{{short description|Italian cardinal|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Francesco Coccopalmerio | honorific-suffix = | title = [[President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts|President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts]] | image = Cardinale Francesco Coccopalmerio.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Coccopalmerio (left) on 4 August 2002 | church = Roman [[Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | elected = | appointed = 15 February 2007 | term = | term_start = | quashed = | term_end = 7 April 2018 | predecessor = [[Julián Herranz Casado]] | opposed = | successor = [[Filippo Iannone]] | other_post = {{unbulleted list|[[San Giuseppe dei Falegnami|Cardinal priest of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami]] (2022–present)}} <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 28 June 1962 | ordained_by = [[Pope Paul VI]] | consecration = 22 May 1993 | consecrated_by = [[Carlo Maria Martini]] | cardinal = 18 February 2012 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Benedict XVI]] | rank = {{Unbulleted list|Cardinal deacon (2012–22)|Cardinal priest (2022–present)}} <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Francesco Coccopalmerio | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|03|06|df=yes}} | birth_place = San Giuliano Milanese, [[Kingdom of Italy]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = | religion = | residence = | parents = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|[[Bishop of Milan|Auxiliary Bishop of Milan]] (1993–2007)|Titular Bishop of Coeliana (1993–2007)|Titular Archbishop of Coeliana (2007–12)}} | alma_mater = | motto = ''Justus Ut Palma Florebit'' | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Francesco Coccopalmerio.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = <!---------- Other ----------> | other = }} {{Infobox cardinal styles |name=Francesco Coccopalmerio |dipstyle=[[His Eminence]] |offstyle=[[His Eminence|Your Emience]] |relstyle=[[Monsignor]] |deathstyle=not applicable |image=Coat of arms of Francesco Coccopalmerio.svg |image_size=200px }} '''Francesco Coccopalmerio''' (born 6 March 1938) is an Italian cardinal. He was president of the [[Dicastery for Legislative Texts|Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts]] from his appointment by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on 15 February 2007 until his resignation was accepted by [[Pope Francis]] on 7 April 2018. He spent his early years in the Archdiocese of Milan and became an auxiliary bishop in 1993. He moved to the [[Roman Curia]] in 2000.
==Biography== ===Early life=== Coccopalmerio was born in [[San Giuliano Milanese]], Italy, where his parents were living during [[World War II]], on 6 March 1938 and raised in [[Sernio]], his mother's home town. He was ordained a priest on 28 June 1962 by [[Giovanni Montini]] (later Pope Paul VI), then the archbishop of Milan. He received a [[Licentiate (degree)|licentiate]] in [[theology]] in 1963. He received a doctorate in [[canon law]] from the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in 1968. In 1976 he obtained a doctorate in law at the [[Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore]] in Milan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Profiles of the New Cardinals|url=http://insidethevatican.com/news/lead-story/profiles-of-the-new-cardinals|access-date=14 February 2017|work=Inside the Vatican|date=1 February 2012}}</ref>
===Archdiocese of Milan=== He held positions in the [[archdiocese of Milan]] until 1994. He was professor of canon law at the Faculty of Theology in northern Italy from 1966 to 1999. Since 1981, he has been a professor of canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
On 10 April 1993, [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed Coccopalmerio an [[auxiliary bishop]] of Milan with the [[titular see]] of [[Aïn Tine|Coeliana]]. He was consecrated bishop on 22 May of that year. Within the [[Italian Episcopal Conference]], he is one of the leading voices on legal issues and ecumenical and [[inter-religious dialogue]]. Since 2000, Coccopalmerio has been a member of the [[Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura]].
===Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts=== On 15 February 2007, he was given the personal title of archbishop and appointed president of the [[Dicastery for Legislative Texts|Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Opus Dei down to one top Vatican official; Benedict's ties to Communion and Liberation deepen|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/opus-dei-down-one-top-vatican-official-benedicts-ties-communion-and-liberation-deepen|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=16 February 2007}}</ref> Since 2008, at the direction of Pope Benedict,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Elise|title=Pope receives briefing on activities at Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/32129/pope-receives-briefing-on-activities-at-pontifical-council-for-legislative-texts|access-date=16 February 2017|agency=Catholic News Agency|date=10 June 2015}}</ref> one of his principal responsibilities has been the revision to procedures for handling clergy sex abuse and the applicable punishments. In 2014, he explained: "We want to make this delicate material more accessible, more understandable and easier for bishops to apply." At issue is "[[1983 Code of Canon Law#Book VI. Sanctions in the Church (Cann. 1311–1399)|Book VI: Sanctions in the Church]]".<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 7 February 2017 | date = 24 July 2014 | title = Vatican revising canon law on abuse penalties, cardinal says | first = Cindy | last = Wooden | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/vatican-revising-canon-law-abuse-penalties-cardinal-says | work = National Catholic Reporter | agency = Catholic News Service}}</ref>
Coccopalmerio was reported to have been one of the senior prelates who, in preparing to announce the lifting of the excommunications of four leaders of the [[Society of Saint Pius X]] in January 2009, failed to take account of recent reports that one of them, Bishop [[Richard Williamson (bishop)|Richard Williamson]], was a [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust denier]].<ref>{{cite news| last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title='Attack on Ratzinger': Italian book assesses Benedict's papacy| url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/attack-ratzinger-italian-book-assesses-benedicts-papacy|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=27 August 2010}}</ref>
He was appointed a five-year renewable term as a member of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] on 23 December 2010.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 16 February 2017 | date = 23 December 2010 | work = Zenit | url = https://zenit.org/articles/chinese-salesian-named-to-evangelization-dicastery/ | title = Chinese Salesian Named to Evangelization Dicastery}}</ref>
On 18 February 2012, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] created him [[cardinal-deacon]] of [[San Giuseppe dei Falegnami]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Pope names 22 new cardinals, including Dolan and O'Brien|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/pope-names-22-new-cardinals-including-dolan-and-obrien|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=6 January 2012}}</ref> On 21 April 2012, Cardinal Coccopalmerio was named a member of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]], the [[Apostolic Signatura]], and the [[Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]].<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 16 February 2017 | date= 23 April 2012 | url = https://zenit.org/articles/assignments-given-to-new-cardinals/ | work = Zenit | title = Assignments Given to New Cardinals}}</ref> On 22 December 2012, he was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]].
At the Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization in October 2012, Coccopalmerio argued that ecumenical efforts to further unify Christians across sectarian lines could play a pivotal role in countering the ongoing "de-Christianization" of Europe by presenting "an extraordinary sign to Islam" of Christian solidarity.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Synod Notebook: Islam, Africa, and where are the deacons?|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/synod-notebook-islam-africa-and-where-are-deacons|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=16 October 2012}}</ref>
===2013 Papal Conclave=== In the meetings of cardinals that preceded the papal conclave of March 2013,<ref name=inside20130501>{{cite news|last1=Gagliarducci|first1=Andrea|title=Is It Time to Reform the Roman Curia?|url=http://insidethevatican.com/news/lead-story/is-it-time-to-reform-the-roman-curia|access-date=14 February 2017|work=Inside the Vatican|date=1 May 2013}}</ref> Cardinal Coccopalmerio proposed to create a [[moderator of the Curia]], a prelate who would identify inconsistencies and devise methods of ensuring consistency among departments of the [[Roman Curia]] that sometimes contradict one another.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Proposals abound for a 'Franciscan reform' of the Vatican|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/proposals-abound-franciscan-reform-vatican|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=9 May 2013}}</ref> The idea was widely appreciated by some cardinals but some were wary that such an appointment would act as a "vice-pope" that would effectively set Vatican and Curial policy<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title =Cardinals' summit shapes up as potential turning point|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/cardinals-summit-shapes-potential-turning-point|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=24 September 2013}}</ref> or duplicate the already considerable authority of the Substitute in the Secretariate of State, who already fills the role of the Pope's "chief of staff".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Francis and the risk of overheated expectations|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/francis-and-risk-overheated-expectations|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=26 April 2013}}</ref>
