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Ausafa and appointed auxiliary of Guayaquil, April 20, 1972. Consecrated, May 21, 1972, cathedral of Our Lady, Quito, by Cardinal Pablo Muñoz Vega, S.J., archbishop of Quito, assisted by Bernardino Echeverría Ruiz, O.F.M., archbishop of Guayaquil, and by Leonidas Eduardo Proaño Villalba, bishop of Riobamba. His episcopal motto was Cum Maria Mater Jesu. Secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador, 1972-1975. Transferred to the see of Azogues, April 29, 1975. Delegate of the Conference of Bishops of Ecuador to the Third General Conference of the Latin America Episcopate celebrated in Puebla de los Ángeles, México, in 1979. Transferred to the titular see of Pauzera and appointed military ordinary of Ecuador, July 8, 1989. Member of the "Junta de Defensa Nacional", as delegate of the archbishopric of Quito. Resigned titular see of Pauzera, March 7, 1998. Promoted to the metropolitan and primatial see of Quito, March 21, 2003. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Quito for having reached the age limit, September 11, 2010. He was given a doctorate honoris causa by the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. He was in a spiritual retreat when he was told that he had been promoted to the cardinalate.

Birth. October 7, 1939, Mongobele, district of Bandundu, diocese of Inongo, Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo). Of one of the royal families of Basakata; his second name, Monsengwo, means "nephew of the traditional chief". From a Catholic family which assisted to Mass every Sunday. His father was a carpenter at Forescom, a subsidiary of the forestry and mining company that exploited rubber in this area of large rubber plantations. He was the second of eight siblings, six boys and two girls. Three died at a young age.

Education. After beginning his studies at the school of Mongobele, he attended that of the Catholic mission held by the missionaries of Scheut missionaries in Nioki, a large neighboring town where his parents had settled, still working with Forescom. He did his initial ecclesiastical studies at the Minor Seminary of Bokoro; then, in 1957, he entered the Major Seminary of Kaboué and studied philosophy; in 1960, he was sent to Rome to study at the Pontifical Urbanian University; later, he attended the Pontifical Biblical Institute in that city; and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem (first African to obtain a doctorate in biblical studies; the title of his disseration was La notion de nomos dans le grec Pentateuque); he studied under Father Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., future cardinal.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 21, 1963, Rome, by Cardinal Grégoire-Pierre Agagianian, prefect of the S.C. for the Propagation of the Faith. Pastoral work and faculty member at the Theological Faculty of Kinshasa from 1970 to 1972. Secretary of the Congolese Episcopal Conference, 1972-1976. Secretary general of the Congolese Episcopal Conference, 1976-1980.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Acque nuove di Proconsulare and auxiliary of Inongo, February 13, 1980. Consecrated, May 4, 1980, Kinshasa, esplanade of Palais du Peuple, in open air, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Cardinal Agnelo Rossi, prefect of the S.C. for the Evangelization of Peoples, and by Cardinal Albert Malula, archbishop of Kinshasa. His episcopal motto was In fide veritatis. Transferred as auxiliary to the archdiocese of Kisangani, April 7, 1981. In 1984, still an auxiliary bishop, he was elected to the presidency of the Congolese Bishops Conference; occupied the post until 1992. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Kisangani, September 1, 1988. He worked tirelessly in the defense of the people during the period of the long dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko and the civil war, which ended in 1997. Between 1991 and 1992, he took, pro tempore, the responsibility of chairing the National Conference; and then until 1996, he was head of the Parliament of the country, the former Zaire, to lead it to democracy in the delicate political transition after the fall of the dictatorship of Mobutu. Participated in the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, April 10 to May 8, 1994; elected member of its Council of the General Secretariat, May 6, 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he was vice-president of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); and from 1997 to 2003, he was its president. In 2004, he was elected again to the presidency of the Congolese Bishops Conference; occupied the post until 2008. Co-president of Pax Christi International, November 3, 2007. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Kinshasa, December 6, 2007; he has continued to raise his voice in defense of human rights, justice and peace. Special secretary of the Twelfth General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 5 to 26, 2008, "The Word of God in the life and the mission of the Church". He was a biblical scholar and an activist on justice and peace issues. He was the author of numerous publications, especially on the question of the inculturation of faith. He was a member of the Studiorum Novi Testaments Societas and was the initiator of the Panafrican Association of Catholic Exegetes (APEC). He was one of the critical voices with regard to the various regimes which have succeeded one another in the Democratic Republic of Congo, that of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, Laurent-Désiré Kabila (1997-2001), Joseph Kabila (2001- 2019), and Félix Tshisekedi.

