{{Short description|Italian prelate}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = His Eminence | name = Mauro Piacenza | honorific-suffix = | title = Major Penitentiary emeritus of the Apostolic Penitentiary | image = Card. Piacenza M. festa Ascensione 2022 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Piacenza in 2022. | church = Roman Catholic Church | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | elected = | appointed = 21 September 2013 | term = | term_start = | quashed = | term_end = 6 April 2024 | predecessor = Manuel Monteiro de Castro | opposed = | successor = Angelo De Donatis | other_post = Cardinal-Priest 'pro hac vice' of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane (2021-) <!---------- Orders ---------->| ordination = 21 December 1969 | ordained_by = Giuseppe Siri | consecration = 15 November 2003 | consecrated_by = Tarcisio Bertone | cardinal = 20 November 2010 | created_cardinal_by = Benedict XVI | rank = Cardinal-Deacon (2010-21)<br>Cardinal-Priest (2021-) <!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name = Mauro Piacenza | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1944|09|15}} | birth_place = Genoa, Kingdom of Italy | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = Italian | religion = Catholic (Roman Rite) | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Clergy (2000-03)<br>President of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (2003–07)|Titular Bishop of Victoriana (2003–07)|President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology (2004–07)|Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy (2007–10)|Vice-President of the International Council for Catechesis (2007-10)<br>Titular Archbishop of Victoriana (2007–10)|President of the International Council for Catechesis (2010-13)<br>Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy (2010–13)<br>Cardinal-Deacon of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane (2010-21)<br>President of the Interdicasterial Commission for Candidates to the Sacred Order (2013)}} | alma_mater = Pontifical Lateran University | motto = ''Una quies in veritate'' | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Mauro Piacenza.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = | other = }} '''Mauro Piacenza''' (born 15 September 1944) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. A cardinal since 2010, he was Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary from 2013 to 2024. He was Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy from 7 October 2010 to 21 September 2013. where he had been Secretary since 2007. At that Congregation, Pope Benedict XVI, according to one report, valued "his efficiency and in-depth knowledge of how the Congregation worked and its problems" and "his traditionalist ecclesiastical line of thought".<ref name=tosatti/> {{Infobox cardinal styles | image = Coat of arms of Mauro Piacenza.svg | image_size = 100px | cardinal name = Mauro Piacenza | dipstyle = His Eminence | offstyle = Your Eminence | see = none }}
==Early life== Piacenza was born in Genoa on 15 September 1944. After studying at the Major Archiepiscopal Seminary of Genoa, he was ordained to the priesthood by Giuseppe Siri on 21 December 1969. He then completed his studies at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained a doctorate ''summa cum laude'' in canon law.
After serving as a parochial vicar, he worked as chaplain to the University of Genoa. Piacenza taught canon law at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy and held several other posts, serving as the archbishop's press officer. He was the diocesan assistant of the ecclesial Movement of Cultural Commitment. He served as professor of contemporary culture and history of atheism at the Ligurian Higher Institute of Religious Studies as well as professor of dogmatic theology at the Diocesan Institute of Theology for the Lay "Didascaleion". He also taught theology at several state schools. He was made a canon of the Genoa Cathedral in 1986.
==Service in the Roman Curia== He joined the staff of the Congregation for the Clergy in 1990<ref name=tosatti>{{cite news|last=Tosatti|first=Marco|title=Francis makes key new appointments|url=http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/curia-curia-curia-28005/|publisher=La Stampa| access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> and was named its Undersecretary on 11 March 2000.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 30 June 2024 | language = it |date= 11 March 2000 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2000/03/11/0158/00584.html | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 11.03.2000 | publisher = Holy See Press Office}}</ref>
On 13 October 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Piacenza President of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church and titular bishop of Victoriana.<ref>{{cite press release|language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 13.10.2003 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2003/10/13/0502/01575.html |access-date=22 October 2017| work=Holy See Press Office| date=13 October 2003}}</ref> He received his episcopal consecration on 15 November from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, with Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos and Bishop Alberto Tanasini as co-consecrators.