In advance of that conclave, he said: "It's time to look outside Italy and Europe, in particular considering Latin America."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L.|title=Running the numbers behind Pope Francis' election|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/running-numbers-behind-pope-francis-election|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=14 March 2013}}</ref> He was one of the [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013|cardinal electors]] who participated in the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Francis]], and was mentioned in the Italian press as a possible pope.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Cardinal Electors – By Country|url=http://insidethevatican.com/magazine/culture/the-cardinals-electors|access-date=14 February 2017|work=Inside the Vatican|date=1 March 2013}}</ref> According to one report, he received more votes in the conclave than any other Italian cardinal because of his proposal for reform of the Roman Curia.<ref name=inside20130501/>
===Synod on the Family=== On 27 August 2014, Pope Francis named him to a working group tasked with speeding up the process for assessing the [[Declaration of nullity|nullity of a marriage]]. Its work resulted in changes implemented by Francis in September 2015, which eliminated obligatory appeals, eased the dismissal of appeals in certain instances, and instituted a shorter process in some cases.<ref name=america20150908>{{cite news|last1=O'Connell|first1=Gerard|title=Pope Francis on annulments: further clarification from Vatican|url=http://www.americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/cardinal-coccopalmerio-reform-process-declaring-nullity-marriage|access-date=16 February 2017|work=[[America (magazine)|America]]|date=8 September 2015}}</ref>{{efn|At a press conference discussing the question of nullity, Coccopalmerio mentioned other issues that remained to be addressed: "Take one case, among the more simple ones: In legislations where homosexual couples can adopt, how should one proceed if a homosexual couple wants a child baptized? How does one, for example, register the baptism?"<ref name=america20150908/>}}
Following the first session of the [[Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops|Synod on the Family]] held in October 2014, he expressed disappointment that not all the participants addressed the pastoral needs of those "who are suffering through problems connected to their relationships" and instead "showed that they simply wanted to reaffirm the doctrine". He provided an example:<ref name=inside20141101>{{cite news|last1=Rusconi|first1=Giuseppe|title=Cardinal Coccopalmerio: 'I was expecting more'|url=http://insidethevatican.com/magazine/editorial/dossier/cardinal-coccopalmerio-expecting|access-date=15 February 2017|work=Inside the Vatican|date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180306145039/http://insidethevatican.com/magazine/editorial/dossier/cardinal-coccopalmerio-expecting|archive-date=6 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{Blockquote|We have both doctrine and people to consider. Let's consider a very problematic topic, extremely current: the topic of homosexual couples. If I meet a same-sex couple, I observe right away that their relationship is illicit: That is what the doctrine says, and I reaffirm that with absolute certainty. Nevertheless, if I stop at doctrine, I don't see the people anymore. But if I observe that two people really do love each other, say they practice charity towards the needy...then I can also say that, while their relation remains illicit, in those two people there emerge positive elements. Instead of closing my eyes to those positive aspects, I want to underline them. It is a matter of being objective and recognizing, objectively, the positive points in a given relationship, that is illicit in itself.}}
He also endorsed the idea of access to the [[Eucharist]] for some Catholics in irregular marital situations. He offered the example of a woman who lives with a man who has three small children by a wife who abandoned him. He imagined her coming to Communion "during her father’s funeral Mass, or the day of one of the children’s confirmation". Fearing the consequences of asking her to abandon the man and the children, he asked: "So would it really be totally impossible to admit her to communion? In admitting her to communion, would I be going against the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage? I really don’t think so: In fact, this has to do with a case of exception."<ref name=inside20141101/>
===Roman Curia work under Pope Francis=== In January 2015, Pope Francis named Coccopalmerio to a new board of review within the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] that reviews appeals from clergy found guilty of sexual abuse of minors.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Glatz|first1=Carol|title=Pope names former top prosecutor to head board for clergy abuse appeals|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-names-former-top-prosecutor-head-board-clergy-abuse-appeals|access-date=14 February 2017|work=National Catholic Reporter|agency=Catholic News Service|date=21 January 2015}}</ref>
In 2015, Cardinal Coccopalmerio questioned the scope of the authority given to the Secretariat for the Economy and its prefect [[Cardinal Pell]]. These questions involved not the demand for transparency in all financial operations, but the consolidation of management under the [[Secretariat for the Economy]].<ref>{{cite news|work=La Stampa|access-date=14 February 2017|url=http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/39198/|title=Vatican: Doubts grow over Pell's excessive powers|date=16 February 2015|first=Andrea|last=Tornielli|archive-date=8 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408160449/http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/39198|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2017, he said provisions of ''[[Amoris Laetitia]]'' allow people in irregular marriage access to the sacraments only if they recognize their situation is sinful and desire to change it. The fact that such a couple also believes changing the situation immediately by splitting would cause more harm and forgoing sexual relations would threaten their current relationship does not rule out the possibility of receiving sacramental absolution and Communion.<ref>{{cite news|work=Catholic News Service|access-date=29 November 2017|url=https://cnstopstories.com/2017/02/14/vatican-canon-law-official-explains-provisions-of-amoris-laetitia/|title=Vatican canon law official explains provisions of 'Amoris Laetitia'|date=14 February 2017|first=Cindy|last=Wooden|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041447/https://cnstopstories.com/2017/02/14/vatican-canon-law-official-explains-provisions-of-amoris-laetitia/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Resignation=== A month after Coccopalmerio's 80th birthday, Pope Francis accepted his resignation and named [[Filippo Iannone]] to succeed him.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 7 April 2018 | date = 7 April 2018 | title = Resignations and Appointments, 07.04.2018 | url= http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/04/07/180407d.html }}</ref>