Birth. February 20, 1938, Acireale, Catania, Italy. He is the fifth of nine siblings.

Education. Elementary education in "Collegio Pennisi" of the Society of Jesus in Acireale; middle studies in the state school "Paolo Vasta"; then, he entered the Episcopal Seminary of Acireale (ginnasio, liceo and began his theological studies); in 1959, he was sent to Rome as student at Almo Collegio Capranica; he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a licentiate in theology; and the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned a doctorate in canon law. He knows French, Spanish, English and German.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 18, 1961, chapel of the Episcopal Seminary of Acireale. Incardinated in the archdiocese of Acireale. Continued his studies at the university and did pastoral ministry as assistant to the Scouts Group "Roma IX" in "Collegio San Giuseppe in Piazza di Spagna" and diocesan assistant of the association "Silenziosi Operai della Croce". In 1964, he was admitted to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy on January 1, 1967 and entered the service of the Holy See. Joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1967. Worked in the nunciatures in the Philippines, Belgium-Luxemburg and European Community, Venezuela, and Rwanda and Burundi. In 1976, he was called to the Council for Public Affairs of the Church in the Secretariat of State. At the same time, he worked as director of the "Casa Internazionale del Clero" and was regional assistant for the Lazio of the AGESC.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Vulturia and appointed nuncio to Haiti, December 17, 1983. Consecrated, January 6, 1984, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Eduardo Martínez Somalo, titular archbishop of Tagora, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy, archbishop emeritus of Bangalore, secretary of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. His episcopal motto is Caritas omnia sustinet. Nuncio to Colombia, April 24, 1990. Nuncio to Canada, February 5, 1999. Nuncio to Italy and San Marino, April 17, 2001. Participated in the Fourth Conference of the Latin American Episcopate and has been special papal envoy to the inauguration of the presidents of the Republics of El Salvador, Honduras and Ecuador. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Palermo, December 19, 2006. Took possession of the archdiocese on February 10, 2007. Elected president of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference, February 14, 2007. Sicilian grand prior of the lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Birth. November 12, 1940, Pittsburgh, United States of America. He is the second of the four children of Francis J. Wuerl and Mary Anne Schiffauer. The other siblings are Wayne, Dennis and Carol. His mother died when he was just four years old, and his father later remarried Catherine Cavanaugh, who raised Donald and his siblings.

Education. He attended St. Mary of the Mount parish and school in Pittsburgh; later, he entered Saint Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati, where he obtained a bachelor's in philosophy; then, he studied at The Catholic University of America, Washington, as a Basselin scholar in philosophy, earning a master's in philosophy; sent to Rome, he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a master's in theology; and the Pontifical University of S. Tommaso d'Aquinas (Angelicum), where he obtained in 1974 a doctorate in theology. In Rome he lived in the Pontifical North American College. Besides his native English, he speaks French, Italian and Spanish.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 17, 1966, Rome, by Francis Frederick Reh, titular bishop of Macriana in Mauretania and rector of the Pontifical North American College. Incardinated in the diocese of Pittsburgh. Assistant pastor, church of St. Rosalie, Pittsburgh, 1967-1968. Secretary to Bishop John Joseph Wright of Pittsburgh, 1968-1969; when Bishop Wright was created cardinal and named prefect of the S.C. for the Clergy in 1969, he continued in that post. Minutant of the S.C. for the Clergy, 1969-1980. He was the aide of Cardinal Wright in the second conclave of 1978 because of the cardinal's health. At this time he was also working regularly on the English edition of "L'Osservatore Romano". Vice-rector, St. Paul's Seminary, Pittsburgh, 1980-1981; rector, 1981-1985. Vice-moderator of the diocesan curia of Pittsburgh, 1985.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Rosemarkie and appointed auxiliary of Seattle, November 30, 1985. Consecrated, January 6, 1985, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, secretary of State, and by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. His episcopal motto is Thy kingdom come. He shared power with Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen of Seattle, and was given authority by the Holy See over annulments, liturgy, clergy appointments and education, moral issues in health care institutions, and ministry to homosexuals. He resigned as auxiliary of Seattle on May 26, 1987. Transferred to the see of Pittsburgh, February 12, 1988. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Washington, May 16, 2006; he took possession of this see June 22, 2006. In April 2008, he hosted Pope Benedict XVI during his visit in the United States. He is author of several books and various publications, including catechisms and numerous articles on the Catholic faith. He was president of the National Catholic Educational Association and the National Catholic Bioethics Center. In the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the United States he chaired the committees for education, catechesis, evangelization and priestly life and ministry. He was the head of the commission for Catholic health care. He also served as director of the commission for the Doctrine of the Faith and the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution "Anglicanorum coetibus" in the United States.

