{{short description|Italian cardinal|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Lorenzo Baldisseri | honorific-suffix = | title = Secretary General emeritus of the [[Synod of Bishops (Catholic)|Synod of Bishops]] | image = 05.18 副總統接見「世界主教會議」秘書長巴迪謝里樞機主教，並相互贈禮 (33920095723) (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | alt = | caption = Baldisseri in 2017 | church = [[Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | appointed = 21 September 2013 | ended = 16 September 2020 | predecessor = [[Nikola Eterović]] | opposed = | successor = [[Mario Grech]] | ordination = 29 June 1963 | ordained_by = [[Ugo Camozzo]] | consecration = 7 March 1992 | consecrated_by = [[Angelo Sodano]] | cardinal = 22 February 2014 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = {{ubl|Cardinal-Deacon (2014–2024)|Cardinal-Priest (2024–)}} | other_post = {{unbulleted list|[[Church of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino, Rome|Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino]]}} <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Lorenzo Baldisseri | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1940|9|29|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Barga, Tuscany|Barga]], [[Kingdom of Italy]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = Italian | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Titular Archbishop of Diocletiana (1992–2014)|Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti (1992–1995)|Apostolic Nuncio to Paraguay (1995–1999)|Apostolic Nuncio to India (1999–2002)|Apostolic Nuncio to Nepal (1999–2002)|Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil (2002–2012)|Secretary of the [[Congregation for Bishops]] (2012–2013)|Secretary of the Sacred College of Cardinals (2012–2014)}} | religion = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | alma_mater = [[University of Perugia]], [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]], [[Pontifical Lateran University]] | signature = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Lorenzo Baldisseri.svg | motto = {{lang|la|Itinere Laete Servire Domino}}<br>(Serve the Lord Joyfully) }} {{Ordination | ordained deacon by = | date of diaconal ordination = | place of diaconal ordination = | ordained priest by = | date of priestly ordination = 29 June 1963 | place of priestly ordination = | consecrated by = [[Angelo Sodano]] | co-consecrators = [[Justin Rigali]] <br />[[Alessandro Plotti]] | date of consecration = 7 March 1992 | place of consecration = | elevated by = [[Pope Francis]] | date of elevation = 22 February 2014 | bishop 1 = [[Afonso Fioreze]] | consecration date 1 = 15 February 2004 | bishop 2 = [[Severino Clasen]] | consecration date 2 = 25 June 2005 | bishop 3 = [[Ângelo Pignoli]] | consecration date 3 = 11 March 2007 | bishop 4 = [[Juarez Sousa Da Silva]] | consecration date 4 = 17 May 2008 | bishop 5 = [[José Moreira da Silva]] | consecration date 5 = 17 January 2009 | sources = | bishop 6 = [[Odelir José Magri]] | consecration date 6 = 12 December 2010 | bishop 7 = [[Jaime Spengler]] | consecration date 7 = 5 February 2011 }} {{Infobox cardinal styles | name = Lorenzo Baldisseri | image = Coat of arms of Lorenzo Baldisseri.svg | image_size = 200px | dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] | offstyle = [[His Eminence|Your Eminence]] | relstyle = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | deathstyle = }} '''Lorenzo Baldisseri''' ({{IPA|it|loˈrɛntso baldisˈsɛːri}}) (born 29 September 1940) is an Italian prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who served as Secretary General of the [[Synod of Bishops (Catholic)|Synod of Bishops]] from 21 September 2013 until 15 September 2020. He was made a cardinal in 2014. He previously served as Secretary of the [[Congregation for Bishops]] after more than twenty years in the diplomatic service of the [[Holy See]] that included stints as Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, Paraguay, India, Nepal, and Brazil.
==Early years== Baldisseri was born in [[Barga, Tuscany|Barga]], in the [[province of Lucca]], [[Italy]], on 29 September 1940 and ordained on 29 June 1963. He studied at the [[Pontifical Lateran University]] and the [[University of Perugia]] from 1970 to 1973. He earned a doctorate in canon law, with a thesis entitled: "The Nunciature in Tuscany".<ref>{{cite news| work= Osservatore Romano | url= http://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/baldisseri-eng | access-date=20 November 2014|date= 22 February 2014| title= Lorenzo Baldisseri }}</ref> To prepare for a diplomatic career he entered the [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]] in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]]|language =it|access-date = 9 January 2020 | title = Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999 |url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/1950-1999.htm }}</ref> He then joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See and served in many areas of the world over the next two decades.
