Angelo De Donatis

{{Short description|Italian Catholic prelate (born 1954)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Angelo De Donatis | title = [[Major Penitentiary]] of the [[Apostolic Penitentiary]] | image = De donatis.jpg | caption = Cardinal De Donatis in 2018 | church = {{ubl | [[Catholic Church]] | [[Latin Church]]}} | diocese = | see = | appointed = 6 April 2024 | term_start = | predecessor = [[Mauro Piacenza]] (Major Penitentiary) and [[Agostino Vallini ]] (Vicar of Rome ) | other_post = {{indented plainlist| * [[Cardinal Protector of San Marco]] (2018{{nbnd}}) }} | ordination = 12 April 1980 | ordained_by = [[Antonio Rosario Mennonna]] | consecration = 9 November 2015 | consecrated_by = [[Pope Francis]] | cardinal = 28 June 2018 | created_cardinal_by = Pope Francis | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] | birth_name = Angelo De Donatis | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|1|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Casarano]], [[Province of Lecce|Lecce]], [[Apulia]], Italy | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| * [[Auxiliary Bishop of Rome]] (2015{{nbnd}}2017) * [[Diocese of Mottola|Titular Bishop of Mottola]] (2015{{nbnd}}2017) * [[Diocese of Mottola|Titular Archbishop of Mottola]] (2017{{nbnd}}2018) * Apostolic Administrator of the [[Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Italy]] (2019{{nbnd}}2020) * [[Cardinal Vicar|Vicar General of His Holiness]] (2017{{nbnd}}2024) * [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran#Archpriests|Archpriest of St. John Lateran Basilica]] (2017{{nbnd}}2024) * [[Diocese of Ostia|Apostolic Administrator of Ostia]] (2017{{nbnd}}2024) * [[Pontifical Lateran University|Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University]] (2017{{nbnd}}2024) }} | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Angelo De Donatis (Cardinal).svg | motto = {{Langnf|la|Nihil caritate dulcius|Nothing is sweeter than love|break=yes}} | successor = [[Baldassare Reina]] (Vicar of Rome) }} {{Ordination | ordained deacon by = | date of diaconal ordination = | place of diaconal ordination = | ordained priest by = [[Antonio Rosario Mennonna]] | date of priestly ordination = 12 April 1980 | place of priestly ordination = Church of San Domenico, [[Casarano]] | consecrated by = [[Pope Francis]] | co-consecrators = [[Agostino Vallini]], [[Beniamino Stella]] | date of consecration = 9 November 2015 | place of consecration = [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]], Rome | elevated by = [[Pope Francis]] | date of elevation = 28 June 2018 | sources = | bishop 1 = [[Giacomo Morandi]] | consecration date 1 = 30 September 2017 | bishop 2 = Paolo Riccardi | consecration date 2 = 13 January 2018 | bishop 3 = [[Daniele Libanori]] | consecration date 3 = 13 January 2018 | bishop 4 = Gianpiero Palmieri | consecration date 4 = 24 June 2018 | bishop 5 = Dario Gervasi | consecration date 5 = 18 October 2020 | bishop 6 = [[Enrico Feroci]] | consecration date 6 = 15 November 2020 | bishop 7 = Benoni Ambăruş | consecration date 7 = 2 May 2021 }} '''Angelo De Donatis''' (born 4 January 1954) is an [[Catholic Church in Italy|Italian Catholic]] prelate who has served as [[Apostolic Penitentiary#List of major penitentiaries|Major Penitentiary]] since 2024. He was [[Cardinal Vicar]] (officially Vicar General of His Holiness) and Archpriest of the [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran|Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]] from 2017 to 2024.

Prior to his appointment as Cardinal Vicar, De Donatis was an [[auxiliary bishop]] of the [[Diocese of Rome]] since 2015.