Birth. February 15, 1937, in a small chácara, two kilometers from Capela Nova, archdiocese of Mariana, Brazil. Of a modest family. One of the ten children of Francisco Solano de Assis, a small farmer, and Carmen Damasceno de Assis. He attended the catechism and served as an acolyte in his parish church. His last name also listed as Damasceno Assis.

Education. In 1948, he entered the Juvenato São José of the Marist Brothers, in the city of Mendes, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where he completed his basic elementary education; then he discerned that his vocation was for the priesthood and returned home to Conselheiro Lafaiete, archdiocese of Mariana, where the family had moved. In 1955, he entered the Minor Seminary of the archdiocese of Mariana, where he did his secondary studies; and then the Major Seminary, where he studied philosophy; in 1960, Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira, of Mariana, sent him to the newly established archdiocese of Brasília, as a help to that new local church, inaugurated on April 21 of that same year; in 1961, the archbishop of Brasília, José Newton de Almeida Baptista, sent him to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a licentiate; he resided at Colegio Pío Brasileño; during those years, the Second Vatican Council was celebrated in Rome. In 1965, he was sent to Germany, where he concluded his formation at the Superior Institute of Catechesis in Münich. He returned to Brazil in 1968. He did post graduate studies in the philosophy of science at the University of Brasília and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Mina Gerais.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 19, 1968, in Conselheiro Lafaiete, by José Newton de Almeida Baptista, archbishop of Brasília. In the archdiocese of Brasília, he was coordinator of catechesis; pastor of the parish of Santíssimo Sacramento; archdiocesan chancellor; co-founder and professor of the Major Seminary Nossa Senhora de Fatima; and professor in the Department of Philosophy of the University of Brasília. During those years, the military dictatorship that ruled the country exercised a strict control over all the citizens including priests and bishops.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Novapietra and appointed auxiliary of Brasília, June 18, 1986. Consecrated, September 15, 1986, cathedral Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Brasília, by José Freire Falcão, archbishop of Brasília, assisted by José Newton de Almeida Baptista, archbishop emeritus of Brasília, and by Geraldo do Espírito Santo Ávila, titular bishop of Gemellae in Numidia, auxiliary of Brasília. His episcopal motto is In Gaudium Domini. He was vicar general of the archdiocese and director of the Superior Course of Theology for the Lay. Secretary general of the Episcopal Council of Latin America (CELAM), 1991-1995; during those years he was allowed by the archbishop to reside in Bogotá, Colombia. Named by Pope John Paul II secretary general of the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, celebrated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 12 to 28, 1992. Participated in the First Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994. Participated, by papal appointment, in the Ninth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Secretary general of the Conference of Bishops of Brazil, 1995-2003. Participated in the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 16 to December 12, 1997. In November 2003, he was elected member of the Academy of Letters of Brasília; he took possession of his chair on June 23, 2004. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Aparecida, January 28, 2004. He is the fourth archbishop of that see. Participated in the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate (CELAM), May 13 to 31, 2007, in Aparecida, Brazil. Elected president of the Episcopal Council of Latin America (CELAM), for a quadrennium (2007-2011), during its 31st Ordinary Assembly, celebrated in La Habana, Cuba, in July 2007; occupied the post until May 18, 2011. Participated, by papal appointment, in the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 14 to 25, 2009. Participated, by papal appointment, in the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 10 to 24, 2010.

Birth. February 1, 1950, Stara Wieś, archdiocese of Kraków (diocese of Bielsko-Źywiec, since 1992), Poland. Eldest son of Franciszek Nycz and Waleria Młynarska. He has a younger sister, Małgorzata, and a younger brother, Stanisław. He was baptized on February 19, 1950, in the church St. Crux in Stara Wieś.

