# Raffaele Farina

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Italian cardinal

Raffaele Farina Archivist Emeritus of the Vatican Secret Archives Cardinal Farina Appointed 25 June 2007 Term ended 9 June 2012 Predecessor Jean-Louis Tauran Other posts Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni della Pigna "pro hac vice" Librarian of the Vatican Library Previous posts Prefect of the Vatican Library (1997–2007) Titular Bishop of Opitergium (2006–2007) Orders Ordination 1 July 1958 by Michele Alberto Arduino Consecration 16 December 2006 by Tarcisio Bertone Created cardinal 24 November 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI Rank Cardinal-Deacon (2007-18) Cardinal-Priest (from 2018) Personal details Born Raffaele Farina (1933-09-24) 24 September 1933 (age 92) Buonalbergo, Italy Motto Dominus spes nostra Coat of arms

Styles of Raffaele Farina Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Informal style Cardinal

**Raffaele Farina** [SDB](/source/Salesians_of_Don_Bosco) (born 24 September 1933) is an Italian [cardinal of the Catholic Church](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)). He was Archivist of the [Vatican Secret Archives](/source/Vatican_Secret_Archives), Librarian of the [Vatican Library](/source/Vatican_Library), and president (*Consiglio di Presidenza*) of Scuola Vaticana di Paleografia, Diplomatica e Archivistica.[1] Farina was elevated to the cardinalate in 2007.

## Early life

Born in [Buonalbergo](/source/Buonalbergo), Farina entered the [Salesians of Don Bosco](/source/Salesians_of_Don_Bosco), more commonly known as the Salesians, at the novitiate of Portici Bellavista at the age of sixteen. He professed his simple (temporary) vows on 25 September 1949, and made his [perpetual vows](/source/Religious_vows) on 25 September 1954; one of his sisters is also a Salesian. Farina began his studies in [theology](/source/Theology) at the [Pontifical Salesian Athenaeum](/source/Salesian_Pontifical_University) of [Turin](/source/Turin) in 1954 as well, obtaining his [licentiate in theology](/source/Licentiate_in_Theology) from the Athenaeum in 1958. He was [ordained](/source/Holy_orders) to the [priesthood](/source/Priesthood_(Catholic_Church)) by Bishop Michele Alberto Arduino SDB, on 1 July 1958.

Farina later studied [ecclesiastical history](/source/History_of_Christianity) at the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University) in Rome, and received his doctorate in 1965. For the following three years, he worked on his specialization at the [German Foundation "Humboldt"](/source/Alexander_von_Humboldt_Foundation) in [Freiburg](/source/Freiburg) and [Bonn](/source/Bonn).

From 1968 to 1972, he was professor of the history of the Church (covering the origin to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD) and of [Methodology](/source/Methodology) in the Theological [Faculty](/source/Faculty_(university)) of the Pontifical Salesian University; he then served as [dean](/source/Dean_(education)) of the same faculty until 1974, and was [rector](/source/Rector_(academia)) of the university for two terms (1977–1983, 1992–1997). Farina was named *regolatore* of the XXI general chapter of his congregation in 1978.

## Curial appointments

From 1982 to 1986, he was Secretary of the [Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences](/source/Pontifical_Committee_of_Historical_Sciences), and was made [Undersecretary](/source/Undersecretary) of [Pontifical Council for Culture](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Culture) within the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia) in 1986. Named [Prefect](/source/Prefect) of the [Vatican Library](/source/Vatican_Library) by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) on 25 May 1997, he was the second-highest official in that office, successively under Cardinals [Luigi Poggi](/source/Luigi_Poggi) and [Jean-Louis Tauran](/source/Jean-Louis_Tauran).

On 15 November 2006, Farina was appointed [Titular Bishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of [Opitergium](/source/Opitergium) by [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI). He received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on the following 16 December from three cardinals, fellow Salesian [Tarcisio Bertone](/source/Tarcisio_Bertone) as principal consecrator, with [James Stafford](/source/James_Stafford) and Jean-Louis Tauran as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator), in [St. Peter's Basilica](/source/St._Peter's_Basilica). Farina was later named [Archivist](/source/Archivist) of the [Vatican Secret Archives](/source/Vatican_Secret_Archives) and Librarian of the [Vatican Library](/source/Vatican_Library) on 25 June 2007, replacing Cardinal Tauran, who was made President of the [Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue](/source/Pontifical_Council_for_Interreligious_Dialogue). On the same date, he was given the rank of [Archbishop](/source/Archbishop).