== Biography == Angelo De Donatis was born on 4 January 1954 in [[Casarano]], a ''[[comune]]'' in the [[Province of Lecce]] and the Italian region of [[Apulia]]. He attended the seminary of [[Taranto]] and the [[Pontifical Roman Major Seminary]]. While in [[Rome]], he studied philosophy at the [[Pontifical Lateran University]] and theology at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]], where he earned a [[Licentiate of Sacred Theology]] in moral theology.<ref name=press/>

=== Priestly ministry === On 12 April 1980, De Donatis was ordained a priest in the Church of San Domenico in [[Casarano]] in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli|Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli]] by Bishop [[Antonio Rosario Mennonna]]. He then taught religion at the Church of San Saturnino in Rome, of which he later became [[vicar]]. He was [[Incardination and excardination|incardinated]] in the [[Diocese of Rome]] on 28 November 1983.<ref name=press/>

From 1989 to 1991, De Donatis was the [[archivist]] of the Secretary of the [[College of Cardinals]].<ref name=RandA/> He became the spiritual director of the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, where he served until 2003, when he was appointed a parish priest at the [[San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, Rome|Basilica of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio]] in Rome<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sanmarcoevangelista.it/index.php/home/presbiterio |title=La Parrocchia, Presbiterio, S. E. Mons. Angelo De Donatis|trans-title=Parish Presbytery: Mons. Angelo De Donatis |website=Parish of the Basilica of San Marco Evangelista |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621011502/http://www.sanmarcoevangelista.it/index.php/home/presbiterio |archive-date=21 June 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> and an assistant for the National Association of Relatives of Clergy.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.avvenire.it/chiesa/pagine/don-de-donatis-vescovo-ausiliare-di-roma |title=Nomine. Angelo De Donatis vescovo ausiliare di Roma | trans-title =Appointments: Angelo De Donatis Auxiliary Bishop of Rome |date=14 September 2015 |work=[[Avvenire]] |access-date=30 May 2017 |language=it}}</ref> He also served as the director of the clergy of the [[Cardinal Vicar|Vicariate of Rome]] from 1990 to 1996. He then became a member of the [[pastoral council]] and the [[Consultor|college of consultors]] of the Diocese of Rome.<ref name=RandA/>

De Donatis was admitted as a knight to the [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem]] in 1989. On 10 April 1990, he was appointed a [[Chaplain of His Holiness]], receiving the title of [[monsignor]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vicariatusurbis.org/?page_id=202&IDPERS=295 |title=Persona: S.E. Mons. Angelo DE DONATIS|trans-title=Person: Mgr. Angelo de Donatis |website=Diocese of Rome: Vicariate of Rome |language=it |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709012203/http://www.vicariatusurbis.org/?page_id=202&IDPERS=295 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017 he was a spiritual assistant to the Don Andrea Santoro Association, which marks the anniversary of the assassination in Turkey in 2006 of [[Andrea Santoro]], an Italian priest and seminary classmate of De Donatis.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.romasette.it/don-andrea-santoro-maestro-della-pace-di-dio/ |title=Don Andrea Santoro, maestro della "pace di Dio" |trans-title= Don Andrea Santoro, master of the "peace of God" |last=Passantino |first=Filippo |date=6 February 2017 |work=RomaSette |access-date=30 May 2017 |language=it}}</ref> De Donatis has maintained a connection with his hometown by leading spiritual exercises annually during the summer at the Crypt of the Crucifix in Casarano.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.criptacrocefisso.it/programmi-annuali-coppiefamiglie/ |title=Programmi ANNUALI 2015/2016 | trans-title=Annual Program 2015/2016 |date=26 August 2015 |access-date = 31 May 2017 |website=Cripta Crocefisso}}</ref>

He was among seven Roman priests chosen by Archbishop [[Giovanni Angelo Becciu]] to eat lunch with Pope Francis after the [[Maundy Thursday#Chrism Mass|Chrism Mass]] in 2013, just two weeks after [[Papal conclave, 2013|the Pope's election]].<ref name=lastampa20131022>{{cite news |work=La Stampa |language=it |first=Andrea |last=Tornielli | access-date = 4 June 2017 |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2013/10/22/vaticaninsider/ita/vaticano/il-parroco-che-predica-gli-esercizi-al-papa-lD2AR0v6JFzQ86LEspZsbN/pagina.html |title=Il parroco che predica gli esercizi al Papa | trans-title= The Parish Priest who Preaches the Spiritual Exercises to the Pope |date=22 October 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Pope Francis, who had met De Donatis only once at that lunch, chose him to preach the 2014 [[Lent]]en spiritual exercises of the [[Roman Curia]], an assignment that for fifty years had been given to a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] or well-known theologian.<ref name=lastampa20131022/><ref name=press>{{Cite news |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/03/14/0178/00383.html |title=Conclusione Degli Ezercizi Spirituali del Santo Padre e Della Curia Romana | trans-title=Conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises of the Pope and the Roman Curia |date=14 March 2014 |work=[[Holy See Press Office|Vatican Press]] |access-date=30 May 2017 |language=it}}</ref>