Education. Primary school in Stara Wieś; Lyceum of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Czechowice-Dziedzice (graduated in 1967); he then entered the Major Seminary of Kraków. On May 8, 1972, he was ordained a deacon by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła in Wawel Cathedral, Kraków; in 1976, he obtained a licentiate of theology at the Faculty of Theology of Papieska Akademia Teologiczna (Pontifical Academy of Theology), of Kraków; then, in 1977, he started his doctoral studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, where in 1981, he earned a doctorate in catechetical studies (dissertation: "Implementation of catechetical renewal of the Second Vatican Council in the archdiocese of Kraków", written under the direction of Professor Father Mieczysław Majewski).

Priesthood. Ordained, May 20, 1973, for the archdiocese of Kraków, in Kaniów, by Julian Groblicki, titular bishop of Fildadelfia di Arabia, auxiliary of Kraków. From 1973 until 1975, he was vicar in the parish of St. Elizabeth at Jaworzno, Szczakowa district; and then in the parish of St. Margaret at Raciborowice. After obtaining his doctorate in 1981, he worked in the office for catechetics in the metropolitan curia of Kraków; and collaborated in the pastoral work of the parish of "Divine Mercy" in Skawina. In 1987, he was named vice-rector of the Major Seminary of Kraków.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Villa del re and named auxiliary of Kraków, May 14, 1988. Consecrated, June 4, 1988, metropolitan cathedral of Kraków, by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, archbishop of Kraków, assisted by Jerzy Ablewicz, archbishop-bishop of Tarnów, and by Stanisław Nowak, bishop of Częstochowa. His episcopal motto is Ex hominibus pro hominibus. From 1988 until 2004, he served as the vicar general of the archdiocese of Kraków. He organized three visits of Pope John Paul II to Kraków. On November 26, 1999, he was named chairman of the Committee for Catholic Education; his main interest was to seek ways to find the opportunities offered by schools for catechetical activities and to search for forms of parish catechesis. As chairman of the Commission for Education of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate, the center of his activities was adapting the Polish catechesis to the post-Vatican II catechetical documents of the Church, especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the General Directory for Catechesis; and to correlate the teaching of religion in the school with the requirements of the reformed schools. Under his direction, On June 20, 2001, Conference of the Polish Episcopate validated the "Core curriculum of catechism of the Catholic Church in Poland", the "Catechetical Directory of the Catholic Church in Poland" and the "Program of religious education". In 1999, he received the honorary Citizenship of the city and the district of Skawina. For six consecutive years, he lectured catechetics in the Pontifical Theological Academy of Kraków. Transferred to the see of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg, June 9, 2004. He introduced in the parishes catechesis in small groups for secondary school students in preparation to receive the sacrament of Confirmation; and recommended care of young students by parish communities. He is known for its openness to the clergy, laity, and media. Since November 26, 2004 he is the president of the Commission for Catholic Education of the Polish Episcopal Conference. From December 2004, he was a member of the Permanent Council of the Polish Episcopal Conference. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Warsaw on March 3, 2007. He took possession of the see on April 1, 2007. On June 9, 2007, he was named ordinary for Eastern-rite Catholics in Poland who do not have their own ordinary. He received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI at the papal Vatican basilica on June 29, 2007. On November 15, 2007, he became an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus.

Birth. November 15, 1947, Polgahawela, diocese of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). He is the only son of William Patabendige Don and Mary Winifred Perera Hettiarachchige. He had three younger sisters: Mrs. Ranjanie Cooray (deceased); Mrs. Shalani Fernando (Sri Lanka); and Mrs. Antoinette Biergans (Germany). He is also listed as Malcolm Ranjith; as Albert Malcolm Ranjith only; and as Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith.