On 15 January 1992, [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed him [[Titular Archbishop]] of [[Dardani|Diocletiana]] and [[Apostolic Nuncio]] to [[Haiti]].<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-84-1992-ocr.pdf | access-date = 9 January 2020 | date= 1992 | volume = LXXXIV | pages = 180, 182 }}</ref> He was named Apostolic Nuncio to Paraguay on 6 April 1995.<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-87-1995-ocr.pdf | access-date = 9 January 2020 | date= 1995 | volume = LXXXVII | page = 535 }}</ref> He then took up a pair of titles, Apostolic Nuncio to India on 19 June 1999<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-91-1999-ocr.pdf | access-date = 9 January 2020 | date= 1999| volume = XCI | page = 845 }}</ref> and Apostolic Nuncio to Nepal on 23 June 1999.<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-91-1999-ocr.pdf | access-date = 9 January 2020 | date= 1999| volume = XCI | page = 919 }}</ref> He was appointed to his last diplomatic post as [[Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil|nuncio to Brazil]] on 12 November 2002.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 9 January 2020 | date= 12 November 2002 | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 12.11.2002|url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/11/12/0557/01763.html }}</ref>
==Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops== He was appointed secretary of the [[Congregation for Bishops]] on 11 January 2012.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 9 January 2020 | date= 11 January 2012| language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 11.02.2012 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/01/11/0018/00042.html }}</ref> He served as secretary of the [[College of Cardinals]] from 7 March 2012 to 28 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/de/bollettino/pubblico/2014/01/28/0064/00130.html | title=Rinunce e Nomine - Nomina del Segretario del Collegio Cardinalizio | publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] | language= it| access-date=January 28, 2014}}</ref> In that role he served as secretary of the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 conclave]] that elected [[Pope Francis]]. At the end of that conclave, Pope Francis gave his red cardinal's [[zucchetto]] to Baldisseri, in a move that was seen as an indication that he would soon be made a cardinal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://brasil.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,ex-embaixador-da-santa-se-no-brasil-e-o-primeiro-cardeal-nomeado-por-francisco,1009123|title=Ex-embaixador da Santa Sé no Brasil é o primeiro cardeal nomeado por Francisco |language= pt| newspaper=O Estado de S. Paulo|date= 15 March 2013 | first = Felipe | last = Domingues | access-date=15 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://pt.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/03/16/dom_lorenzo_baldisseri_recebe_solideu_cardinal%C3%ADcio/bra-673713|title=Dom Lorenzo Baldisseri recebe solideu cardinalício| language=pt|publisher=Radio Vaticano (Portuguese Section)|date= 16 March 2013 | access-date=24 February 2014}}</ref>{{efn|[[Pope John XXIII]] upon his election in 1958 had performed a similar action, placing his zucchetto on the head of [[Alberto di Jorio]], secretary of the conclave, and making him a cardinal six weeks later.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 5 May 2021 | language = it | first = Sandro | last = Magister | url = http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350482.html | date= 26 March 2013 | title = Lo strano caso del "cardinale a metà" | work = L'Espresso }}</ref>}}
In January 2013, he reported on [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s meetings with the world's bishops. Known as ''ad limina'' visits, they are supposed to occur every five years. Baldisseri said that it had taken Benedict more than seven years to complete the full cycle.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wooden|first1=Cindy| agency=Catholic News Service |title=Pope Benedict completes 'ad limina' visits with world's bishops|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-benedict-completes-ad-limina-visits-worlds-bishops|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter| date=10 December 2013}}</ref>
In early September 2013, Baldisseri was part of a group of 30 officials of the [[Roman Curia]] who met with Pope Francis to offer their views and concerns with respect to his proposed reorganization of the Vatican's administrative apparatus.<ref>{{cite news| first= Francis X. |last =Rocca |agency = Catholic News Service |title=Pope hears officials' input on reforming Vatican bureaucracy| url= https://www.ncronline.org/news/pope-hears-officials-input-reforming-vatican-bureaucracy|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=10 September 2013}}</ref>
== General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops== Pope Francis named Baldisseri the General Secretary of the [[Synod of Bishops (Catholic)|Synod of Bishops]] on 21 September 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Coday|first1=Denis|title=Vatican announces curial appointments|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vatican-announces-curial-appointments|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> His central responsibility was to organize the synod operations according to the pope's vision, "to radically revamp its working methods".<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Connell|first1=Gerard|title=After a conclave that demanded reform, a year of 'fresh air'|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/after-conclave-demanded-reform-year-fresh-air|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=8 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mickens|first1=Robert|title=Next on Pope Francis' agenda: Curia reform, personnel moves, a revamped synod|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/roman-observer/next-pope-francis-agenda-curia-reform-personnel-moves-revamped-synod |access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=27 October 2014 | quote= Pope Francis is believed to be working with the man he appointed as secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, in a continuing effort to transform the mechanisms and procedures of this collegial body in the run-up to its next assembly in October 2015.}}</ref>