=== Episcopal ministry === {{Infobox cardinalstyles | dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] | offstyle=[[Your Eminence]] | relstyle=[[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal)]] | image = Coat of arms of Angelo De Donatis (Cardinal).svg | image_size = 50px }} [[File:Gentiloni e de donatis.JPG|thumb|right|De Donatis (left) with Prime Minister [[Paolo Gentiloni]] (center) and Msgr. [[Enrico Feroci]] (right) at Caritas Roma in 2017<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/09/01/foto/roma_il_premier_gentiloni_alla_cittadinella_della_caritas-174364722/1/#1 |title=Roma, la visita del premier Gentiloni alla cittadinella della Caritas |date=1 September 2017 |work=La Republica Roma |access-date=14 September 2017|trans-title=Rome, the visit of Prime Minister Gentiloni to the Citizen of Caritas}}</ref>]]

De Donatis was appointed by [[Pope Francis]] on 14 September 2015 the [[Titular Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mottola|Mottola]] and an [[Auxiliary Bishop of Rome]], where he was responsible for the training of the clergy.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://it.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/09/14/papa_nomina_mons_de_donatis_nuovo_ausiliare_di_roma/1171656 |title=Papa nomina mons. De Donatis nuovo ausiliare di Roma|trans-title=Pope Appoints Mons. De Donatis New Auxiliary of Rome |date=14 September 2015 |work=[[Vatican Radio]] |access-date=30 May 2017 |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515020643/http://it.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/09/14/papa_nomina_mons_de_donatis_nuovo_ausiliare_di_roma/1171656 |archive-date=15 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was consecrated a bishop in the [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]] on 9 November 2015. Pope Francis was the principal [[consecrator]], while Cardinal [[Agostino Vallini]], the Vicar General of Rome, and Cardinal [[Beniamino Stella]], the Prefect of the [[Congregation for the Clergy]], acted as co-consecrators. De Donatis adopted his [[coat of arms]] with the episcopal motto "''nihil caritate dulcius''", a phrase taken from [[Ambrose|Saint Ambrose]], which translates from the Latin as "nothing is sweeter than charity".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.romasette.it/il-papa-ordinera-vescovo-monsignor-de-donatis/ | access-date = 5 June 2016 |date=6 November 2015 |title=Il Papa ordinerà vescovo monsignor De Donatis |language=it |work=Roma Sette}}</ref>

On 29 April 2016, De Donatis was appointed the [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] of the [[San Sebastiano al Palatino|Church of San Sebastiano al Palatino]] in Rome. On 6 June of that year, he oversaw the jubilee of priests during the [[Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy|Extraordinary Jubilee of 2016]] in the Diocese of Rome and was involved in the organization of the jubilee activities in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Trapani|Diocese of Trapani]]. He also led the ''Confessio Vitae'' during the jubilee year in the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|Archdiocese of Milan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://centropastoraleambrosiano.it/cmlink/giubileo-misericordia/articoli-giubileo/scola-giubileo-sacerdotale-un-momento-br-di-testimonianza-per-tutto-il-nostro-popolo-1.135966 |title=Scola: "Giubileo sacerdotale, un momentoo di testimonianza per tutto il nostro popolo" | trans-title=Scoa: "Priestly jubilee, a moment of witness to all our people" |date=11 April 2016 |website=Jubilee of Mercy from the Diocese of Milan |language=it |access-date=30 May 2017}}{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In September 2016, De Donatis published ''Nulla è più dolce dell'amore'' (''Nothing is Sweeter than Love''), a collection of twenty reflections on the various forms of mercy as interpreted through the Bible.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.paoline.it/press/comunicati-stampa/1296-nulla-e-piu-dolce-dell-amore-de-donatis.html |title=Nulla è più dolce dell'amore [De Donatis] | trans-title=Nothing is Sweeter than Love (De Donatis) |date=6 September 2016 |website=Paoline Press Office |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804182114/http://www.paoline.it/press/comunicati-stampa/1296-nulla-e-piu-dolce-dell-amore-de-donatis.html |archive-date=4 August 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

