{{Short description|Italian cardinal}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Silvano Maria Tomasi | honorific-suffix = [[Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo|C.S.]] | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]]<br />[[Sovereign Military Order of Malta|Special Delegate to the Knights of Malta]]<br>[[Apostolic Nuncio]] Emeritus to the [[Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva|United Nations in Geneva]] | image = Archbishop Tomasi at WIPO Dip Con in Marrakech.jpg | caption = Tomasi in Marrakech. | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]]. | province = | diocese = | see = | appointed = 1 November 2020 | retired = 13 February 2016 | predecessor = [[Giovanni Angelo Becciu]] | successor = | other_post = [[San Nicola in Carcere|Cardinal-Deacon of San Nicola in Carcere]] (2020-) | ordination = 31 May 1965 | ordained_by = [[Joseph Maria Pernicone]] | consecration = 17 August 1996 | consecrated_by = [[Angelo Sodano]] | cardinal = 28 November 2020 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis|Francis]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Deacon]] | birth_name = Silvano Maria Tomasi | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1940|10|12}} | birth_place = Casoni di Mussolente, [[Kingdom of Italy]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = [[Italian people|Italian]] | religion = [[Roman Catholic]] | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = {{bulleted list | [[International Organization for Migration|Representative to the International Organization for Migration]] (2011-16) | [[World Trade Organization|Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organization]] (2003-16) | [[Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva|Permanent Observer to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva]] (2003–16) | [[Apostolic Nuncio]] to Djibouti (2000-03) | [[Titular Archbishop]] of [[Asolo]] (1999-2000)| [[Apostolic Nuncio]] to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Eritrea|Eritrea]] and [[Apostolic Nunciature to Ethiopia|Ethiopia]] (1996-2003) | [[Apostolic Delegate]] to [[Apostolic Nunciature to Djibouti|Djibouti]] (1996-2000) | [[Titular Archbishop]] of [[Cercina]] (1996-99) | [[Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People|Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People]] (1989-96)}} | alma_mater = [[Fordham University]] | motto = ''Cum libertate justitia'' | signature = | coat_of_arms = Silvano Maria Tomasi (cardinal).svg }}
{{infobox cardinalstyles | name=Silvano Tomasi| dipstyle=[[His Eminence]] | offstyle=[[Your Eminence]] | relstyle=[[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | deathstyle= | image=Silvano Maria Tomasi (cardinal).svg| image_size=200px|
}} '''Silvano Maria Tomasi''' [[Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo|C.S.]] (born 12 October 1940) is an Italian prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who has served as the Special Delegate to the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]] since 1 November 2020. He was the [[Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva]] from 2003 to 2016. He previously worked in the [[Roman Curia]], became an archbishop in 1996, and represented the [[Holy See]] as an [[Nuncio|apostolic nuncio]] in Africa from 1996 to 2003.
Pope Francis raised him to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] on 28 November 2020.
==Early life== He was born in [[Mussolente|Casoni di Mussolente]], Italy. On 31 May 1965 he was ordained as priest of the [[Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo|Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles]] (Scalabrini). He earned his Ph.D. in [[sociology]] from [[Fordham University]]. From 1970 to 1974 he was assistant professor of sociology at the [[City University of New York]] and the [[The New School for Social Research|New School for Social Research]]. He co-founded the Center for Migration Studies, a think tank based in New York, and he founded and edited the journal ''[[International Migration Review]]''.<ref name=consist>{{cite press release | publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | access-date = 26 October 2020 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/10/25/0552/01275.html | language = it |title = Annuncio di Concistoro il 28 novembre per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 25.10.2020 | date= 25 October 2020}}</ref> In 1973 he told the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' that poor Italian immigrants in New York did not take advantage of government assistance programs as they feared "humiliation".<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 2 November 2020 | work = New York Times | date=29 September 1972 | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/09/29/91350417.html | title = The City's Italian-American Needy: Too Proud to Take Aid They 'Earned' | first = Matthew | last = Arnold }}</ref> He also authored a book on the historic legacy of New York's Italian parishes.<ref>{{cite book | title = Piety and Power: The Role of the Italian Parishes in the New York Metropolitan Area, 1880-1930 | date= 1975 | isbn = 978-0913256169| location = New York | publisher = Center for Migration Studies | first = Silvio M. | last = Tomasi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7pP-dzariSkC&pg=PA208 | page= 208 | title = Immigrants in the Lands of Promise: Italians in Buenos Aires and New York, 1870–1914| first = Samuel L. | last = Baily | date= 2004 | publisher = Cornell University Press | isbn= 0801488826 }}</ref> From 1983 to 1987, he was Director of the newly created Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees of the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]].<ref name=consist/>
