{{short description|Catholic archbishop (born 1925)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Angelo Acerbi | honorific_suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]], [[Apostolic Nuncio]] | image = IMG 6581 - Angelo Acerbi.jpg | alt = | caption = Acerbi in 2010 | archdiocese = | see = | appointed = 22 June 1974 | term_start = | retired = 27 February 2001 | predecessor = | successor = | other_post = [[Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino|Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino]] (2024–)|<!-- Orders --> | ordination = 27 March 1948 | ordained_by = | consecration = 30 June 1974 | consecrated_by = [[Pope Paul VI]], [[Giovanni Benelli]] and [[Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy]] | cardinal = 7 December 2024 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = [[Cardinal deacon]] | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1925|09|23|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Sesta Godano]], [[Kingdom of Italy]] | death_date = | death_place = | residence = | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| *[[Titular Archbishop]] of [[Zella (see)|Zella]] (1974–2024) *[[Apostolic Pro-Nuncio]] to [[Apostolic Nunciature to New Zealand|New Zealand]] and [[Apostolic Delegate]] to the [[Apostolic Delegation to the Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]] (1974–1979) *Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Fiji|Fiji]] (1979) *[[Apostolic Nuncio]] to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Colombia|Colombia]] (1979–1990) *Apostolic Nuncio to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Hungary|Hungary]] and [[Apostolic Nunciature to Moldova|Moldova]] (1990–1997) *Apostolic Nuncio to [[Apostolic Nunciature to the Netherlands|the Netherlands]] (1997–2001) *Prelate of the [[Military Order of Malta]] (2001–2015) }} | coat_of_arms = [[File:Coat of arms of Angelo Acerbi (cardinal.).svg|140px]] | motto = Fide Et Lenitate }} {{Infobox cardinalstyles |name=Angelo Acerbi |dipstyle= [[His Eminence]] |offstyle=[[Your Eminence]] |relstyle=[[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] |deathstyle= |image = Coat of arms of Angelo Acerbi (cardinal.).svg |image_size = }}
'''Angelo Acerbi''' (born 23 September 1925) is an Italian prelate of the [[Catholic Church]], who has been an archbishop since 1974 and a cardinal since 2024. He served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See as the [[Apostolic Nuncio]] to New Zealand, [[Apostolic Nunciature to the Netherlands|the Netherlands]], [[Apostolic Nunciature to Colombia|Colombia]], Hungary, and Moldova, and as prelate of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]]. He is currently the oldest cardinal.
==Biography== ===Early years=== Angelo Acerbi was born in [[Sesta Godano]] on 23 September 1925. On 27 March 1948, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a priest for the [[Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato|Diocese of La Spezia]].<ref name=malta>{{cite press release | access-date = 2 July 2019 |url = https://www.orderofmalta.int/2001/06/26/appointment-new-prelate-order-malta-rt-rev-mgr-angelo-acerbi/ | website = Order of Malta | date= 26 June 2001 | title = Appointment of the new prelate of the Order of Malta, he Rt. Rev. Mgr. Angelo Acerbi | url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190702005951/https://www.orderofmalta.int/2001/06/26/appointment-new-prelate-order-malta-rt-rev-mgr-angelo-acerbi/ | archive-date= 2 July 2019}}</ref>
After earning a degree in [[canon law]], he obtained his licence in theology. Having completed the course of study at the [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]] in 1954,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/1950-1999.htm | access-date = 28 June 2019 |language= it| title = Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica | publisher = Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy}}</ref> he entered the diplomatic service of the [[Holy See]].