On 26 May 2017, Pope Francis appointed De Donatis the [[Cardinal Vicar|Vicar General of Rome]] and [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran#Archpriests|Archpriest]] of the [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36121/pope-taps-bishop-angelo-de-donatis-as-new-vicar-of-rome |title=Pope taps Bishop Angelo de Donatis as new Vicar of Rome |last=Harris |first=Elise |date=26 May 2017 |work=[[Catholic News Agency]] |access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref> elevating him as well to the rank of [[archbishop]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.romasette.it/monsignor-de-donatis-e-il-nuovo-vicario-di-roma/ |title=Monsignor De Donatis nuovo vicario di Roma | trans-title=Monsignor De Donatis New Vicar of Rome |last=Zema |first=Angelo |date=26 May 2017 |work=RomaSette |access-date=30 May 2017 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/05/26/vaticaninsider/ita/vaticano/vicario-di-roma-il-papa-sceglie-monsignor-angelo-de-donatis-1cHHeldRsLAbJAUs9FKSYO/pagina.html |title=Vicario di Roma, il Papa sceglie monsignor Angelo De Donatis | trans-title=Vicar of Rome, the Pope chose Monsignor Angelo De Donatis |date=26 May 2017 |work=[[Vatican Insider]] |access-date=30 May 2017 |language=it}}</ref><ref name=RandA>{{Cite press release |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/05/26/170526b.html |title=Resignations and Appointments, 26.05.2017 |date=26 May 2017 |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> The Vicar General serves as ''de facto'' bishop of Rome on behalf of the pope. Pope Francis ignored the rule that the vicar general of Rome must be a cardinal.{{efn|When [[Pope John Paul II]] named [[Camillo Ruini]] his vicar general on 17 January 1991, he gave him the title "pro-vicar general", the formula used when an appointee could anticipate receiving the proper title eventually. Ruini became a cardinal on 28 June of that year and was named vicar general on 1 July.<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 7 April 2024 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | pages = 161, 630, 631 | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-83-1991-ocr.pdf| volume = LXXXIII|date=1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| access-date = 4 November 2017| title= Ruini Card. Camillo |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | quote=On 17 January 1991 he was named Archbishop and Pro-Vicar General of the Pope for the Diocese of Rome.... Named Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome ... 1 July 1991. | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_ruini_c.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904064448/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_ruini_c.html }}</ref>}} De Donatis is the first person since the sixteenth century to be named Vicar General when not a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]].<ref name=crux20170536>{{cite news |work=Crux | access-date = 4 June 2017 |date=26 May 2017 |title=Francis appoints "pastor" as new vicar of Rome | quote = By tradition, the vicar of Rome is the “Cardinal Vicar of Rome,” and all other vicars have been named a cardinal before taking up the post. In fact, in 1991, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Camillo Ruini “pro-vicar general” for Rome, not appointing him “vicar general” until after he was created a cardinal six months later. Francis seems to want to make the position more focused on the local Church, instead of dealing with the various Curial assignments occupying much of the time of all cardinals living in Rome.|url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/05/francis-appoints-pastor-new-vicar-rome/}}</ref>{{efn|In 1558 [[Pope Paul IV]] decreed that the Vicar General of Rome is always a cardinal or is made a cardinal soon after being appointed.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/05/27/italia/cronache/nuovo-vicario-generale-del-papa-un-anno-e-mezzo-fa-era-parroco-zPpPQ7NO9A9p44p0MgbiZM/pagina.html |title=Nuovo Vicario generale del Papa. Un anno e mezzo fa era parroco |last=Tornielli |first=Andrea |date=27 May 2017 |work=[[La Stampa]] |access-date=5 June 2017 |language=it|trans-title=New Vicar General of the Pope. A year and a half ago he was a pastor}}</ref> De Donatis was not created a cardinal at the consistory that followed the announcement of his appointment as Vicar by a month, and Vatican observers disagreed as to whether he would be made a cardinal at the next consistory. A source close to Pope Francis said: "Tout comme le pape a créé cardinal un évêque auxiliaire qui continuera à l'être, cela correspond bien à la volonté de François de bien séparer, d'un côté, le rôle pastoral de l'évêque et, de l'autre, la charge cardinalice au service de l'Église universelle." ["Just as the pope made an auxiliary bishop a cardinal while remaining an auxiliary, that suits his desire to distinguish the bishop's pastoral role on the one hand from a cardinal's responsibility for service to the universal church."]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.la-croix.com/Urbi-et-Orbi/Actualite/Carnet/Mgr-Angelo-Donatis-nouveau-vicaire-pape-diocese-Rome-2017-05-26-1200850374 |work=La Croix |language=fr |title=Mgr Angelo De Donatis nouveau vicaire du pape pour le diocèse de Rome |first=Nicolas |last=Senèze | access-date = 1 June 2017 |date=26 May 2017}}</ref> Other reports predicted De Donatis would be made a cardinal: "A decree instituted by Pope Paul IV in 1558 also holds that the Vicar of Rome must be a cardinal. Since Pope Francis has already named him as an archbishop, it's likely Donatis could be added to the list of 5 prelates who will get a red hat during the June 28 consistory."<ref>{{cite news |agency=Catholic News Agency | access-date = 2 June 2017 |date=26 May 2017 |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36121/pope-taps-bishop-angelo-de-donatis-as-new-vicar-of-rome |first=Elise |last=Harris |title=Pope taps Bishop Angelo de Donatis as new Vicar of Rome}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | access-date = 3 June 2017 |language=it |date=27 May 2017 |work=La Stampa |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/05/27/italia/cronache/nuovo-vicario-generale-del-papa-un-anno-e-mezzo-fa-era-parroco-zPpPQ7NO9A9p44p0MgbiZM/premium.html |title=Nuovo Vicario generale del Papa. Un anno e mezzo fa era parroco |first=Andrea |last=Tornielli |quote=Il Vicario di Roma è sempre stato creato cardinale (se non lo era già, come nel caso di Vallini)}}</ref>}} As Vicar General he serves ''ex officio'' as Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/7188/0/pope-francis-names-archbishop-angelo-de-donatis-as-vicar-for-the-diocese-of-rome |title=Pope Francis names Archbishop Angelo De Donatis as Vicar for the Diocese of Rome |date=26 May 2017 |work=[[The Tablet]] |access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref> At the same time, he was made the [[Apostolic administration|apostolic administrator]] of the [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia|Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia]].<ref name=cardinalsofthechurch>{{Cite web |url=https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2018.htm |title=Biographical Dictionary: Pope Francis (2013–): Consistory of June 28, 2018 (V) |last=Miranda |first=Salvador |date=13 November 2019 |website=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church |publisher=Florida International University Libraries |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802151000/https://webdept.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios2018.htm |archive-date=2 August 2019 |access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref>

