Francesco Coccopalmerio Titular Bishop of Cagliana and auxiliary bishop of Milan from 8 April 1993 to 15 February 2007. Titular Archbishop of Cagliana from 15 February 2007 to 18 February 2012. President of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts since 15 February 2007. K Date of Birth: 06.03.1938 Country: Italy

1. Birth, Ordination, and Early Career
2. Roles in the Archdiocese of Milan
3. Auxiliary Bishop of Milan
4. Archbishop and President of Papal Council
5. Elevation to Cardinalate
6. Description of the Code

Birth, Ordination, and Early Career

Francesco Coccopalmerio was born on March 6, 1938, in San Giuliano Milanese, Italy. Ordained a priest on June 28, 1962, he earned his licentiate in theology in 1963. Coccopalmerio obtained doctoral degrees in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University and in moral theology. Additionally, he earned a law doctorate from the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan in 1976.

Roles in the Archdiocese of Milan

Until 1994, Coccopalmerio held various positions within the Archdiocese of Milan. Notably, from 1966 to 1999, he taught canon law at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy. Concurrently, beginning in 1981, he also served as a professor at the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Auxiliary Bishop of Milan

On April 8, 1993, Pope John Paul II appointed Coccopalmerio as Auxiliary Bishop of Milan with the titular see of Celene. Consecrated on May 22, he served as a prominent voice on legal issues, ecumenism, and interfaith dialogue within the Italian episcopacy. In 2000, he became the only auxiliary bishop appointed to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

Archbishop and President of Papal Council

On February 15, 2007, Coccopalmerio was promoted to Archbishop (pro hac vice) of Celene and appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, replacing Cardinal Julian Herranz Casado upon his retirement. He is believed to have played a role in lifting the excommunication of leaders of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.

Elevation to Cardinalate

On January 6, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI announced Coccopalmerio's elevation to the rank of cardinal at a consistory on February 18, 2012. At the consistory in St. Peter's Basilica, he was created Cardinal-Deacon with the titular church of S. Giuseppe dei Falegnami, receiving the cardinal's hat and ring.

Description of the Code

Regarding the Code of Canon Law, Coccopalmerio stated, "It is not merely a collection of norms made according to the will of ecclesial legislators, 'it' indicates duties and rights proper to the faithful and to the structure of the Church established by Christ."