He was named president of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology on 28 August 2004.<ref>{{cite press release|language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 28.08.2004 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/08/28/0416/01329.html |access-date=22 October 2017| work=Holy See Press Office| date=28 August 2004}}</ref> He was appointed secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy and raised to the rank of archbishop on 7 May 2007.<ref>{{cite press release|language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 07.05.2007 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2007/05/07/0248/00669.html |access-date=22 October 2017| work=Holy See Press Office| date=7 May 2007}}</ref> That appointment has been interpreted as Pope Benedict's way of positioning a thoroughly orthodox secretary to monitor the work of his superior, the far more liberal Cardinal Claudio Hummes.<ref name=central>{{cite news | access-date = 7 July 2022 | work = National Catholic Register | url = https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/even-after-retirement-cardinal-hummes-was-a-central-figure-in-the-pontificate-of-pope-francis?amp | date = 6 July 2022 | title = Even After Retirement, Cardinal Hummes Was a Central Figure in the Pontificate of Pope Francis | first = Raymond J. | last = de Souza}}</ref> He was appointed Prefect of that Congregation on 7 October 2010.<ref>{{cite press release|language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 07.10.2007 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2010/10/07/0603/01363.html |access-date=22 October 2017| work=Holy See Press Office| date=7 October 2007}}</ref>
On 20 November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI made him Cardinal-Deacon of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pullella| first1=Philip |title=Pope puts his stamp on Catholic Church future with new cardinals|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2010/11/20/pope-puts-his-stamp-on-catholic-church-future-with-new-cardinals/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123231839/http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2010/11/20/pope-puts-his-stamp-on-catholic-church-future-with-new-cardinals/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 November 2010|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Reuters|date=20 November 2010}}</ref> and, on 29 December 2010, appointed him a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Congregation for Catholic Education, and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.<ref>{{cite press release| language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 29.12.2010 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2010/12/29/0811/01865.html|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Holy See Press Office| date=29 December 2010}}</ref>
He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.<ref>{{cite news|title=List of Cardinal Electors|url=https://zenit.org/articles/list-of-cardinal-electors/|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Zenit|date=12 March 2013}}</ref>
Piacenza, like all officers of the Roman Curia, lost his position with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis reappointed them temporarily<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 23 October 2017 | work = National Catholic Reporter | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/francis-temporarily-reappoints-curial-heads-mulls-new-appointments | title= Francis temporarily reappoints curial heads, mulls new appointments |first= John L. | last= Allen Jr. | date= 17 May 2013}}</ref> and then moved Piacenza from his position as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy to head the Apostolic Penitentiary on 21 September 2013.<ref>{{cite press release|language=it | title=Rinunce e Nomine, 21.09.2013 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/09/21/0594/01323.html|access-date=22 October 2017|work=Holy See Press Office| date=21 September 2013}}</ref> His new role was described as "a decidedly lower command post" as head of "a little-known Vatican tribunal that deals with confessions of sins so grave only a pope can grant faculties to absolve from them, such as the case of a priest who violates confessional secrecy".<ref>{{cite news|last=D'Emilio |first=Frances |title=Pope keeps cleric who leads nun crackdown in job|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2013/09/21/pope-keeps-cleric-who-leads-nun-crackdown-in-job|access-date=22 October 2017| work= U.S. News & World Report|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> He had arrived years earlier at the Congregation for the Clergy as a check upon the Congregation's prefect Cardinal Hummes, one of Pope Francis' closest allies.<ref name=central/>
After ten years at the rank of cardinal deacon, he exercised his option to assume the rank of cardinal priest, which Pope Francis confirmed on 3 May 2021.<ref>{{cite press release | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/05/03/0267/00580.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 3 May 2021 | title = Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per il Voto su alcune Cause di Canonizzazione, 03.05.2021 | date = 3 May 2021 | language = it | url-status = live | archive-date = 3 May 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210503154853/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/05/03/0267/00580.html }}</ref>
He was succeeded as major penitentiary by Angelo De Donatis on 6 April 2024.<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>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}} * {{cite web| access-date = 25 November 2017| title= Piacenza Card. Mauro |publisher= Holy See Press Office | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_piacenza_m.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 19 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160919102025/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_piacenza_m.html }} * [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpiac.html Catholic-Hierarchy]
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Antonio Silvestrelli}} {{s-ttl|title=Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Clergy|years=11 March 2000 – 13 October 2003}} {{s-aft|after=Giovanni Carrù}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Cesare Nosiglia}} {{s-tul|title=Titular Bishop of Victoriana|years=13 October 2003 – 7 May 2007}} {{s-non|reason=Himself as Titular Archbishop}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=José Tomás Sánchez}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church|years=13 October 2003 – 7 May 2007}} {{s-aft|after=Gianfranco Ravasi|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Francesco Marchisano}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology|years=28 August 2004 – 3 September 2007}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Himself as Titular Bishop}} {{s-ttl|title=Titular Archbishop of Victoriana|years=7 May 2007 – 20 November 2010}} {{s-aft|after=Giuseppe Sciacca}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Csaba Ternyák}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy|years=7 May 2007 – 7 October 2010}} {{s-aft|after=Celso Morga Iruzubieta}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Cláudio Hummes}} {{s-ttl|title=Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy|years=7 October 2010 – 21 September 2013}} {{s-aft|after=Beniamino Stella}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Titular church established}} {{s-ttl|title=Cardinal-Deacon of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane|years=20 November 2010 –}} {{s-inc}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Manuel Monteiro de Castro}} {{s-ttl|title=Major Penitentiary|years=21 September 2013 – 6 April 2024}} {{s-aft|after=Angelo De Donatis}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals created by Benedict XVI}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Piacenza, Mauro}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops Category:Clergy from Genoa Category:21st-century Italian cardinals Category:Prefects of the Congregation for the Clergy Category:Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI Category:Members of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Category:Members of the Congregation for Catholic Education Category:Members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications Category:Major Penitentiaries of the Apostolic Penitentiary Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II