On 4 March 2022, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal priest.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Ordinary Public Consistory for the vote on some Causes for Canonization |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2022/03/04/220304b.html |access-date=4 March 2022 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | date = 4 March 2022}}</ref>
==Affairs and allegations== ===The Capozzi affair=== In June 2017,<ref name=caprroziapartment /> news surfaced that at some point during the month,<ref name="caprroziarrested">{{cite news |last=Bucher |first=Chris |date=5 July 2017 |title=Luigi Capozzi: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |work=[[Heavy (website)|Heavy]] |url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/07/luigi-capozzi-gay-orgy-drugs-vatican-coccopalmerio-monsignor/ |access-date=}}</ref> Msgr. Luigi Capozzi, the private secretary to Cardinal Coccopalmerio, had been arrested by [[Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City|Vatican Gendarmerie]] after illegally using [[cocaine]] at a gay orgy party at Capozzi's Vatican apartment.<ref name="caprroziapartment">{{Cite web |last=Grana |first=Francesco Antonio |date=28 June 2017 |title=Vaticano, fermato un monsignore: Festini gay e droga al Palazzo dell'ex Sant'Uffizio |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/06/28/vaticano-fermato-un-monsignore-festini-gay-e-droga-nel-palazzo-del-santuffizio/3691426/ |website=[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]]}}</ref><ref name=caprroziarrested /> Capozzi was afterwards hospitalized at the Roman Pius XI clinic so that he could detox, after which he had a short period of retreat at a nearby monastery and then spent time at the [[Gemelli Hospital]] in Rome.<ref name=caprroziarrested /><ref name=caprroziapartment /> Despite the fact that Capozzi resided in the apartment, the apartment was owned by Coccopalmerio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic.org/news/international/europe/story.php?id=75429|title=SCANDAL: Vatican police raid cardinal's apartment to stop drug fueled gay party – Europe – International – News}}</ref>
Prior to the arrest, Coccopalmerio had also recommended having Capozzi appointed as a Bishop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cal-catholic.com/lower-than-the-rome-of-the-borgias/|title="Lower than the Rome of the Borgias"|date=7 July 2017}}</ref> An article dated 24 July 2019 on ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' revealed that following his arrest, Capozzi was ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation therapy and was no longer in the Vatican, but rather a spiritual retreat somewhere in Italy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/OMG/Gay-orgy-drug-party-busted-by-Vatican-police-596717|title = Gay orgy, drug party, busted by Vatican police| date=24 July 2019 }}</ref>
===The Inzoli affair=== In the October 2018 issue of the German Catholic journal ''Herder Korrespondenz'', Benjamin Leven, a German theologian and editor of the said journal reported that, according to his own sources, it was Cardinal Coccopalmerio who approached the Pope in favor of the child abuser Don Mauro Inzoli in order to have him partially reinstated as priest. Leven also alleged that Coccopalmerio is known in Rome for generally opposing the removal of culprit priests from the priesthood, which for him is akin to the "death penalty".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leven |first=Benjamin |date=October 2018 |title=Päpstliches Geheimnis: Franziskus und der Missbrauch |url=https://www.herder.de/hk/hefte/archiv/2018/10-2018/paepstliches-geheimnis-franziskus-und-der-missbrauch/ |access-date= |website=Herder Korrispondenz}}</ref>
===Dialogue with Freemasonry=== On 16 February 2024, in the premises of the Ambrosianeum cultural foundation in Milan, he participated as a speaker (together with [[Mario Delpini]] and [[Antonio Staglianò]]) in the conference on the history of relations between the Catholic Church and Freemasonry, organized by the three greater Italian Masonic obediences. Coccopalmerio was the first cardinal to propose the creation of a permanent dialogue table between the Church and Freemasonry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/vaticano/chiesa_massoneria_cardinale_dialoga_gran_maestro_tavolo_permanente_milano_delpini_papa_francesco-7941287.html|title=Chiesa-Massoneria: un cardinale per la prima volta propone un tavolo permanente per dialogare con il Grande Oriente|date=17 February 2024|author=Franca Giansoldati}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Noteslist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * {{cite web | access-date= 6 December 2017 | title= Coccopalmerio Card. Francesco | publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_coccopalmerio_f.html | url-status= live | archive-date= 6 March 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170306163427/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_coccopalmerio_f.html }}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Herberto Celso Angelo}} {{s-tul|title=Titular Bishop of Cœliana|years=8 April 1993 – 15 February 2007}} {{s-non|reason=Himself as Titular Archbishop}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Himself as Titular Bishop}} {{s-tul|title=Titular Archbishop of Cœliana|years=15 February 2007 – 18 February 2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Paul Sanchez (bishop)|Paul Robert Sanchez]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Julián Herranz Casado]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Dicastery for Legislative Texts|President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts]]|years=15 February 2007 – 7 April 2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Filippo Iannone]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Titular church established}} {{s-ttl|title=[[San Giuseppe dei Falegnami|Cardinal-Deacon of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami]]|years=18 February 2012 –}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Cardinals created by Benedict XVI}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coccopalmerio, Francesco}} [[Category:1938 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]] [[Category:Alphonsian Academy alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Apostolic Signatura]] [[Category:Dicastery for Legislative Texts]] [[Category:20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular bishops]] [[Category:Members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II]]