Education. Initial studies at De La Salle School, in Mutwal; he then entered St. Aloysius Seminary in Borella in 1965; from 1966 to 1970, he studied theology and philosophy at the National Seminary in Kandy; later, he was sent by Cardinal Thomas Cooray, archbishop of Colombo, to continue his studies in Rome, where he graduated from the Pontifical Urbanian University with a baccalaureate in theology. After his ordination, he did post graduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, obtaining a licentiate in Sacred Scripture in 1978; he wrote his thesis on the Epistle to the Hebrews; at the Institute, he studied under Fathers Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., and Albert Vanhoye, S.J., future cardinals; he also attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, undertaking scriptural research as a post graduate scholar. He is fluent in eleven languages: Italian, German, French, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, English, Sinhala, Tamil and Indonesian Bhasa.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 29, 1975, at St Peter's square, by Pope Paul VI, together with 358 other deacons. After returning to Sri Lanka in 1978, he became assistant pastor in Pamunugama; he later served as a pastor in Payagala and Kalutara, parishes of poor but religious people in fishing villages; this experience led him to become involved with social justice; he also established "Seth Sarana," a center for poor relief in the archdiocese of Colombo. In 1983, he was named the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies. He revived the Society of the Holy Childhood and, as diocesan coordinator for Human Development, he introduced bold initiatives in areas such as housing, fisheries and various self-employment projects.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Cabarsussi and appointed auxiliary of Colombo, June 17, 1991. Consecrated, August 31, 1991, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta, by Nicholas Marcus Fernando, archbishop of Colombo, assisted by Thomas Savundaranayagam, bishop of Mannar, and by Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis, titular bishop of Mulia, auxiliary of Colombo. His episcopal motto is Verbum caro factum est. He was named vicar general charged with Parochial Apostolate and Lay Apostolate, occupying the post from 1991 until 1995. He was elected secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka and chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace in the same year. He also was chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Beatification of Ven. Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Nikethanaya and for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Sri Lanka in January 1995. Transferred to the see of Ratnapura, November 2, 1995; he was installed on January 5, 1996. On October 1, 2001, he was named adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and president of the Pontifical Mission Societies; resigned the see of Ratnapura and was promoted to the rank of archbishop on that same date. Named nuncio in Indonesia and East Timor and transferred to the titular see of Umbriatica, April 29, 2004. Named secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, December 10, 2005. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Colombo, June 16, 2009. He received the pallium on June 29, 2009. He took formal canonical possession of the metropolitan see of Colombo in a private ceremony on August 5, 2009, at the cathedral of St. Lucia; and celebrated the mass for the solemn beginning of his pastoral ministry as the 9th archbishop of Colombo on August 8, 2009, when he was publicly installed.

Birth. September 21, 1953, Geseke, archdiocese of Paderborn, Germany. Son of Franz Marx, who was a locksmith, and his wife Berta. He has an older brother, Werner, and a younger sister, Eva.

Education. He finished his secondary education with "Abitur" in 1972 at "Antonianum", Geseke; he is a member of the Catholic Student Fraternity "Unitas" (Verband der Wissenschaftlichen Katholischen Studentenvereine Unitas); he completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Paderborn and at "Institut Catholique de Paris". Between 1981 and 1989, he continued his doctoral studies at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, obtaining a doctorate in theology in 1989 (dissertation, under the supervision of Professor Hermann-Josef Pottmeyer: Ist Kirche anders? Möglichkeiten und Grenzen einer soziologischen Betrachtungsweise). He was ordained deacon by Paul Nordhues, titular bishop of Cos and auxiliary of Paderborn, in the church St. Kilian, Paderborn, on February 11, 1978.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 2, 1979, in the cathedral of Paderborn, by Johannes Joachim Degenhardt, archbishop of Paderborn. Incardinated in the archdiocese of Paderborn. From 1979 to 1981, he was vice-pastor of the parish of Sankt Johannes Baptiste, in Arolsen. Further studies, 1981-1989. From 1981 to 1986, he was ecclesiastical assistant of the Social Institute "Kommende", the social institute of the archdiocese of Paderborn, in Dortmund. From 1986 to 1988, he was chaplain of the parish of Sankt Marien, in Witten. In 1989, he was named director of the Social Institute "Kommende" and chaplain in Sankt Ewaldi, Dortmund-Aplerbeck. From 1989 until 1996, he was head of the theological advisory board of "Unitas". He was also professor of social doctrine of the Church at the Theological Faculty of Paderborn. Chaplain of His Holiness, June 21, 1993. Professor of "Christliche Gesellschaftslehre" (Christian Social Ethics) at the Theological Faculty of Paderborn in 1996.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Pedena and appointed auxiliary of Paderborn, July 23, 1996. Consecrated, September 21, 1996, metropolitan cathedral of Paderborn, by Johannes Joachim Degenhardt, archbishop of Paderborn, assisted by Hans Leo Drewes, titular bishop of Vina, auxiliary of Paderborn, and by Paul Consbruch, titular bishop of Gor, auxiliary of Paderborn. In the same ceremony was consecrated Heinz-Josef Algermissen, now bishop of Fulda. His episcopal motto is Ubi spiritus Domini ibi libertas. In 1997, he was given the charge of the Bishops' Chaplaincy for Society, Culture and Science. Canon of the metropolitan cathedral chapter of Paderborn until 2001. From 1999-2008, he was president the German Commission Iustitia et Pax. From 2001, he was vice-president of the council "International Church" of the German Episcopal Conference. Transferred to the see of Trier, the oldest German diocese, December 20, 2001; took possession of the see on April 1, 2002. From 2004, president of the council "Christian Social Ethics" of the German Episcopal Conference. From 2006, delegate of the German Episcopal Conference before the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community; from 2009, its vice-president. From 2006, grand prior of the German Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. From 2007 member of the senate of the "Deutsche Nationalstiftung" (German National Foundation). Promoted to the metropolitan see of München und Freising, November 30, 2007. Took possession of the see, February 2, 2008. Since that day, he automatically became president of the Bishops Conference of Bavaria ("Freisinger Bischofskonferenz"). Received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2008, at the papal Vatican basilica. Received the honorary citizenship of his birthtown, Geseke, on December 27, 2008. Received an honorary doctorate from the Philosophical-Theological University of Vallendar on January 22, 2009. From 2009, member of the senate of the Foundation "Wittenberg-Center for Global Ethics"; and of the senate of the Foundation "Ordo Socialis - Scientific Society to promote Social Ethics". On October 1, 2010, he became grand chancellor of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt; on the following November 15, he was presented to the university comunity as such. He has authored numerous publications in the field of social ethics (1).