===Diplomatic career=== He worked in the nunciatures in [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]], [[Japan]] and [[France]], as well as in the International Relations Department of the Holy See's [[Secretariat of State (Holy See)|Secretariat of State]].<ref name=malta/> In March 1974, he was sent on a mission to Spain to ease church–state tensions over a sermon circulated by Bishop [[Antonio Añoveros Ataún]] of Bilbao advocating greater freedom for Spain's Basques.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 7 September 2022 | newspaper = New York Times | date = 12 March 1974 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/12/archives/vatican-sends-aide-to-spain-in-dispute.html | title = Vatican Sends Aide to Spain in Dispute }}</ref>
On 22 June 1974, [[Pope Paul VI]] appointed him [[Zella (see)|Archbishop of Zella]] in [[Tunisia]], and [[Apostolic nuncio|apostolic pronuncio]] to [[New Zealand]] and [[Apostolic Delegation to the Pacific Ocean|apostolic delegate to the Pacific Ocean]].<ref>{{cite book| access-date = 14 December 2019 | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-66-1974-ocr.pdf | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | date = 1974 | volume = LXVI | pages=365, 459 }}</ref> He received episcopal consecration on 30 June from Pope Paul; the co-consecrators were archbishops Giovanni Benelli, deputy for the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, and Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} On 6 February 1979, he was named Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Fiji|Fiji]] as well.<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 11 December 2019 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-71-1979-ocr.pdf | date = 1979 | volume = LXXI | page= 385 }}</ref>
On 14 August 1979 [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed him apostolic nuncio to Colombia.<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 11 December 2019 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-71-1979-ocr.pdf | date = 1979 | volume = LXXI | page= 1056}}</ref> On 27 February 1980, Acerbi was taken hostage along with more than a dozen other diplomats and more than forty others, when communist guerillas belonging to the [[19th of April Movement]] assaulted the embassy of the Dominican Republic in Bogota. He was one of the last released in Havana on 28 April.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 7 September 2022 | newspaper = Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/04/28/columbian-guerrillas-fly-to-cuba-free-16-hostage-diplomats/ec3808f4-5a64-47cf-bcae-6f386a8970bb/ | date =28 April 1980 | title = Columbian Guerrillas Fly to Cuba, Free 16 Hostage Diplomats | first = Charles A. | last = Krause}}</ref> Acerbi was allowed to celebrate Mass daily in captivity.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine = Time | url = https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,950386-2,00.html | date = 17 March 1980 | title = Diplomacy's Dark Hours }}</ref>
On 28 March 1990, he was transferred to [[Hungary]],<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 2 July 2019 |language= it | date= 12 June 2015 | title = Intervento del Segretario per i Rapporti con gli Stati ... | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/06/12/0459/01012.html }}</ref> the first apostolic nuncio to be named after the establishment of communism in that country. During Acerbi's diplomatic assignment in Hungary, the Holy See concluded an agreement with the Republic of Hungary on religious assistance to the Armed Forces and the Border Police<ref name="iuscangreg">{{cite web|url=https://www.iuscangreg.it/accordi_santa_sede.php|website=iuscangreg.it|title=Accordi bilaterali vigenti della Santa Sede|accessdate=13 August 2017}}</ref> and prepared another relating to the financing of public and other purely religious activities carried out by the Catholic Church in Hungary, in particular the financing of educational activities, which was signed shortly after the end of Acerbi's tenure in Hungary.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} On 13 January 1994 he was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio in [[Moldova]].<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 15 January 2020 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-86-1994-ocr.pdf | date = 1994 | volume = LXXXVI | page= 207 }}</ref> On 8 February 1997 he was transferred to the nunciature in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 11 December 2019 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-89-1997-ocr.pdf | date = 1997 | volume = LXXXIX | page= 207}}</ref> On 27 February 2001, [[Pope John Paul II]] named [[François Bacqué]] to succeed him in that position, ending his career as an active nuncio.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 6 September 2022 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office |url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2001/02/27/0130/00336.html | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 27.02.2001 | date = 27 February 2001}}</ref>
