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Piero MariniVatican prelate and curial dignitaries
Date of Birth: 13.01.1942
Country:  Vatican |
Content:
Vatican Prelate and Curial Official
Piero Marini is a Vatican prelate and curial official. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Martiropolis on February 14, 1998 and consecrated as a bishop on March 19 of the same year. On September 29, 2003, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Martiropolis.
Papal Master of Ceremonies
From February 17, 1987 to October 1, 2007, Marini served as the Papal Master of Ceremonies for both Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. In this role, he was responsible for organizing and overseeing all papal liturgical ceremonies. Marini's innovative approach to these ceremonies sometimes drew criticism and rumors of his impending resignation circulated regularly after the election of Pope Benedict XVI.
Chairman of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses
On October 1, 2007, Archbishop Piero Marini, who had led the Office of Papal Liturgical Ceremonies in the Roman Curia for 20 years, was transferred to the position of Chairman of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses. He was succeeded by Monsignor Guido Marini, who had previously served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Genoa.
Biography
Piero Marini was born on January 13, 1942, in Valverde, Italy. He was ordained as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church on June 27, 1965. Marini began his career as the personal secretary to Archbishop Annibale Bugnini in 1975, a controversial figure and the main architect of the liturgical reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council.
As the Papal Master of Ceremonies, Marini played a central role in all papal celebrations, including the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. It was Archbishop Marini who, as the papal master of ceremonies, pronounced the phrase "Extra omnes," ordering everyone not involved in the conclave to leave the Sistine Chapel.
While Marini had many critics within the Catholic Church, who considered his enthusiasm for incorporating various ethnic rituals into the liturgy excessive, he also faced criticism for neglecting ancient traditions, such as Gregorian chants. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, was one of Marini's persistent critics, but most of his initiatives received approval from Pope John Paul II.
There were rumors that Archbishop Marini was hospitalized in late March 2006, but no official statement was made. It was commonly believed that his illness was related to his heart.
Marini's transfer to the position of Chairman of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses signifies a promotion that could potentially lead to his elevation as a cardinal in the future. However, all these actions are part of the broader renewal of the Roman Curia under Pope Benedict XVI.