Birth. January 1, 1926, Andújar, diocese of Jaén, Spain. Son of Bernardo Estepa Gómez (1887-?), who was Republican mayor of Andújar (April-November 1931), and María de la Salud Llaurens Aspart (1892-1987), of French origin. In 1941, the family moved to León.

Education. He studied philosophy at the Pontifical University of Salamanca; and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in pastoral theology; he obtained a licentiate in pastoral catechesis at the Institut Catholique, Paris, in 1956.

Priesthood. Ordained, January 27, 1954, Madrid. Incardinated in the archdiocese of Madrid. He was chaplain of Colegio Mayor Universitario Guadalupe of Madrid, from 1956 until 1960. Professor at the Hispanicamerican Theological Seminary of Madrid, from 1956 to 1964. Director of the Department of Pastoral of Obra de Cooperación Sacerdotal Hispanoamericana (OCSHA) from 1957 to 1961. Assessor to the presidency of the Episcopal Council of Latin America (CELAM) from 1958 to 1967. He also collaborated with the Catholic Action. From 1965 until 1971, he was national director of catechesis of the Spanish Episcopal Conference; as well as general delegate of the Episcopal Commission for Education. Consultor of the Congregation for the Clergy, 1971.

Episcopate, Elected titular bishop of Tisili and appointed auxiliary of Madrid, September 5, 1972. Consecrated, October 15, 1972, at the parish church of the Asunción, Madrid, by Cardinal Vicente Enrique y Tarancón, archbishop of Madrid, assisted by Marcelo González y Martín, archbishop of Toledo, and by José López Ortiz, O.S.A., titular archbishop of Grado, general military vicar of Spain. His episcopal motto was Pax Hominibus. From 1972 to 1983, he was vicar general for the southern part of the archdiocese of Madrid and rector of its Theological Seminary. In 1977, he was special secretary of the Fourth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 29, 1977. He was president of the Episcopal Subcommission of Catechesis between 1981 and 1998. Nominated general military vicar of Spain and promoted to titular archbishop of Velebusdo, July 30, 1983. Transferred to the titular see of Italica, with personal title of archbishop, November 18, 1989. Participated, by papal appointment, in the First Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, November 18 to December 14, 1991, Vatican City. Resigned the titular see of Italica, March 7, 1998. Resigned the military vicariate, October 30, 2003. In Rome, he was member of the Commission of six bishops that redacted the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He formed part of the international councils of the Holy See for catechesis and for the military vicars. He was the author of numerous books and articles, particularly on pastoral care. He was in charge of religious assistance to military veterans, as a counselor of "Hermandad Nacional de veteranos" and the Spanish Guardia Civil. He was also grand prior of the Western Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Spain of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of November 20, 2010; received the red biretta and the title of S. Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa on that same day. He was older than eighty years at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate and thus not eligible to participate in a conclave.

Birth. June 6, 1928, Nidastore Arcevia, district of Ancona, diocese of Fossombrone (now Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola), Italy. He was the youngest of six children of a simple and devout family of farmers.