=== Cardinalate === On 20 May 2018, [[Pope Francis]] announced he would make De Donatis a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] at the next consistory.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 20 May 2018 |date=20 May 2018 |language=it |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2018/05/20/vaticaninsider/concistoro-a-giugno-ecco-i-nuovi-cardinali-di-francesco-H3E7fdAalZI0ZY1HlitjUJ/pagina.html |publisher=La Stampa |title=Concistoro a giugno, ecco i nuovi cardinali di Francesco |first=Andrea |last=Tornielli}}</ref> At the [[Cardinals created by Francis#28 June 2018|consistory on 28 June 2018]], he was created Cardinal-Priest of [[San Marco, Rome|San Marco]],<ref>{{cite press release |access-date = 28 June 2018 |date=28 June 2018 |language=it |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/28/0495/01091.html |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli, 28.06.2018}}</ref> the same church where he served as a parish priest fifteen years earlier.

De Donatis was the apostolic administrator of the [[Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Italy]] from 11 July 2019<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-07/pope-creates-apostolic-exarchy-for-ukrainians-in-italy.html |title=Pope creates Apostolic Exarchy for Ukrainians in Italy |date=11 July 2019 |website=Vatican News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712141359/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-07/pope-creates-apostolic-exarchy-for-ukrainians-in-italy.html |archive-date=12 July 2019 |access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref> to 24 October 2020.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 24 October 2020 |date=24 October 2020 |publisher=Holy See Press Office |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/10/24/201024b.html |title=Resignations and Appointments, 24.10.2020}}</ref>

