Biography of Angelo Bagnasco

Ecclesiastical degrees

January 14, 1943 Angelo Bagnasco was born in Pontevico, Brescia, on 14 January 1943. Is Italian Catholic cardinal, 2007 President of the Italian Bishops ' Conference, as well as Archbishop of Genoa. The birth in the Brescia area should not arouse suspicion about the origin of the genovese family deeply Bagnasco. When Angel was born, his are displaced by the war and only because in Pontevico takes little time to return. Alfredo's father works in a factory of pastry. His mother rose is she too genovese DOC, as the elder sister of the little angel, Anna. The young Angel grows in the city thus lantern, in the historic center. Since these beginnings, is fervent religious passion, which matures, according to a statement of his direct students, under the Bell Tower of Santa Maria delle Grazie, near the sea. He attended the Seminary of Genoa, where he attended the ginnasio and the liceo classico. On 29 June 1966, Bagnasco was ordained a priest by Cardinal Giuseppe Siri. And it is precisely these to start it to theology, geared especially towards the address of "thomism". Thomas Aquinas, for example, in addition to metaphysics in General, not just Christian setting, are some of the main landmarks that now accompany the profound studies of the future President of the CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference). However, studies of theology the absorbing, but must alternate between them to parochial vicar at the parish of Saint Peter and Saint Therese of the child Jesus in Genoa. The experience lasts from 1966 to 1985. The parish in which lends his service, which also renewed pastoral aid from 1986 until 1995, is located in an upper class neighborhood genovese: Albaro. But in these initial years of the Vicariate, and in the future, the young B League especially with young people, never forgetting its origins and the places in which has matured his faith and his vocation with very difficult conditions. In Albaro however, Angelo Bagnasco also became chaplain of the scout group Agesci Ge 10. Is the beginning for him, from a very practical point of view and on the field, a fruitful relationship of education and formation for many generations. Scouting is a place of frontier, which sees its ranks young sons of the bourgeoisie rich genovese & women belonging to the working class. Don't lose the occasion to intensify his studies under the encouragement of Cardinal and Archbishop Giuseppe Siri, that he has great admiration. In the years ' 70 he enrolled at the University, at that time, crossed by deep divisions. Here he attended theoretical course philosopher B Alberto Caracciolo and thanks to his lectures, compares the "thomism" Theology comes from, with Marxist and secular ideas, specializing in profound ways on historical materialism of Feuerbach. Graduation came in 1979, in philosophy, obtained with flying colors. A year later, became Professor of metaphysics and contemporary atheism at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy section of Genoa. This is a lesson especially for him, but lets him compulsive both seminar in Institute two teachings opposed each other. It is the beginning, Angelo Bagnasco, a series of appointments that recognize the authority and the value on an intellectual level that clergy in the strict sense. In fact, in 1985 he was appointed Director of the Diocesan catechetical Office and regional delegate for the pastoral care of the school. A year later, in 1986, became Dean of the higher Institute of religious studies in Genoa, while in 1990 is Director of the Education Office, also responsible for the training of teachers of religion, a position he holds until 1996. A year later in 1997, he was appointed Episcopal vicar and spiritual director of the seminary. In 1998 most coveted election arrives, the Bishop, achieved through John Paul II from the episcopal see of Pesaro. On 7 February 1998, by the laying on of hands of cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, Angelo Bagnasco was officially ordained a bishop. Three years later, again from home in Pesaro, becomes the first Archbishop, exactly the 11 March of 2000. During the Italian army involvement in conflicts in the Gulf and in Afghanistan, Bagnasco was appointed military ordinary for Italy (June 2003), a position equal to that of the Bishop of the religious structure of the Italian army, equivalent to appointment as General. On 29 August 2006 came the appointment as Archbishop of Genoa, at the behest of Pope Benedict XVI. The installation ceremony is celebrated on the afternoon of 24 September 2006, at the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. The year after then, receives an order for which he is best known lately, even for the laity Italians, namely that of President of the Italian Episcopal Conference. The official replacement of Cardinal Camillo Ruini 7 March of 2007 arrives. Pope Ratzinger the cardinal in the consistory of 24 November 2007 order, giving it the title of Gran Madre di Dio.
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