{{Short description|Italian Roman Catholic cardinal (born 1947)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Giuseppe Betori | honorific-suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]],<br>[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence|Archbishop Emeritus of Florence]] | image = Betori.JPG | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = Florence | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = Florence | elected = | appointed = 8 September 2008 | term = | term_start = | enthroned = 26 October 2008 | quashed = | term_end = 18 April 2024 | predecessor = [[Ennio Antonelli]] | opposed = | successor = [[Gherardo Gambelli]] | other_post = [[Cardinal-Priest of San Marcello]] (2012–) <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 26 September 1970 | ordained_by = [[Siro Silvestri]] | consecration = 6 May 2001 | consecrated_by = [[Camillo Ruini]] | cardinal = 18 February 2012 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Benedict XVI]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Giuseppe Betori | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|02|25|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Foligno]], [[Italy]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = Italian | religion = Roman Catholic | residence = | parents = | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| * Secretary-General of the [[Episcopal Conference of Italy]] (2001–08) * Titular Bishop of Falerone (2001–08) * [[Archbishop of Florence]] (2008–24) }} | alma_mater = | motto = ''Deo et Verbo Gratiae'' (Acts 20:32; Thanks be to God and the Word) | signature = Giuseppe Betori firma.svg | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Giuseppe Betori.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = | other = }} {{Infobox cardinal styles | name=Giuseppe Betori | dipstyle=[[His Eminence]] | offstyle=Your Eminence | relstyle=[[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | See=Florence | deathstyle=not applicable | image=Coat of arms of Giuseppe Betori.svg | image_size = 100px}} '''Giuseppe Betori''' (born 25 February 1947) is an Italian prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who was [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence|Archbishop of Florence]] from 2008 to 2024. He became a bishop in 2001 when he was appointed secretary general of the [[Italian Episcopal Conference]] (CEI), a post he held until 2008. He was elevated to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 2012.
==Biography== Giuseppe Betori was born in [[Foligno]], Italy, on 25 February 1947. He was ordained a priest on 26 September 1970. He earned a licentiate in theology at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] and a doctorate in [[Sacred Scripture]] at the [[Pontifical Biblical Institute]]. While serving in local parishes in Foligno he was Professor of Sacred Scripture and Dean of the Theological Institute of Assisi; diocesan assistant of Catholic Action; director of the Regional Pastoral Centre; assistant at the Youth Pastoral Center of the S. Carlo Institute in Foligno; coordinator of the Secretariat of the Ecclesiastical Conference held in Palermo in 1995; vice-president of the Italian Committee for the XV World Youth Day; and director of the Catechistic Office of the CEI.<ref name=vatbio/> He also served as [[undersecretary]] of Italian Episcopal Conference from 1996 to 2001.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
[[File:CoA Giuseppe Betori archbishop Florence.jpg|thumb|right|The coat of arms of H.E. Mgr Giuseppe Betori, as archbishop of Florence before his elevation to Cardinal, as seen on the façade of the archbishop's residence]] On 5 April 2001, [[Pope John Paul II]] named Betori [[Secretary General]] of the [[Conferenza Episcopale Italiana|Italian Episcopal Conference]] and [[Titular Bishop]] of [[Falerone]].<ref name=vatbio>{{cite press release | access-date = 19 April 2024 | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2001/04/05/0192/00548.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | date = 5 April 2001 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 05.04.2001}}</ref> He received his episcopal consecration on 6 May 2001.<ref name=vatbio2/>
In 2005, Betori supported a ban on the [[ordination of homosexuals]]. He said this could not be called "discrimination" because a priestly vocation is a "gift" rather than a "right".<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/update/bn112305.htm | title =Vatican document bans most gays from priesthood | date = 23 November 2005 | access-date = 19 April 2024 | work = National Catholic Reporter | first = John L. | last = Allen Jr.}}</ref>
His appointment as secretary general of the CEI was confirmed for another five-year term on 6 April 2006.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 19 April 2024 | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2006/04/06/0172/00509.html| publisher = Holy See Press Office | date = 6 April 2006 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 06.04.2006}}</ref>
[[Pope Benedict XVI]] named Betori archbishop of Florence on 8 September 2008.<ref name=vatbio2>{{cite press release | access-date = 19 April 2024 | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/09/08/0552/01382.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office |date = 8 September 2008 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 08.09.2008}}</ref> He ended his service as secretary general of the CEI on 25 September 2008 and was installed in Florence the next day. He was elected president of the Episcopal Conference of Tuscany on 10 February 2009.
