Giuseppe Bertello
Italy- Early Life and Ordination
- Diplomatic Service to the Holy See
- Titular Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio
- Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico and Italy
- Work in the Roman Curia
- Cardinal
- Retirement and Legacy
- Honors
Early Life and Ordination
Giuseppe Bertello was born on October 1, 1942, in Foglizzo, Piedmont, Kingdom of Italy. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1966, by Albino Mensa, Bishop of Ivrea. Bertello earned a licentiate in pastoral theology and a doctorate in canon law. He subsequently attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, where he studied diplomacy.
Diplomatic Service to the Holy See
Bertello entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1971. He served in the Apostolic Nunciatures in Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela, and the Permanent Representation of the Holy See to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
Titular Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio
On October 17, 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed Bertello as Titular Archbishop of Urbs Salvia and assigned him as Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Togo, and Benin. He was consecrated a bishop on November 28, 1987, by Agostino Casaroli, Cardinal Secretary of State, assisted by Albino Mensa, Archbishop of Vercelli, and Luigi Bettazzi, Bishop of Ivrea.
On January 12, 1991, Bertello was transferred to Rwanda, where 1994 saw the dramatic Rwandan Genocide. During his time there, he tirelessly encouraged all efforts for peace. In March 1995, John Paul II appointed him as the Holy See's representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico and Italy
On December 27, 2000, Pope John Paul II assigned Bertello another significant task as Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, where he received the Pope on his apostolic visit in July 2002 for the canonization of Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. On January 11, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Bertello to the prestigious position of Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino.
Work in the Roman Curia
On September 3, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo as President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State and Governor of Vatican City State, asking him to remain in office until October 1, 2011, with all the inherent powers of his office. Simultaneously, the Pope appointed Titular Archbishop of Urbs Salvia Giuseppe Bertello, Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino, as head of both Vatican dicasteries, effective October 1, 2011.
Giuseppe Bertello took over leadership of the two departments on October 1, 2011, his 69th birthday. As a result of his new role, Archbishop Bertello was responsible for overseeing the Vatican's legislative body. The new appointment, coupled with Bertello's role as Nuncio to Italy, made his elevation to the rank of Cardinal Deacon at the next consistory, held in February 2012, a likely outcome.
Cardinal
On January 6, 2012, it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI would elevate Giuseppe Bertello to the rank of Cardinal in a consistory on February 18, 2012. On February 18, 2012, in St. Peter's Basilica, the consistory was held, and Giuseppe Bertello was created Cardinal Deacon of Santi Vito, Modesto, and Crescenzia.
Cardinal Bertello participated in the 2013 papal conclave, which elected Pope Francis.
On April 13, 2013, Cardinal Bertello was appointed to a group of Cardinals established by Pope Francis, just over a month after his election, that would advise him and study a plan for the revision of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, "Pastor Bonus." The other cardinals appointed to the group were: Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, former Archbishop of Santiago, Chile; Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay; Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising; Seán Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa; George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney; and Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa. Bishop Marcello Semeraro served as secretary to the group. The first meeting of the group was scheduled for October 1-3, 2013. His Holiness, however, had been in contact with the above-mentioned cardinals already.
Retirement and Legacy
On September 8, 2021, the Holy See announced that Cardinal Bertello was to step down from his post, with Archbishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga set to succeed him. On March 4, 2022, he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal Priest with titular deaconry Pro Hac Vice Santi Vito, Modesto, and Crescenzia.
Cardinal Bertello turned 80 on October 1, 2022, losing the right to participate in conclaves.
Honors
Giuseppe Bertello was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy, October 4, 2008).
