{{Short description|Italian prelate of the Catholic Church (1931–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader |type = Cardinal |honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] |name = Sergio Sebastiani |image = Sergio Cardinal Sebastiani.png |caption = Sebastiani in 2009 |title = [[Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See|President Emeritus of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See]] |church = Roman [[Catholic Church]] |appointed = 3 November 1997 |term_end = 12 April 2008 |predecessor = [[Edmund Szoka|Edmund Casimir Szoka]] |successor = [[Velasio De Paolis]] |other_post = [[Sant'Eustachio|Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Eustachio]] "[[pro hac vice]]" (2001–2024){{efn|Cardinal-Deacon from 2001 to 2011; he became a Cardinal-Priest in 2011 but held this particular church since being named as a cardinal.}} |ordination = 15 July 1956 |ordained_by = Norberto Pirini |consecration = 30 October 1976 |consecrated_by = [[Jean-Marie Villot]] |cardinal = 21 February 2001 |created_cardinal_by = [[Pope John Paul II]] |rank = [[Cardinal Deacon]] (2001–2011)<br />[[Cardinal Priest]] (2011–2024) |birth_name = Sergio Sebastiani |birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1931|04|11}} |birth_place = [[Montemonaco]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] |death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2024|01|16|1931|04|11}} |death_place = [[Rome]], Italy |previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Madagascar (1976–1985)|Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Mauritius (1976–1985)|[[Cesarea in Mauretania|Titular Archbishop of Cesarea in Mauretania]] (1976–2001)|[[Holy See-Turkey relations|Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey]] (1985–1994)|Secretary General of the Committee for the Great Jubilee of 2000 (1994–1997)|President of Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem (1996–1997)}} |alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|[[Pontifical Gregorian University]]|[[Pontifical Lateran University]]|[[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]]}} |coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Sergio Sebastiani.svg }} {{Infobox cardinalstyles| cardinal name=Sergio Sebastiani| dipstyle=His Eminence| offstyle=Your Eminence| See=Caesarea in Mauretania ([[titular see|titular]])| image =Coat of arms of Sergio Sebastiani.svg| image_size =100px|}}
'''Sergio Sebastiani''' (11 April 1931 – 16 January 2024) was an Italian [[prelate]] of the [[Catholic Church]] who was head of the [[Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See]] from 1997 to 2008. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] in 2001. From 1960 to 1994 he worked in the diplomatic service of the [[Holy See]], becoming an archbishop and [[apostolic nuncio]] in 1976 and leading the offices representing the Vatican in Madagascar, Mauritius, and Turkey.
==Biography== Sergio Sebastiani was born in [[Montemonaco]], Italy. He studied at the Episcopal Seminary of Ascoli Piceno and later at the Archiepiscopal Seminary of [[Fermo]]. He continued his studies at the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in Rome where he earned his [[Licentiate (degree)|licentiate]] in [[theology]] and at the [[Pontifical Lateran University]] where he was awarded a doctorate in [[canon law]]. He was ordained on 15 July 1956 in Fermo. After this, he studied in Rome until 1960.
Sebastiani served as secretary of [[Apostolic Nunciature to Peru|nunciature in Perú]], 1960–1962; in [[Apostolic Nuncio to Brazil|nunciature in Brazil]] 1962–1966; auditor in nunciature in Chile, 1966–1967. He was recalled to the Vatican as secretary of Cardinal Cicognani and subsequently Cardinal Villot during their terms as secretaries of State, and later head of the secretariat of the Sostituto, 1967–1974. The decision was taken to appoint him to the rank of Counselor of [[Apostolic Nuncio to France|nunciature in France]] with special charge before the [[Council of Europe]], 1974–1976. He was created [[Monsignor|Prelate of honour]] on 30 April 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEBASTIANI Card. Sergio |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sebastiani_s.html |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=press.vatican.va |archive-date=4 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070524/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sebastiani_s.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=Sebastiani, Sergio* |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55244/sebastiani-sergio* |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en |archive-date=17 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117104625/https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55244/sebastiani-sergio* |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 27 September 1976, [[Pope Paul VI]] appointed him [[Titular Archbishop]] of [[Caesarea in Mauretania]] and [[Apostolic Pro-Nuncio]] to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Madagascar|Madagascar]].<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 18 January 2020 | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-68-1976-ocr.pdf | date = 1976 | volume = LXVIII | pages = 683, 742 | archive-date = 9 October 2022 | archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-68-1976-ocr.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> He added Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to [[Mauritius]] on 24 November.<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 18 January 2020 | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-68-1976-ocr.pdf | date = 1976 | volume = LXVIII | pages = 749 | archive-date = 9 October 2022 | archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-68-1976-ocr.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> Sebastiani became [[Apostolic Nunciature to Turkey|Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Turkey]] on 8 January 1985.<ref>{{cite book | title= Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date= 18 January 2020 | url= https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-77-1985-ocr.pdf | date= 1985 | volume= LXXVII | page= 181 | archive-date= 18 June 2021 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210618122413/https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-77-1985-ocr.pdf | url-status= live }}</ref> In 1994, he was appointed General Secretary of the Central Committee for the Great [[Jubilee (Christian)|Jubilee]] of the Year 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=di Bussolo |first1=Alessandro |title=Pope Francis pays tribute to late Cardinal Sebastiani - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-01/cardinal-sebastiani-dies-pope-francis-tribute.html |access-date=19 November 2025 |work=www.vaticannews.va |agency=Vatican News |date=16 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> From 2 May 1996<ref>{{cite book | page = 528 | access-date = 13 May 2020 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-88-1996-ocr.pdf | date = 1996 | volume = LXXXVIII | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | archive-date = 24 March 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200324231310/http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-88-1996-ocr.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> to 3 November 1997,<ref>{{cite book | page = 816 | access-date = 13 May 2020 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-89-1997-ocr.pdf | date = 1997 | volume = LXXXIX | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | archive-date = 16 May 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516094425/https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-89-1997-ocr.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> he was president of [[Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem]], the Vatican agency that promotes and supports pilgrims on their visits to Rome.
