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Amleto ChikonyaniBrother of Cardinal Gaetano Cicognani. Italian Curial Cardinal and Vatican dignitary.
Date of Birth: 24.02.1883
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani: A Life of Service
- Priestly Ministry
- Vatican Curia Career
- Cardinalate
- Vatican Secretary of State
- Later Life
Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani: A Life of Service
Early Life and EducationAmleto Giovanni Cicognani was born on February 24, 1883, in Brisighella, Italy, to Guglielmo Cicognani and Anna Ceroni. His brother, Gaetano Cicognani, also became a cardinal. He received his education at the Faenza Seminary and the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Apollinare in Rome.
Priestly Ministry
On September 23, 1905, Cicognani was ordained to the priesthood by Gioacchino Cantagalli, the bishop of his home diocese of Faenza. He served as an official of the Sacred Congregation of the Discipline of the Sacraments from 1910 to 1922. In 1917, he became a Privy Chamberlain to His Holiness, and in 1923, a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness.
Vatican Curia Career
From 1922 to 1928, Cicognani served as Deputy Secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation. He then became an expert of the Sacred Congregation for the Eastern Churches. In 1933, he was appointed titular archbishop of Laodicea in Phrygia and apostolic delegate to the United States, where he served for 25 years.
Cardinalate
On December 15, 1958, Pope John XXIII elevated Cicognani to the cardinalate as a cardinal-priest with the title of San Clemente. He was an exception to the rule prohibiting two brothers from being cardinals simultaneously, as his brother, Gaetano, had been created a cardinal in 1953.
Vatican Secretary of State
On August 12, 1961, Pope John XXIII appointed Cicognani as Vatican Secretary of State. He also became President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See and President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. He served as Secretary of State until May 5, 1969.
Later Life
Cicognani continued to hold influential positions in the Roman Curia after his retirement as Secretary of State. In 1972, he was elected Dean of the College of Cardinals, a position that came with the title of Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia. He died on December 17, 1973, at the age of 90, and was buried in his titular church of San Clemente in Rome.