On 12 March 2020, when public Masses were already prohibited in Italy, De Donatis ordered Rome's churches closed to the public. Cardinal [[Konrad Krajewski]] and others opened churches anyway. On 13 March he ordered that parish churches could open provided they took appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the [[COVID-19]] virus. He said he spoke with Pope Francis before issuing each of those orders. In a letter to the diocese he wrote: "The risk of health care structures collapsing is evident.... We can contain this tragic eventuality only by applying measures to stop the contagion and allow the national health service to reorganize.... Draw close to one another — not physically, but with solidarity.... Unfortunately, going to church is no different than going anywhere: There is a risk of contagion."<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 March 2020|title=Rome cardinal closes all churches, then modifies decision|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/rome-cardinal-closes-all-churches-then-modifies-decision|website=National Catholic Reporter|first=Cindy|last=Wooden|access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>

After testing positive for COVID-19, De Donatis entered the [[Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic]] with a fever on 30 March 2020; he had not been in physical contact with Pope Francis or visited the Vatican recently.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/12679/rome-cardinal-tests-positive-for-covid-19 |work=The Tablet | access-date = 24 October 2020 |date=31 March 2020 |title=Rome cardinal tests positive for Covid-19 |first=Christopher |last=Lamb}}</ref> He was released on 10 April and continued to recuperate at home.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 24 March 2020 |language=it |work=Roma Sette |date=10 April 2020 |url=https://www.romasette.it/de-donatis-dimesso-dal-gemelli/ |title=De Donatis dimesso dal Gemelli}}</ref>

Cardinal De Donatis was criticised by victims of [[Marko Rupnik]]'s alleged spiritual and sexual abuse who expressed "bewilderment" with the Diocese of Rome's statement praising the art and theology centre he founded.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255414/rupnik-s-victims-say-diocese-of-rome-s-statement-ridicules-their-pain |title=Rupnik's victims say Diocese of Rome's statement 'ridicules' their pain |website=Catholic News Agency}}</ref>

He has also been criticised by [[Traditional Catholicism|traditionalists]] for his implementation of ''[[Traditionis custodes]]'' after he issued new regulations, that permitted the celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form, except during the [[Paschal Triduum|Triduum]], and issuing a total ban on celebration of the other sacraments in the extraordinary form.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brockhaus |first1=Hannah |title=Traditionis custodes: Rome diocese bans Traditional Latin Mass for Easter Triduum |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249546/traditionis-custodes-rome-diocese-bans-traditional-latin-mass-for-easter-triduum |website=Catholic News Agency |access-date=10 November 2021}}</ref>

In January 2023, Pope Francis reorganized the Diocese of Rome, greatly restricted the role of vicar general. He defined the role of each auxiliary bishop and took direct charge of many diocesan decisions.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 6 April 2024 |publisher=Catholic News Agency |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253357/analysis-pope-francis-centralizes-power-with-reform-of-diocese-of-rome |title=Analysis: Pope Francis centralizes authority with reform of Diocese of Rome |date=15 January 2023 |first=Andrea |last=Gagliarducci}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253284/pope-francis-reorganizes-diocese-of-rome-in-face-of-epochal-change |publisher=Catholic News Agency | access-date = 6 April 2024 |title=Pope Francis reorganizes Diocese of Rome in face of 'epochal change' |first=Hannah |last=Brockhaus |date=7 January 2023}}</ref> He defined the vicar general's role as a coordinator of the work of diocesan bodies, defined him as an auxiliary, and restricted his sphere of responsibility with the rule that the vicar general "will not undertake important initiatives or ones exceeding ordinary administration without first reporting to me".<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 6 April 2024 |publisher=Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-01/pope-francis-reorganises-the-vicariate-of-rome.html |date=6 January 2023 |title=Pope Francis reorganises Vicariate of Rome to be more collegial |first=Salvatore |last=Cernuzio}}</ref>

On 6 April 2024, Pope Francis appointed him [[Major Penitentiary]].<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office | access-date = 6 April 2024 |date=6 April 2024 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/06/240406d.html |title=Resignations and Appointments, 06.04.2024}}</ref> The pope told his auxiliaries that he would "take time to carry out a healthy discernment" before naming a new vicar general.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 9 April 2024 | url = https://www.diocesidiroma.it/comunicazione-del-vicariato-di-roma/ | website = Diocese of Rome | language = it |date= 8 April 2024 |title = Comunicazione del Vicariato di Roma }}</ref>