In October 2013 Baldisseri asked national bishops conferences around the world to conduct a wide-ranging poll of Catholics asking for their opinions on church teachings on contraception, same-sex marriage and divorce.<ref>{{cite web | title = Synod of Bishops: Preparatory Document | url = https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20131105_iii-assemblea-sinodo-vescovi_en.html |access-date = 21 November 2016| publisher= Holy See }}</ref> Baldisseri asked the episcopal conferences to distribute the poll "immediately as widely as possible to deaneries and parishes so that input from local sources can be received." The poll, part of a questionnaire sent to national bishops' conferences globally in preparation for a 2014 Vatican synod on the family, was the first time the church's central hierarchy had asked for such input from grass-roots Catholics since the establishment of the synod system following the Second Vatican Council.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McElwee|first1=Joshua J.| url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vatican-bishops-must-consult-grass-roots-family-synod|title=Vatican: Bishops must consult 'grass roots' on family synod|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter| date=10 December 2013}}</ref>
In a May 2014 newspaper interview, Baldisseri said it was time to update Church doctrine in connection with divorce and people who are in civil partnerships: "The Church is not timeless, she lives amidst the vicissitudes of history and the Gospel must be known and experienced by people today.... It is in the present that the message should be, with all respect for the integrity from whom the message has been received. We now have two synods to treat this complex theme of the family and I believe that these dynamics in two movements will allow a more adequate response to the expectations of the people."<ref>{{cite news|work=National Catholic Register| url=http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/sec.-general-of-synod-wants-change-in-churchs-teaching-on-marriage#ixzz31FAJqxrH | title=Synod Secretary General Wants Change in Church's Teaching on Marriage | first=Edward | last=Pentin | date=7 May 2014 | access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref>
In July 2014, Baldisseri said that the structure of the upcoming extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family would be shorter than previous synods and would include new rules aimed at helping the bishops really grapple with the issues together: "We want a frank, open, civilized discussion,".<ref name=wooden>{{cite news | access-date = 6 May 2021 | publisher = Catholic News Service | url = http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403095.htm | archive-date= 5 August 2014 | url-status = dead | first = Cindy | last = Wooden | archive-url = https://archive.today/20140805153151/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403095.htm | title = Changes in synod process designed to increase discussion, cardinal says}}</ref> Along with Vatican spokesman [[Federico Lombardi]], Baldisseri served as the public voice of the synod, explaining its procedures and the ways its format departed from those of previous synods.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McElwee|first1=Joshua J.|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vatican-outlines-process-months-anticipated-synod-bishops|title=New process for Synod of Bishops aims at allowing more dialogue|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter|date=2 October 2015}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McElwee|first1=Joshua J.| url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vatican-synod-will-be-original-and-innovative-limited-public-information|title=Vatican: Synod will be 'original and innovative,' but with limited public information|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter| date=3 October 2015}}</ref>
The topics raised in the questionnaire included contraception, divorce and remarriage, same-sex marriage, premarital sex and in vitro fertilization. Some responses questioned the church's teaching or encouraged greater understanding of people who cannot always live up to that teaching. Cardinal Baldisseri said that the bishops "must recognize that the faithful perceive the truth" about the Gospel and its values and their input cannot be ignored. "But the bishops have the responsibility and authority to discern ways to apply the constant teaching of the church," he said. The big change from past synods is that the voting members of the extraordinary synod will be asked to submit their presentations in writing at least two weeks before the meeting opens, the cardinal said."This is not to limit the discussion, but to help organize it". The report opening the synod, which used to be a rephrasing of the synod working document, now will be a first summary of the bishops' submissions, he said.<ref name=wooden/>
At a 3 October 2014 press conference, when asked how the [[Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops|Synod on the Family]] would address the topic of divorced and remarried Catholics, he said "The Synod is about family, not divorce. Let's not monopolize it with Western problems. We need to present the beauty of the family to the world" and "we want to walk and view the global challenges to find an answer in the light of the Gospel".<ref>{{cite news|agency=Catholic News Agency|access-date=20 November 2016|last=Harris |first=Elise| url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/30638/vatican-official-says-synod-is-about-family-not-divorce |date= 3 October 2014 |title=Vatican official says synod is 'about family, not divorce'}}</ref> He served as the synod's general secretary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McElwee|first1=Joshua J.| url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vatican-asks-parish-level-input-synod-document |title=Vatican asks for parish-level input on synod document|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter| date=31 October 2013}}</ref>
==Cardinal== Pope Francis raised Baldisseri to the rank of [[Cardinal-Deacon]] on 22 February 2014 and assigned him to the deaconry of [[Church of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino, Rome|Sant’Anselmo all'Aventino]].
