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Angelo AmatoVatican curial cardinal.
Date of Birth: 08.06.1938
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Biography of Angelo Amato
Angelo Amato is an Italian curial cardinal and Vatican official. He was born on June 8, 1938, in Molfetta, Italy.
Early Life and Education
Amato joined the Salesians order, attending a Salesian high school after novitiate. During this time, he studied philosophy and theology in Rome. He was ordained a priest on December 22, 1967, becoming a member of the Salesians of Saint John Bosco. He furthered his studies at the Pontifical Salesian University, specializing in Christology. In 1972, he began teaching as an assistant at the Salesian University and obtained his doctorate in 1974 with a dissertation on the Tridentine statements on the requirements for sacramental validity in canons 6-9 of the 14th session.
Academic Career
Amato served as a professor of dogmatics at the Pontifical Salesian University and was dean of the Faculty of Theology for twelve years from 1981 to 1987 and then from 1993 to 1997. He also served as an advisor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, as well as an advisor to the Congregation for Bishops.
Vatican Roles
On December 19, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Amato as the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and titular archbishop of Sila. He served under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected as Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, and Cardinal William Levada between 2005 and 2008. He was ordained a bishop on January 6, 2003, by Pope John Paul II, with the assistance of Archbishop Leonardo Sandri and Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio.
Amato is believed to have been among the main authors of the controversial document "Dominus Iesus" issued in 2000. He continued his service as the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith until July 9, 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, succeeding Cardinal José Saraiva Martins.
On October 20, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of 24 new cardinals, including Angelo Amato. On November 20, 2010, during a consistory, Amato was elevated to the rank of cardinal-deacon, with the titular diaconate of Santa Maria in Aquiro. The next day, a solemn Mass was held to mark the occasion of the presentation of cardinal rings.