==Diplomatic career== On 27 June 1989 [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed him Secretary of the [[Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People|Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples]]. He was named [[Titular bishop|titular Archbishop]] of [[Cercina]] and [[Nuncio|Apostolic Nuncio]] to Eritrea and Ethiopia on 27 June 1996,<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 1 November 2020 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-88-1996-ocr.pdf | date= 1996 | volume = LXXXVIII | page= 677 }}</ref> consecrated on 17 August 1996 by Cardinal [[Angelo Sodano]],<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 2 November 2020 | url = http://www.scalabrini.net/it/notizie/538-scalabriniani-tomasi-cardinale-urgente-un-incontro-con-cristo-fraternita-cristiana.html | title = Biografia di monsignor Tomasi | language = it | website = Scalabrini.net }}</ref> and named [[Apostolic Nunciature to Djibouti|Apostolic Delegate to Djibouti]] on 1 October 1996.<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 1 November 2020 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-88-1996-ocr.pdf | date= 1996 | volume = LXXXVIII | page= 831}}</ref> He was transferred to the titular see of [[Asolo|Acelum]] on 24 April 1999.<ref>{{cite book | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 1 November 2020 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-91-1999-ocr.pdf | date= 1999 | volume = XCI | page= 590}}</ref> His title changed to Apostolic Nuncio to Djibouti on 23 December 2000.<ref>{{cite press release | language = it| date = 23 December 2000 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 23.12.2000 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2000/12/23/0771/02888.html | access-date = 19 July 2019 | publisher = [[Holy See Press Office]] }}</ref>
===Geneva role=== On 10 June 2003, Tomasi was appointed [[Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva]].<ref>{{cite press release | date = 10 June 2003 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 10.06.2003 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2003/06/10/0302/00917.html | language = it | access-date = 19 July 2019 | publisher = Holy See Press Office }}</ref>
He was widely criticised in September 2009 following a speech in which he praised the [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases|Catholic Church's record on child sex abuse]] in comparison with that of other organisations by arguing that "Of all priests involved in the abuses, 80 to 90 percent belong to this sexual orientation minority which is sexually engaged with adolescent boys between the ages of 11 and 17". He also claimed that "As the Catholic church has been busy cleaning its own house, it would be good if other institutions and authorities, where the major part of abuses are reported, could do the same and inform the media about it."<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/28/sex-abuse-religion-vatican | work = The Guardian | date= 28 September 2009 | title = Sex abuse rife in other religions, says Vatican | first = Riazat | last = Butt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | work = NPR | date= 1 October 2009 | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113377170 | title = Foreign Policy: The Vatican And Child Abuse |first= David | last = Rothkopf}}</ref>
Tomasi "encouraged passage of an international protocol that would give children a direct line of communication to local and international authorities when they are victims of violence or their rights are violated", saying that the measure "will become a significant instrument of the human rights system." The document would add to the protections provided in the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child|United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child]]. Speaking on 8 June 2011 at the U.N. [[International Labor Conference]] in Geneva, Archbishop Tomasi urged that all involved in "the burgeoning and mercurial economic system" work to foster fundamental principles that ensure respect for the common good and protection of the most vulnerable.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1102337.htm |title= Vatican diplomat: Structural flaws of 'jobless growth' create problems |publisher = Catholic News Service |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330191315/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1102337.htm |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2014 the U.N. [[Committee on the Rights of the Child]] issued a report<ref>{{cite web | url = https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/412/00/PDF/G1441200.pdf?OpenElement | access-date = 1 February 2023 | title =Concluding observations on the second periodic report of the Holy See | publisher = United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child | date = 25 February 2014}}</ref> described as "a scathing indictment of the Vatican’s