# Ernesto Ruffini

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Italian cardinal

His Eminence Ernesto Ruffini Cardinal, Archbishop of Palermo Church Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese Palermo See Palermo Appointed 11 October 1945 Term ended 11 June 1967 Predecessor Luigi Lavitrano Successor Francesco Carpino Other posts Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina (1946-67) Apostolic Administrator of Piana degli Albanesi (1947-67) Previous posts Secretary of the Congregation of Seminaries and Universities (1928-45) Orders Ordination 10 July 1910 by Paolo Carlo Francesco Origo Consecration 8 December 1945 by Giuseppe Pizzardo Created cardinal 18 February 1946 by Pope Pius XII Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born Ernesto Ruffini (1888-01-19)19 January 1888 San Benedetto Po, Kingdom of Italy Died 11 June 1967(1967-06-11) (aged 79) Palermo, Italy Motto Firmiter stat Coat of arms

Styles of Ernesto Ruffini Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Informal style Cardinal See Palermo

**Ernesto Ruffini** (19 January 1888 – 11 June 1967) was an Italian [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church), who served as [Archbishop of Palermo](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Palermo) from 1945 until his death, and was elevated to the [cardinalate](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.

## Biography

Ruffini was born in [San Benedetto Po](/source/San_Benedetto_Po) in the [Province of Mantua](/source/Province_of_Mantua), and studied at the [diocesan](/source/Diocese) [seminary](/source/Seminary) of Mantua, at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Northern Italy (obtaining his [licentiate in theology](/source/Licentiate_of_Sacred_Theology)), and the [Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)](/source/Pontifical_University_of_St._Thomas_Aquinas_(Angelicum)) (licentiate in [philosophy](/source/Philosophy)) and [Pontifical Biblical Institute](/source/Pontifical_Biblical_Institute) (diploma to teach biblical science) in [Rome](/source/Rome). He was [ordained](/source/Holy_orders_in_the_Catholic_Church) to the [priesthood](/source/Priesthood_(Catholic_Church)) on 10 July 1910, and finished his studies in 1912.

Ruffini taught at the Major Roman Seminary (1913–1930), and then the [Pontifical Urbaniana University](/source/Pontifical_Urbaniana_University) (1917–1929). Raised to the rank of [monsignor](/source/Monsignor) in 1925, he was appointed secretary of the [Congregation of Seminaries and Universities](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education) on 28 October 1928. Ruffini was made a [protonotary apostolic](/source/Protonotary_apostolic) on 15 June 1931. In 1930, Ruffini was made prefect of studies at the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University), where he was named [rector](/source/Rector_(ecclesiastical)) *magnifico* in the following year. Noted for his interest in [science](/source/Science), Ruffini founded the Medical Biological Union of St. Luke, examining the relationships between [Catholicism](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) and science, in 1944.

On 11 October 1945, he was named [Archbishop of Palermo](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Palermo) by [Pope Pius XII](/source/Pope_Pius_XII). Ruffini received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on the following 8 December from [Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo](/source/Giuseppe_Cardinal_Pizzardo), with Archbishop Francesco Duca and Bishop Domenico Menna serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator). Ruffini was created [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of *[S. Sabina](/source/Santa_Sabina)* by Pius XII in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 18 February 1946. He was the first cardinal-designate to place his wardrobe order to the [Gammarelli](/source/Gammarelli) episcopal [tailors](/source/Tailor), which he did the same morning as the announcement of his elevation to the [Sacred College](/source/College_of_Cardinals).[1] He later [participated](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_1958) in the [1958 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_1958), which selected [Pope John XXIII](/source/Pope_John_XXIII). Cardinal Ruffini was also among the *[papabili](/source/Papabile)* at that [conclave](/source/Papal_conclave).[2]

During his tenure as [Palermo](/source/Palermo)'s archbishop, he supported [Francisco Franco](/source/Francisco_Franco),[3] but protested against [communism](/source/Communism)[4] and anti-Mafia activist [Danilo Dolci](/source/Danilo_Dolci). He also demanded that the Sicilian bandit [Salvatore Giuliano](/source/Salvatore_Giuliano) cease murdering within Palermo,[1] and was wary of implying that [the Mafia](/source/Sicilian_Mafia) was [Sicily](/source/Sicily)'s main problem. To a journalist's question of "What is the Mafia?" he responded: "So far as I know, it could be a brand of detergent."[5]