Education. Primary education in his native village; due to the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he had to postpone his entry into the Minor Seminary of Fossombrone. Given the difficulties, he was oriented to the field work helping his family, for which he began to train in a vocational school; secondary education at the Minor Seminary of Fossombrone; at the Theological Seminary of Fano. After finishing his theological studies, he earned a doctorate in letters and philosophy at the University of Bologna in 1963. He also studied bioethics.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 29, 1951, by Vincenzo Del Signore, bishop of Fano. Incardinated in the diocese of Fano. From 1952 to 1954, he was spiritual assistant of the Azione Cattolica; from 1954 to 1972, he was vice-rector, professor and finally rector of the Pontifical Regional Seminary "Pio XI" of Fano; this seminary was later transferred to Ancona. Prelate of honor of His Holiness, November 24, 1972. In 1972 he was incardinated in the diocese of Fossombrone. From 1972 to 1973, he was vicar general of the diocese of Fossombrone. For ten years, from 1974 until 1984, he was spiritual assistant of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Catholic University in Rome. From 1974, he was redactor and later vice-director of the journal "Medicina e Morale"; in 1984, he became its co-director. In 1984, he was made responsible for the teaching of bioethics in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Catholic University Sacro Cuore; on November 1, 1990, he was named ordinary professor of bioethics; and in 2000, he was named director of the Institute of Bioethics of the same faculty. From 1985 to 2006, he was director of the Bioethics Center of the Catholic University Sacro Cuore of Milan. From 1990 until 2006, he was member of the National Committee for Bioethics. In 1991, he received in Campidoglio, Rome, the "Premio Giunchi" for medicine, instituted by the Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni in Roma. He is the author of an important handbook of bioethics for clinicians and biologists, in two volumes, which had four editions and many reprints; and has also been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Arabic and Korean.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Zama minore and appointed secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, November 5, 1992. Consecrated, January 6, 1993, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Giovanni Battista Re, titular archbishop of Vescovio, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by Justin Francis Rigali, titular archbishop of Bolsena, secretary of Congregation for Bishops and secretary of College of Cardinals. His episcopal motto was Ut vitam habeant. Named vice-president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, June 1, 1994, when the academy was founded. On December 10, 1994, he was named grand officer of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. On April 3, 1996, the pope accepted his resignation as secretary of the Pontifical Council of the Family as he had requested in order to be able to dedicate more time to the promotion of the activities of the Pontifical Academy for Life and to the Bioethics Institute of the Catholic University Sacro Cuore of Milan. From 1998 until 2005, he was director of the Center for International Cooperation of the Catholic University Sacro Cuore. In October 1999, he received the title of professor de honor of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires. He was decorated by the president of Italy knight grand cross of the Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana on March 6, 2000. In 2001, he became member of the Commission for Guidelines on Counseling and Genetic Testing "in the Ministry of Health. On October 11, 2001, he was named "Miembro Correspondiente" of the Mexican Academy of Bioethics. From 2003, he was president of the International Federation of Centers and Institutes of Bioethics of Personalist Inspiration (FIBIP). Since 2004, he has been president of the Foundation "Ut Vitam Habeant", of canonical institution, civilly recognized for the diffusion of the truth at the service of the pastoral for life. Since 2004, he has also been president of the Association "Donum Vitae", recognized as "Associazione pubblica di fedeli" by the diocese of Rome. On November 4, 2004, he received a doctorate honoris causa from Anahuac University, Mexico City. Named president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, January 3, 2005. On March 5, 2005, he received the International Prize "San Valentino d'Oro", Terni. On March 16, 2005, he received a doctorate honoris causa from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. On June 15, 2007, he received the "The Mystery of Life Award 2007" of the Episcopal Conference of South Korea. Resigned the presidency of the Pontifical Academy for Life, for reasons of having attained the age limit, June 17, 2008. He is a leading voice for the Church in its opposition to controversial ethical issues such as abortion, contraception, embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia. He is considered the founder of the School of Personalist Bioethics. On May 9, 2008, he was given the "Premio Occidente per la Bioetica", from the University of Ancona. The Institute of Bioethics of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina granted him an honorary doctoral degree on June 12, 2008. He was a member of the editorial board of the National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly. He has authored numerous works in bioethics, medical ethics, pastoral of health and the family (1). On November 10, 2010, he was awarded the 2010 European Prize for Life "Madre Teresa di Calcuta". On June 13, 2017, the pope named him member ad honorem of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of November 20, 2010; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Angelo in Pescheria on that same day. He was older than eighty years at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate and thus not eligible to participate in a conclave. Participated in Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 5 to 19, 2014, on the theme "The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of the Evangelization", by papal appointment.