handling of [[child sexual abuse]] cases involving clerics, releasing a report that included criticism of church teachings on homosexuality, gender equality and abortion"<ref name=blasts>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-panel-blasts-vatican-handling-of-clergy-sex-abuse-church-teachings-on-gays-abortion/2014/02/05/2a6f1b26-8e75-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html |first1= Anthony | last1 = Faiola | first2=Michelle | last2= Boorstein | newspaper=Washington Post |title= U.N. panel blasts Vatican handling of clergy sex abuse, church teachings on gays, abortion |date=5 February 2014 | access-date = 26 November 2015}}</ref> which was seen as an indictment of the Catholic Church's handling of child sexual abuse cases involving clerics, going beyond how the church managed abuse allegations to include criticism of its teachings on homosexuality, gender equality and abortion. Archbishop Tomasi appeared before a UN committee in Geneva. Vatican officials said they were still studying the findings, but responded angrily to what they claimed were ideologically biased recommendations. Fr [[Thomas Rosica]] claimed that the UN report wrongly singled out Catholicism.<ref name=blasts/> Tomasi said that he suspected pro-gay rights NGOs had influenced the committee and "reinforced an ideological line" in the UN.<ref>{{cite news | work = The Guardian (UK) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/05/vatican-un-committee-clerical-sex-abuse-scandal |title= Vatican envoy rejects UN panel's critical verdict on clerical abuse scandal | access-date = 26 November 2015 |date=5 February 2014}}</ref>
Tomasi has been critical of [[Lethal autonomous weapon|autonomous weapons]] systems, stating that they can never comply with international human rights law and will make warfare less humane.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/05/15/vatican-official-voices-opposition-to-automated-weapons-systems/ | title = Vatican official voices opposition to automated weapons systems | work = Catholic Herald | first = Cindy | last = Wooden | date= 15 May 2014}}</ref>
In 2014, he commented that [[US-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021)|American military action in Iraq]] may be necessary.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.610278 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813072805/http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.610278 | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 August 2014 | title=Middle East Updates / Hundreds of French Citizens Fighting Alongside Islamist Militants | newspaper=El Haaretz }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | publisher = Vatican Radio |url= http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/08/13/iraq__abp_tomasi_on_pope%E2%80%99s_appeal_to_un%E2%80%99s_ban_ki-moon_/1104468 | access-date = 1 February 2023 | title =Iraq: Abp Tomasi on Pope's appeal to UN's Ban Ki-moon | date= 13 August 2014}}</ref> He considered there to be a moral imperative for the action, and that the [[Charter of the United Nations|UN Charter]] justified the use of force in this circumstance.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/30275/vatican-diplomacy-focuses-on-humanitarian-intervention-in-iraq | title=Vatican diplomacy focuses on humanitarian intervention in Iraq | date = 13 August 2014 | publisher = Catholic News Agency }}</ref>
In 2015 Tomasi said jihadists were committing "genocide" and must be stopped, preferably without violence but using force if necessary.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31893351 | title= Islamic State: Vatican backs using military force | date= 15 March 2015 | publisher = BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/03/13/vatican-backs-military-force-to-stop-isis-genocide/ | work = Crux | first = John L. | last = Allen Jr. | title = Vatican backs military force to stop ISIS 'genocide' | date = 13 March 2015 | access-date = 15 March 2015 | archive-date = 25 December 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225121337/https://cruxnow.com/church/2015/03/13/vatican-backs-military-force-to-stop-isis-genocide/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Tomasi retired from the diplomatic service upon the announcement of the appointment of his successor in Geneva on 13 February 2016.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 19 July 2019 | date = 15 February 2016 | url = http://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-names-new-permanent-observer-to-the-un-in-geneva | title = Pope Francis Names New Permanent Observer to the UN in Geneva | first = Elise | last = Harris | work= National Catholic Register}}</ref> He retains the title "Apostolic Nuncio".<ref name=consist/> In the second half of 2016, he managed the reorganization of several offices of the [[Roman Curia]] to form the new [[Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development]].<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 7 November 2020 | url = https://international.la-croix.com/news/letter-from-rome/the-popes-13-new-cardinals-and-the-next-conclave/13266 | work = La Croix | title = The pope's 13 new cardinals and the next conclave | date = 31 October 2020 | first = Robert | last = Mickens}}</ref>