Pope Benedict created him [Cardinal-Deacon](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) of [San Giovanni della Pigna](/source/Church_of_San_Giovanni_della_Pigna) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 24 November 2007.

On 12 June 2008, in addition to his main duties, he was appointed by Benedict as a member of congregations in the [Roman Curia](/source/Roman_Curia) [\[1\]](http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22278.php?index=22278&lang=en)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]. These are: the [Congregation for the Causes of Saints](/source/Congregation_for_the_Causes_of_Saints), [Congregation for Catholic Education](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education) and the [Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church](/source/Pontifical_Commission_for_the_Cultural_Heritage_of_the_Church).

On 9 June 2012, he retired from posts of [Archivist](/source/Archivist) of the [Vatican Secret Archives](/source/Vatican_Secret_Archives) and Librarian of the [Vatican Library](/source/Vatican_Library).

Cardinal Farina currently sits on the [Pontifical Academy of Sciences](/source/Pontifical_Academy_of_Sciences), and is also fluent in German, Spanish, Japanese, and French.

In August 2010, Farina said that [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) declined then-[Cardinal Ratzinger's](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) request to spend his last years as the archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church. Farina recalled when he was appointed prefect of the Vatican Library in May 1997, having a brief meeting with Ratzinger in which he was asked his opinion of Ratzinger joining the team. Ratzinger asked the Pope if he could step down from his role when he turned 70 on 16 April 1997. "He was asking me what I thought of his idea and what being archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church involved", said Farina.[2]

He was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2013) who participated in the [2013 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2013) that elected [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis).

In June 2013 [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) by [chirograph](/source/Chirograph) named Cardinal Farina president of the five member [Pontifical Commission](/source/Pontifical_Commission) investigating the [Institute for the Works of Religion](/source/Institute_for_the_Works_of_Religion).[3] The other members are, Cardinal Tauran, [Peter Brian Wells](/source/Peter_Brian_Wells), Bishop [Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru](/source/Juan_Ignacio_Arrieta_Ochoa_de_Chinchetru) who will act as Coordinator and [Mary Ann Glendon](/source/Mary_Ann_Glendon).

## Honours

- [Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star](/source/Order_of_the_Rising_Sun) (2019)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["asv.vatican.va"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090319115040/http://asv.vatican.va/en/scuol/1_directors.htm). Archived from [the original](http://asv.vatican.va/en/scuol/1_directors.htm) on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Pope Benedict wanted to be a librarian](https://web.archive.org/web/20100810231505/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7928493/Pope-Benedict-wanted-to-be-a-librarian.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Vatican Radio"](http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/26/pope_sets_up_pontifical_commission_to_study_ior_reform/en1-704987).

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Raffaele Farina](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Raffaele_Farina)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Raffaele Farina](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Raffaele_Farina).

- ["Farina Card. Raffaele, S.D.B."](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_farina_r.html) [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160919135525/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_farina_r.html) from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2017.

- [Catholic-Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bfarin.html)

- [Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church](http://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2007.htm#Farina)

- [Catholic-pages](https://web.archive.org/web/20091214071619/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=263)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Giuseppe G. Gamba SDB Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Salesian Pontifical University 1973–1975 Succeeded by Mario Midali SDB Preceded by Pietro Braido SDB Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University 1977–1983 Succeeded by Roberto Giannatelli SDB Preceded by Amato Frutaz Secretary of the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences 1982–1986 Succeeded by Vittorino Grossi OSA New title Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture 1986–1991 Succeeded by Bernard Ardura OPraem Preceded by Angelo Amato SDB Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University 1991–1997 Succeeded by Michele Pellerey Preceded by Leonard Eugene Boyle Prefect of the Vatican Library 1997–2007 Succeeded by Cesare Pasini Preceded by Jean-Louis Tauran Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives 2007–2012 Succeeded by Jean-Louis Bruguès Librarian of the Holy Roman Church 2007–2012 Preceded by Francis Arinze Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni della Pigna 2007–present Incumbent

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