On 5 November 2011, Betori survived an apparent assassination attempt. An unidentified man confronted him outside his office, shot and wounded his secretary, and waved a gun at Betori before fleeing. Betori and other witnesses said they could not make sense of what the gunman said or intended as he gestured toward Betori with his the gun.<ref>{{cite news | language = it |url= https://st.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2011-11-05/larcivescovo-firenze-salvo-perche-191925.shtml | access-date = 19 April 2024 | date = 5 November 2011 | title = L'arcivescovo di Firenze salvo perché la pistola dell'aggressore si è inceppata. Telefonata del Papa }}</ref>
On 10 December 2011 he was appointed a member of the [[Pontifical Council for Culture]] for a five-year renewable term.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 19 April 2024 |language = it | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2011/12/10/0736/01767.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office |date = 10 December 2011| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 10.12.2011}}</ref>
On 6 January 2012, Pope Benedict announced he planned to make Betori a cardinal<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.lastampa.it/2012/01/06/blogs/oltretevere/oltre-quota-7egF574E1GpVwZNsI8CZRL/pagina.html | work = La Stampa | language = it | access-date = 19 April 2024 | title = Oltre quota 120 | first = Giacomo | last = Galeazzi | date = 6 January 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180713023852/http://www.lastampa.it/2012/01/06/blogs/oltretevere/oltre-quota-7egF574E1GpVwZNsI8CZRL/pagina.html | archive-date = 13 July 2018 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and Betori was made [[Cardinal-Priest]] of [[San Marcello al Corso|San Marcello]] on 18 February.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2012/documents/ns_lit_doc_20120218_titoli_it.html |title=Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali |date=18 February 2012 |website=[[Holy See|The Holy See]] |publisher=[[Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff|Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice]] |language=it |trans-title=Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals |access-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721205521/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2012/documents/ns_lit_doc_20120218_titoli_it.html |archive-date=21 July 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 21 April 2012, Betori was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for Catholic Education]] and the [[Pontifical Council for Culture]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 19 April 2024 |language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/04/21/0225/00521.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office |date = 21 April 2012 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 21.04.2012}}</ref> On 17 May 2014, [[Pope Francis]] nominated him a member of the [[Pontifical Council of the Laity]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 19 April 2024 |language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/05/17/0353/00787.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office |date = 17 May 2014 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 17.05.2014}}</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]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/03/12/0146/00364.html |title=Elenco dei Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine e precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi) |date=12 March 2013 |website=[[Holy See Press Office|Sala Stampa della Santa Sede]] |language=it |trans-title=List of Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons) |access-date=19 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185432/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/03/12/0146/00364.html |archive-date=3 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and 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>
Pope Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop of Florence on 18 April 2024.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 19 April 2024 | date = 18 April 2024| url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/18/240418b.html| title = Resignations and Appointments, 18.04.2024 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
* {{cite web | language = it | title = L'Arcivescovo | website = Archdiocese of Florence | url-status=live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231201100914/https://www.diocesifirenze.it/larcivescovo/ | archive-date = 1 December 2023 | url = https://www.diocesifirenze.it/larcivescovo/ }} * {{cite web| title= Betori Card. Giuseppe |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_betori_g.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 15 October 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171015203109/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_betori_g.html }} *[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbetori.html Profile of Giuseppe Betori on ''Catholic Hierarchy''] [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Damião António Franklin]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[Falerone|Titular Bishop of Falerone]]|years=5 April 2001 – 8 September 2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[Luigi Bianco]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ennio Antonelli]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Conferenza Episcopale Italiana|Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference]]|years=5 April 2001 – 8 September 2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[Mariano Crociata]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence|Archbishop of Florence]]|years=8 September 2008 – 18 April 2024}} {{s-aft|after=[[Gherardo Gambelli]]|years=2024-present}} {{s-bef|before=[[Agustín García-Gasco y Vicente]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Cardinal-Priest of San Marcello]]|years=18 February 2012 –}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals created by Benedict XVI}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Betori, Giuseppe}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Foligno]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Florence]] [[Category:Members of the Pontifical Council for Culture]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Catholic Education]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Clergy]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Category:Pontifical Biblical Institute alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]] [[Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic archbishops]] [[Category: Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II]]