==Cardinal== On 25 October 2020, Pope Francis announced he would raise him to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] at a consistory scheduled for 28 November 2020.<ref>{{cite news| access-date=25 October 2020 | date= 25 October 2020 | url= https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/10/25/pope-francis-new-cardinals-wilton-gregory-washington | title= Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C. | first=Gerard | last= O'Connell | publisher =[[America (magazine)|America]] }}</ref> At that consistory, Pope France made him Cardinal-Deacon of [[San Nicola in Carcere]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli, 28.11.2020| language = it |date=28 November 2020 |website=[[Holy See Press Office]]|access-date=28 November 2020| url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/28/0618/01449.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201128155120/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/28/0618/01449.html|archive-date= 28 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On 1 November 2020, Pope Francis appointed Tomasi his Special Delegate to the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 1 November 2020 | date= 1 November 2020 | language = it | title = Lettera Pontificia al Cardinale eletto Silvano Maria Tomasi per la nomina a Delegato Speciale presso il Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta, 01.11.2020 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/01/0567/01314.html }}</ref>
==See also== *[[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] * [[List of heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy See]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}
* {{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_tomasi_sm.html|title=Tomasi Card. Silvano Maria, C.S.|website=[[Holy See Press Office]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129021906/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_tomasi_sm.html|archive-date=29 November 2020|url-status=live}} * [https://zenit.org/articles/archbishop-tomasi-religions-must-globalize-peace/ Interview (2016)] at ''[[Zenit News Agency|Zenit News]]''
{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|rows=3|before=[[Patrick Coveney]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Ethiopia|Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia]]|years=27 June 1996 – 10 June 2003}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ramiro Moliner Inglés]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Eritrea|Apostolic Nuncio to Eritrea]]|years=27 June 1996 – 10 June 2003}} {{s-aft|after=[[Dominique Mamberti]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Djibouti|Apostolic Delegate to Djibouti]]|years=27 June 1996 – 23 December 2000}} {{s-non|reason=Delegation promoted to Nunciature}} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Apostolic Nunciature to Djibouti|Apostolic Nuncio to Djibouti]]|years=23 December 2000 – 10 June 2003}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ramiro Moliner Inglés]]}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Diarmuid Martin]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[World Trade Organization|Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the World Trade Organization]]|years=10 June 2003 – 13 February 2016}} {{s-aft|rows=3|after=[[Ivan Jurkovič]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva]]|years=10 June 2003 – 13 February 2016}} {{s-bef|before=Position created}} {{s-ttl|title=[[International Organization for Migration|Representative to the International Organization for Migration]]|years=2011 – 13 February 2016}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=József Zágon}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People|Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People]]|years=27 June 1989 – 27 June 1996}} {{s-aft|after=Francesco Gioia}} {{s-bef|before=Marin Srakić}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Cercina|Titular Archbishop of Cercina]]|years=27 June 1996 – 24 April 1999}} {{s-aft|after=[[Angelo Mottola]]}} {{s-bef|before=Carlo Fanton}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Acelum|Titular Archbishop of Acelum]]|years=24 April 1999 – 28 November 2020}} {{s-aft|after=[[Juan José Salaverry Villarreal]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Giovanni Angelo Becciu]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Knights of Malta|Special Delegate to the Knights of Malta]]|years=1 November 2020 –}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-bef|before=[[Zenon Grocholewski]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[San Nicola in Carcere|Cardinal-Deacon of San Nicola in Carcere]]|years=28 November 2020 –}} {{s-end}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{College of Cardinals}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= Italy}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomasi, Silvano Maria}} [[Category:1940 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Clergy from Vicenza]] [[Category:Fordham University alumni]] [[Category:Scalabrinians]] [[Category:Officials of the Roman Curia]] [[Category:20th-century Italian Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Eritrea]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Djibouti]] [[Category:Apostolic nuncios to Ethiopia]] [[Category:Permanent observers of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:21st-century Italian cardinals]] [[Category:Diplomats for the Holy See]]