A stern opponent of [reform](/source/Aggiornamento),[6] he attended the [Second Vatican Council](/source/Second_Vatican_Council) (1962–1965), and sat on its Board of Presidency. Ruffini was also part of the conservative-minded study group [Coetus Internationalis Patrum](/source/Coetus_Internationalis_Patrum) at the council. He was forced to intervene in a heated discussion between Cardinals [Alfredo Ottaviani](/source/Alfredo_Ottaviani) and [Augustin Bea](/source/Augustin_Bea) during the last [preparatory session of the Council](/source/Central_Preparatory_Commission). During the discussion on the Council's proposed declaration against [anti-Semitism](/source/Antisemitism), Cardinal Ruffini accused the document of being overly kind to the [Jews](/source/Jew), whom he saw as hostile to [Christianity](/source/Christianity).[7] He also disapproved of *[Gaudium et spes](/source/Gaudium_et_spes)*,[8] *[Sacrosanctum Concilium](/source/Sacrosanctum_Concilium)*, and *[Dignitatis humanae](/source/Dignitatis_humanae)*.[3]

Cardinal Ruffini was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_1963) who participated in the [1963 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_1963), which selected [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI).

He died of a [heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction) in Palermo, at the age of 79.[1] Ruffini is buried in the shrine of *Madonna dei Rimedi*.

## Miscellaneous

- While still a priest, Ruffini also served as president of the Academy of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

- He collaborated with John XXIII in deciding to convene the Second Vatican Council.[9]

- Ruffini was a [creationist](/source/Creationism).[10]

## Publications

- *The Theory of Evolution Judged by Reason and Faith* (Translated by Rev. Francis O'Hanlon, 1959)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Roads_to_Rome_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Roads_to_Rome_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-The_Roads_to_Rome_1-2) *[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))*. ["The Roads to Rome"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110524064243/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,797770-3,00.html). January 7, 1946.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *Time*. ["Papal Possibilities"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071030090131/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863974,00.html). October 29, 1958.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Milestones_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Milestones_3-1) *Time*. ["Milestones"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930061647/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839565,00.html). June 23, 1967.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** *Time*. ["The Third Choice"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930070458/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,937777,00.html). June 22, 1959.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ncr130902_5-0)** [Memory of anti-Mafia priest pervades summit](https://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives/091302/091302e.htm), National Catholic Reporter, September 13, 2002

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Time*. ["The Council's Prospects"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110524050425/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874481-1,00.html). September 14, 1962.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *Time*. ["A Test of Good Will"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070222093036/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939536,00.html). October 9, 1964.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** *Time*. ["The Bravest Schema"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930041621/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876333,00.html). October 30, 1964.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** The Whole Truth About Fatima. [Vatican Council II and the Fatima Revelations](http://www.catholicvoice.co.uk/fatima4/ch3.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070704080833/http://www.catholicvoice.co.uk/fatima4/ch3.htm) 2007-07-04 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** McIver, Thomas Allen (1989). [*Creationism: Intellectual Origins, Cultural Context, and Theoretical Diversity*](https://ncse.com/files/pub/library/Theses/McIver%2C%20Tom%20-%20Creationism%20-%20Intellectual%20Origins%2C%20Cultural%20Context%2C%20and%20Theoretical%20Diversity.pdf). University of California, Los Angeles.

- *Cosa Nostra. Storia della mafia siciliana*. Mondolibri. 2005.

- Giuseppe Petralia: *Il Cardinale Ernesto Ruffini, arcivescovo di Palermo.* Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano 1989.

- Angelo Romano: *Ernesto Ruffini.* Sciascia, Caltanissetta 2002.

## External links

- ["bishop/bruffini"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bruffini.html). *[Catholic-Hierarchy.org](/source/Catholic-Hierarchy.org)*. David M. Cheney.

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Luigi Cardinal Lavitrano Archbishop of Palermo 1945–1967 Succeeded by Francesco Cardinal Carpino

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ernesto Ruffini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernesto_Ruffini) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernesto_Ruffini?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.