===Later years=== On 2 June 2001, Pope John Paul II named Acerbi to two curial positions, member of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] and member of the council of cardinals and bishops for the [[Secretariat of State (Holy See)#Section for Relations with States|Section for Relations with States]] of the Secretariat of State.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 2 July 2019 | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 02.06.2001| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2001/06/02/0323/00924.html | date = 2 June 2001 }}</ref> On 4 April 2002, the pope added membership in the [[Dicastery for Bishops|Congregation for Bishops]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 2 July 2019 | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 04.04.2002| date= 4 April 2002 |url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/04/04/0174/00525.html }}</ref>
On 21 June 2001, he was appointed prelate of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]], tasked with overseeing the priestly life of its chaplains and assisting the Order's leaders in promoting the religious observance of its members. On 21 January 2006, Acerbi denounced comments published in the Italian weekly ''Panorama'' a month earlier,<ref>{{cite news | work= The Malta Independent | url= http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-01-22/letters/unfounded-comments-86312/ |title= Unfounded Comments | access-date= 14 May 2019 | date= 22 January 2006}}</ref> that said that Acerbi was leading a faction of young adherents of the Order dissatisfied with its failure to emphasize its Christian identity.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-01-08/news/italian-magazine-claims-there-is-much-disorder-in-the-order-85731/ | title= Italian Magazine claims there is much 'disorder' in the Order | date= 8 January 2006 | work= The Malta Independent }}</ref> On 4 July 2015, [[Pope Francis]] appointed a new prelate, Monsignor [[Jean Laffitte]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 2 July 2019 | date = 4 July 2015 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 04.07.2015 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/07/04/0534/01161.html}}</ref>
Acerbi was scheduled to lead a spiritual meditation during the triennial gathering of the Holy See's diplomats in September 2022.<ref name=meditation>{{cite press release | access-date = 7 September 2022 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | date = 6 September 2022 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/09/06/0653/01319.html | title = Incontro triennale dei Rappresentanti Pontifici, 06.09.2022 | quote= una meditazione spirituale guidata da Sua Eccellenza Mons Angelo Acerbi, Nunzio Apostolico }}</ref>
On 7 December 2024, as announced in October,<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 6 October 2024 | date = 6 October 2024 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/10/06/0774/01532.html | title = Annuncio di Concistoro l'8 dicembre per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 06.10.2024 }}</ref> Pope Francis made Acerbi a cardinal, creating him Cardinal-Deacon of [[Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 7 December 2024 | date = 7 December 2024 | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/12/07/0975/01948.html | title = Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali, 07.12.2024 }}</ref> He was 99 years old and became the oldest living cardinal, surpassing [[Estanislao Esteban Karlic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rytel-Andrianik |first1=Fr. Paweł |title=Cardinal-elect Acerbi: My appointment a recognition for all diplomats |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-10/cardinal-elect-acerbi-appointment-diplomats.html |date= 7 October 2024| publisher= Vatican News |access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref> He was estimated to be "likely the oldest man ever to be named a cardinal".<ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Elise Ann |date=6 October 2024 |title=Pope gives nods to peripheries and pals in naming 21 new cardinals |url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2024/10/pope-gives-nods-to-peripheries-and-pals-in-naming-21-new-cardinals |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=Crux}}</ref>
Acerbi [[centenarian|turned 100]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diplomat, hostage, cardinal: Angelo Acerbi, 100 years at the service of the Church |url=https://fr.aleteia.org/2025/09/22/diplomate-otage-cardinal-angelo-acerbi-100-ans-au-service-de-leglise/ |website=aleteia.org |publisher=Aleteia SAS |access-date=23 September 2025}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy See]] * [[Cardinals created by Francis]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Cesare Zacchi]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[Zella (see)|Titular Archbishop of Zella]]|years=22 June 1974 – 7 December 2024}} {{s-aft|after=[[Samuele Sangalli]]}}
{{s-ach|rec}} {{s-bef|before=[[Estanislao Esteban Karlic]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Oldest living cardinal|years={{dts|7 December 2024|abbr=on}} – present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= Italy}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Acerbi, Angelo}} [[Category:1925 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Colombia]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Fiji]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Hungary]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Moldova]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to the Netherlands]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to New Zealand]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to the Pacific Ocean]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Italian men centenarians]] [[Category:Italian people taken hostage]] [[Category:People from the Province of La Spezia]]