In December 2013 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen Jr.|first1=John L. | url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/wuerl-named-bishops-panel-burke-not-confirmed |title=Wuerl named to bishops' panel; Burke not confirmed|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter| date=16 December 2013}}</ref> and that appointment was confirmed in May 2014 after he became a cardinal.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Catholic News Service |last1=Wooden|first1=Cindy| url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-assigns-new-cardinals-congregations-councils |title=Pope assigns new cardinals to congregations, councils|access-date=20 November 2016|work=National Catholic Reporter| date=22 May 2014}}</ref>
On 13 September 2014 he was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 5 September 2020 | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 13.09.2014 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/09/13/0632/01406.html }}</ref>
Pope Francis appointed [[Mario Grech]] Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops on 2 October 2019 to serve in anticipation of Baldisseri's retirement.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 2 October 2019 | date = 2 October 2019 | language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/10/02/0763/01564.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | title = Rinunce e nomine, 02.10.2019}}</ref> Pope Francis accepted Baldisseri's resignation on 15 September 2020.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 16 September 2020 | date= 16 September 2020 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/09/16/200916b.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 16.09.2020 }}</ref>
Baldisseri joined the order of cardinal-priests on 1 July 2024.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 1 July 2024 | date = 1 July 2024 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/07/01/0546/01132.html | language = it | title = Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per il voto su alcune Cause di Canonizzazione, 01.07.2024}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
* {{cite web | access-date= 23 November 2017 | title= Baldisseri Card. Lorenzo | publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_baldisseri_l.html | url-status= live | archive-date= 11 January 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170111041627/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_baldisseri_l.html }} *{{cite web | url = http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbaldl.html | title= Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri | website= Catholic Hierarchy }} [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]
{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=[[Giuseppe Leanza]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti]]|years=15 January 1992 – 6 April 1995}} {{s-aft|after=[[Christophe Pierre]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[José Sebastián Laboa Gallego]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Paraguay|Apostolic Nuncio to Paraguay]]|years=6 April 1995 – 19 June 1999}} {{s-aft|after=[[Antonio Lucibello]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Georg Zur]]|as=Apostolic Pro-Nuncio|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nuncio to India]]|years=19 June 1999 – 12 November 2002}} {{s-aft|after=[[Pedro López Quintana]]|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Nepal|Apostolic Nuncio to Nepal]]|years=23 June 1999 – 12 November 2002}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Alfio Rapisarda]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil]]|years=12 November 2002 – 11 January 2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Giovanni d'Aniello]]}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Manuel Monteiro de Castro]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the [[Congregation for Bishops]]|years=11 January 2012 – 21 September 2013}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ilson de Jesus Montanari]]|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the [[College of Cardinals]]|years=7 March 2012 – 28 January 2014}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Nikola Eterović]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary General of the [[Synod of Bishops (Catholic)|Synod of Bishops]]|years=21 September 2013 – 15 September 2020}} {{s-aft|after=[[Mario Grech]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Fortunato Baldelli]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Cardinal Deacon of [[Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino]]|years=22 February 2014 – present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baldisseri, Lorenzo}} [[Category:1940 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:University of Perugia alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Bishops]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Brazil]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Paraguay]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to India]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Nepal]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Haiti]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:People from Barga, Tuscany]]