He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Blazon === Tierced inverted pall: in the first, red [[division of the field]] is contained a winged lion with a halo, with the head front-facing, while crouching and holding with its front legs in front of its chest a golden book bearing in black, capital letters PAX TIBI MARCE in four rows on the first side, and EVANGELISTA MEUS in four rows on the second side. In the second blue division on the right-hand side is a [[Charge (heraldry)|charge]] of a silver [[umbraculum]]. In the third, silver division is a branch with an open [[pomegranate]]. A gothic [[patriarchal cross]] is behind the shield and a [[galero]], signifying De Donatis' archiepiscopal status.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sangiuseppedeifalegnami.it/2017/05/mons-angelo-de-donatis-vicario-generale-sua-santita-la-diocesi-roma/ |title=Mons. Angelo De Donatis, nuovo Vicario Generale di Sua Santità per la Diocesi di Roma. |website=Church of Saint Joseph of Carpenters |language=it|trans-title=Monsignor Angelo De Donatis, new Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803005854/http://sangiuseppedeifalegnami.it/2017/05/mons-angelo-de-donatis-vicario-generale-sua-santita-la-diocesi-roma/ |archive-date=3 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Before being appointed the Vicar General of Rome, De Donatis' coat of arms as auxiliary bishop was divided into red and silver fields, without the umbraculum on the blue field.<ref name="interpretation">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sanmarcoevangelista.it/attachments/article/372/Descrizione%20stemma%20S.E.R.%20Mons.%20Angelo%20De%20Donatis.pdf |title=Descrizione dello stemma episcopale di S.E.R. Mons. Angelo De Donatis |website=Parish of the Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121174134/http://www.sanmarcoevangelista.it/attachments/article/372/Descrizione%20stemma%20S.E.R.%20Mons.%20Angelo%20De%20Donatis.pdf |archive-date=21 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Episcopal motto === The words of De Donatis' [[Latin]] episcopal motto, ''nihil caritate dulcius'' ("nothing is sweeter than love" in English), are taken from [[Ambrose|St. Ambrose]]'s ''De officiis ministrorum'' (in English: ''On the Duties of the Clergy''): "Be among you the peace that surpasses all feeling. Love one another. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more pleasing than peace."<ref name="interpretation" />

=== Interpretation === The lion of [[St. Mark the Evangelist]], chosen in honor of the saint to whom is dedicated the parish he led before being appointed a bishop, stands on red, which is the color of love and blood. The umbraculum, the symbol of the [[Pope|Bishop of Rome]], over a blue background, representing the detachment from earthly values and the ascent of the soul to God. At the bottom is a pomegranate, the symbol of the [[Passion of Jesus|Passion of Christ]], on a background of silver, which symbolizes the purity of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] to whom De Donatis entrusts his episcopal ministry.<ref name="interpretation" />

== See also == *[[Cardinals created by Francis]]

==Notes== {{Noteslist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Angelo De Donatis}} {{wikiquote}} * {{cite web |title=De Donatis Card. Angelo |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_dedonatis_a.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 28 June 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180628211228/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_dedonatis_a.html}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140102170540/http://www.vicariatusurbis.org/ Vicariate of Rome website] * De Donatis, Angelo. [http://www.paoline.it/press/comunicati-stampa/1296-nulla-e-piu-dolce-dell-amore-de-donatis.html ''Nulla è più dolce dell'amore''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804182114/http://www.paoline.it/press/comunicati-stampa/1296-nulla-e-piu-dolce-dell-amore-de-donatis.html |date=4 August 2017 }}, Paoline Editoriale Libri, 2016. {{ISBN|9788831548205}} * {{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bddonatis|Angelo Cardinal De Donatis}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Bernard Joseph McLaughlin]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mottola|Bishop of Mottola]]|years=2015–2017}} {{s-aft|after=Himself|as=Archbishop of Mottola}} {{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Himself|as=Bishop of Mottola}} {{s-tul|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mottola|Archbishop of Mottola]]|years=2017–2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Gianfranco Gallone]]}} {{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Agostino Vallini]]|rows=4}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Cardinal Vicar|Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome]]|years=2017–2024}} {{s-aft|after=[[Baldassare Reina]]|rows=4}} {{s-break}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran#Archpriests|Archpriest]] of the [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]]|years=2017–2024}} {{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Pontifical Lateran University#Grand Chancellors|Grand Chancellor]] of the [[Pontifical Lateran University]]|years=2017–2024}} {{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Administrator]] of the [[Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia|Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia]]|years=2017–2024}} {{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Marco Cé]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Cardinal Protector]] of [[San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, Rome|San Marco]]|years=2018–present}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-break}}

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