Fortunato Baldelli Italian Curial Cardinal and Vatican diplomat Date of Birth: 06.08.1935 Country: Italy

Content:

1. Fortunato Baldelli: A Life of Ecclesiastical Service
2. Priestly and Diplomatic Career
3. Apostolic Nuncio and Papacy
4. Nuncio to Dominican Republic, Peru, and France
5. Great Penitentiary
6. Cardinalate
7. Retirement and Later Years
8. Language Skills and Death

Fortunato Baldelli: A Life of Ecclesiastical Service

Early Life and Education

Born on August 6, 1935, in Valfabbrica, Fortunato Baldelli pursued a degree in canon law. He subsequently attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy for diplomatic training from 1964 to 1966.

Priestly and Diplomatic Career

Ordained in 1961, Baldelli joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1966. He held various positions in nunciatures in Cuba, Egypt, and the United States, and later served in the Secretariat of State and the Council for Public Affairs of the Church. In 1979, he was appointed special envoy and Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Apostolic Nuncio and Papacy

Apostolic Delegate to Angola and Nuncio to São Tomé and Príncipe

In 1983, Baldelli was appointed Titular Archbishop of Bevania and Apostolic Delegate to Angola. Two years later, he became Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to São Tomé and Príncipe.

Nuncio to Dominican Republic, Peru, and France

In 1991, Baldelli was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Dominican Republic and Apostolic Delegate to Puerto Rico. He was later named Nuncio to Peru in 1994 and to France in 1999.

Great Penitentiary

Appointment and Role

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Baldelli as Great Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, responsible for granting absolutions and indulgences, in 2009. In addition, he served as a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Cardinalate

Elevation and Title

In 2010, Baldelli was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI. He received the titular deaconry of Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino.

Retirement and Later Years

Resignation and Succession

Baldelli reached the age limit for his post as Great Penitentiary in 2012. He was succeeded by Manuel Monteiro de Castro.

Language Skills and Death

Baldelli was proficient in French, Spanish, and Portuguese. He passed away on September 20, 2012.

Religious figure

Fortunatus Nwachukwu	Robert Bellarmine	Horazio Carocci
Yeguda Brandwine	Andreas von Velven	Gopalaguru Gosvami