In 1997, Sebastiani was made President of the [[Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See]], part of the [[Roman Curia]], responsible for auditing the temporal possessions of the [[Holy See]]. He served in this position until his resignation on 12 April 2008. Pope Benedict XVI named [[Velasio De Paolis]] as Sebastiani's successor.<ref>{{cite press release | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/04/12/0241/00554.html | access-date = 18 January 2020 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | date = 12 April 2008 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 12.04.2008 | archive-date = 13 December 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191213051430/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/04/12/0241/00554.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
Sebastiani was created [[Cardinal-Deacon]] of [[Sant'Eustachio|S. Eustachio]] on 21 February 2001, and was one of the [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005|cardinal electors]] who participated in the [[Papal conclave, 2005|2005 papal conclave]] that selected [[Pope Benedict XVI]]. On 21 February 2011, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title.<ref>[http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26896.php?index=26896&lang=en Concistoro per il voto su alcune cause di canonizzazione 21.2.2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320184013/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26896.php?index=26896&lang=en |date=20 March 2012 }}</ref>
Sebastiani was the spiritual guide and protector of an organisation that styles itself the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://shosj.org/web/vatican.html |title=Vatican |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-date=15 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415203334/http://shosj.org/web/vatican.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> one of many private organizations mimicking the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]].
Sebastiani died on 16 January 2024, at the age of 92.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ascoli, si è spento il cardinale Sergio Sebastiani |url=https://www.corriereadriatico.it/ascoli_piceno/ascoli_lutto_morto_cardinale_sergio_sebastiani_funerale_quando_dove_roma_ultime_notizie-7875153.html |access-date=16 January 2024 |publisher=Corriere Adriatico |date=16 January 2024 |archive-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116111647/https://www.corriereadriatico.it/ascoli_piceno/ascoli_lutto_morto_cardinale_sergio_sebastiani_funerale_quando_dove_roma_ultime_notizie-7875153.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * {{cite web| access-date = 24 November 2017| title= Sebastiani Card. Sergio |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sebastiani_s.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070524/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_sebastiani_s.html }} *[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsebs.html Sergio Sebastiani on Catholic Hierarchy] *[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios-s.htm#Sebastiani Profile in Salvador Miranda's biographical dictionary] *[http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/cardJP2-8.htm#153 Sergio Sebastiani on GCatholic.org]
{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=[[Michele Cecchini]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Madagascar|Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Madagascar]]|years=27 September 1976 – 8 January 1985}} {{s-aft|after=[[Agostino Marchetto]]|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Mauritius|Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Mauritius]]|years=27 September 1976 – 8 January 1985}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Salvatore Asta]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Turkey|Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey]]|years=8 January 1985 – 16 November 1994}} {{s-aft|after=[[Pier Luigi Celata]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Giuseppe Moizo}} {{s-tul|title=[[Cesarea in Mauretania|Titular Archbishop of Cesarea in Mauretania]]|years=27 September 1976 – 21 February 2001}} {{s-aft|after=[[Gerard de Korte|Gerard Johannes Nicolaas de Korte]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Camillo Ruini]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem|President of the Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem]]|years=2 May 1996 – 3 November 1997}} {{s-aft|after=[[Crescenzio Sepe]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Edmund Szoka]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See|President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See]]|years=3 November 1997 – 12 April 2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[Velasio De Paolis]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Guido del Mestri]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Sant'Eustachio|Cardinal Deacon of San Eustachio]]|years=21 February 2001 – 21 February 2011}} {{s-non|reason=Himself as Cardinal Priest}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Himself as Cardinal Deacon}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Sant'Eustachio|Cardinal Priest 'pro hac vice' of San Eustachio]]|years=21 February 2011 – 16 January 2024}} {{s-vac}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals created by John Paul II}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sebastiani, Sergio}} [[Category:1931 births]] [[Category:2024 deaths]] [[Category:People from the Province of Ascoli Piceno]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Madagascar]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Mauritius]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Turkey]] [[Category:Economic history of the Holy See]] [[Category:Almo Collegio Capranica alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Apostolic Signatura]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II]] [[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Paul VI]] [[Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]]