Angelo Comastri
| His Eminence Angelo Comastri | |
|---|---|
| President of the Fabric of St. Peter, Vicar General of His Holiness for the State of Vatican City & Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica | |
 | |
| Appointed | 5 February 2005 |
| Predecessor | Francesco Marchisano |
| Other posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination |
11 March 1967 by Luigi Boccadoro |
| Consecration |
12 September 1990 by Bernardin Gantin |
| Created Cardinal |
24 November 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
17 September 1943 Sorano, Tuscany, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post |
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Angelo Comastri (born 17 September 1943) is an Italian clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current President of the Fabric of Saint Peter, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, and Vicar General for the Vatican City State. He previously served as Bishop of Massa Marittima-Piombino (1990–1994) and Territorial Prelate of Loreto (1996–2005). He was elected cardinal in 2007.
Biography
Comastri was born in Sorano to Fernando and Beneria (née Scossa) Comastri.[1] He received his early education at schools in his native town, and attended the seminary of Pitigliano and the Regional Seminary "S. Maria della Quercia" in Viterbo.[1] He continued his studies in Rome, at the Pontifical Lateran University (where he earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology) and at the Pontifical Roman Seminary.[1] On 11 March 1967, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Luigi Boccadoro.[2]
Comastri served as vice-rector of the minor seminary of Pitigliano and, at the same time, did pastoral work in the parish of S. Quirico.[1] He was later assigned to the Roman Curia, becoming an official of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation.[1] He served as spiritual director of the Pontifical Minor Roman Seminary and a chaplain at Roman jails before returning to the Diocese of Pitigliano, where he became rector of the seminary in 1971.[1] In 1979, he was named pastor of the parish of S. Stefano Protomartire in Porto Santo Stefano.[1] He was also a member of the diocesan college of consultors, and served as episcopal delegate for the seminarians residing outside of the diocese and professor of religion at the Professional Institute for Maritime Activities in Porto Santo Stefano.[1]
On 25 July 1990, Comastri was appointed Bishop of Massa Marittima-Piombino by Pope John Paul II.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following 12 September from Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, with Archbishop Gaetano Bonicelli and Bishop Eugenio Binini serving as co-consecrators, in the parish church S. Stefano Protomartire.[2] He resigned as bishop for health reasons on 3 March 1994.[2] Following his recovery, he was named president of the National Italian Committee for the Jubilee of the Year 2000 and placed in charge of the National Center for Vocations of the Italian Episcopal Conference.[1]
Comastri was named Territorial Prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Loreto, with the personal title of Archbishop, on 9 November 1996.[2] On 5 February 2005, he was appointed President of the Fabric of Saint Peter and Coadjutor Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica.[2] He preached the Lenten spiritual exercises for Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia, and redacted the meditations for the Stations of the Cross presided by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the Colosseum on Good Friday 2005.[1] Upon the retirement of Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, Comastri succeeded him as Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica on 31 October 2006.[2]
Pope Benedict XVI created him Cardinal-Deacon of S. Salvatore in Lauro in the consistory of 24 November 2007.[2] In addition to his main duties, he also serves as vice-president of the Pontifical Academy of the Immacolata and a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Comastri participated in the papal conclave that elected Pope Francis. He remains eligible to vote in future conclaves that begin not later than his 80th birthday on 17 September 2023.
References
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Francesco Marchisano |
President of the Fabric of Saint Peter 5 February 2005–present |
Incumbent |
| Vicar General of His Holiness for the State of Vatican City 5 February 2005–present | ||
| Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica 31 October 2006–present | ||