Death. June 5, 2019, at 12:15 p.m., in his Roman residence. On Friday June 7, 2019, at 2:15 p.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the Vatican Basilica, took place his Exequies celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, together with nineteen cardinals and archbishops and bishops. At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, Pope Francis presided over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and the Valedictio. The late cardinal was buried in Nidastore di Arcevia (Ancona), in the diocese of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola.

Birth. January 5, 1929, Ansbach, Germany. His father was an officer. He was born a Protestant and converted to Roman Catholicism as a teenager.

Education. Studied at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Münich; in 1963, he earned a doctorate (doctoral thesis: Das Wiedererstehen katholischer Gemeinden in den Fürstentümern Ansbach und Bayreuth); and he obtained the "habilitation" in 1967 with the dissertation Das Konzil von Pavia-Siena (1423-1424).

Birth. May 7, 1917, Borgo San Lorenzo, archdiocese of Florence, Italy. His father, a laborer, was a passionate singer, and always took Domenico with him when he went to sing in church in the choir of the Compagnia dei Neri, a lay confraternity of Borgo San Lorenzo. He was baptized by Father Canuto Cipriani on the day of his birth in Pieve di San Lorenzo.

Education. When very young, after finishing his elementary studies, he entered the Archiepiscopal Seminary of Florence, where he was chosen as cantore. In 1939, he obtained the diploma in composition in the Conservatory of Florence. In 1942, in Rome, he obtained the diploma at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music; and at Accademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia, after taking the course of perfezionamento in composizione imparted by Ildebrando Pizzetti.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 23, 1939, for the archdiocese of Florence, by Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa, archbishop of Florence. At the death of Maestro Francesco Bagnoli, he succeeded him as director of the choir of the cathedral of Florence. In those years he began to compose his first Masses, early motets, organ music, madrigals and chamber music. At the end of 1942, he went to Rome to deepen his knowledge of sacred music. Having served as vice-maestro of the choir of the patriarchal Lateran basilica, in 1947 he became Maestro of the Cappella Musicale Liberiana of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, succeeding Maestro Licinio Refice. In 1952, on the advice of Maestro Lorenzo Perosi, he was appointed vice-maestro of the Sistine Chapel. When Maestro Perosi died in 1956, Pope Pius XII gave him the position of perpetual director of the Cappella Musicale Pontificia "Sistina". Prelate of honor of His Holiness, January 21, 1965. Member of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia. The Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina was in poor condition at the death of Maestro Perosi. The situation was improved thanks to the commitment of Maestro Bartolucci and the interest of Pope John XXIII. In 40 years of his leadership he alternated the papal liturgies with tours in various countries such as Austria, Germany, Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Philippines, Australia, Canada, United States of America, Turkey, Poland and Japan. In the years of the Second Vatican Council, Maestro Bartolucci, who was against abandoning Latin, was committed to ensure that the liturgical reform would not take a hostile direction toward sacred music. His references in music were the polyphonic tradition of Palestrina and the Gregorian chant. In 1997, he was replaced, in contravention of the papal appointment in perpetuity, as director of the Sistine Chapel, by Monsignor Giuseppe Liberto. This event aroused some controversy in the context of liturgical music; the option was for innovation of the style that best reflected the celebration of the mass preferred by Pope John Paul II; according to many, Bishop Piero Marini, master of papal liturgical celebrations, was responsible for the change. Among those most against the decision was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, future Pope Benedict XVI, who recalled Monsignor Bartolucci to direct a concert in the Sistine Chapel, on June 24, 2006, in which the maestro offered music from the repertoire of sacred polyphony of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina alongside his own compositions including the six-voice motet "Oremus pro Pontifice Nostro Benedicto" dedicated to the pope. He has also directed the choir of RAI (Radiotelevisione italiana) and the main Italian complex symphonic-chorals in Rome, Venice, Trieste, Palermo, among others. He was considered the best interpreter of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. His works were published in forty nine volumes of Edizioni Cappella Sistina (1).

Episcopate. He requested to be dispensed from the requirement of episcopal ordination and the dispensation was granted by Pope Benedict XVI.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of November 20, 2010; received the red biretta and the deaconry of SS. Nomi de Gesù e Maria in via Lata on that same day. His cardinalitial motto was Psallam Deo meo. He was older than eighty years at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate and thus not eligible to participate in a conclave.