Dionigi Tettamanzi (born 14 March 1934) is an
Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Milan, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1998. Previous to his service in Milan, Tettamanzi
was Archbishop of Genoa.
Episcopacy
Styles of
Dionigi Tettamanzi |
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| Reference style |
His Eminence |
| Spoken style |
Your Eminence |
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Cardinal |
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Milan |
Tettamanzi was born in Renate, in the province of
Milan, to Egidio and Giuditta (née Ciceri) Tettamanzi.
He was educated at the Minor Seminary of Seveso and the
Seminary of Venegono Inferiore and finally at the Pontifical Gregorian
University in Rome where he earned a doctorate in
theology.
Priesthood
After studying in local seminaries, he was ordained a priest
on 28 June 1957 by Archbishop Giovanni Battista Montini (the
future Pope Paul VI). He served in the Archdiocese of Milan as a pastor and faculty member of the Minor Seminary of
Masnago and of Seveso San Pietro from 1960 until 1966. As well as a faculty member of the Seminary of Venegono from 1966 to 1986.
Bishop
On 1 July 1989 when Pope
John Paul II named Tettamanzi archbishop of
Ancona-Osimo. He received his episcopal consecration from Jesuit Carlo Cardinal Martini at the cathedral on the following 23 September. Upon being chosen
Secretary-General and Vice President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Tettamanzi submitted his resignation as bishop on
6 April 1991.
John Paul II called Tettamanzi back into active ministry by appointing him to the Archdiocese of Genoa. He was appointed its archbishop on April 20, 1995, and in the consistory of
February 21, 1998, Tettamanzi Cardinal Priest with the title of Ss. Ambrogio e
Carlo. Upon the announced retirement of Cardinal Martini, Tettamanzi was reassigned as archbishop of Milan on
11 July 2002.
With the death and funeral of Pope John Paul II came intense speculation
as to his successor. Tettamanzi's position as prelate of an archdiocese that was historically seen as a step towards the papacy (and considered one of the
wealthiest and most powerful of Italian dioceses), as well as his charisma and popularity among the people, placed him as one of
the overall favorites to become John Paul II's successor. He was the leading Italian candidate, but the Italian cardinals are now
a minority in the college, and the German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected instead, becoming Pope Benedict
XVI. Tettamanzi remains eligible to vote in any future conclaves that begin before
his 80th birthday on 14 March, 2014.
Tettamanzi is said to speak only Italian, which would be a disadvantage nowadays,
when national leaders, and especially popes, are sometimes required to master foreign languages.
Social teaching
Tettamanzi says that the goal of a company is not only to create a profit for the shareholders but that the company has to be
a community of women and men that work together to satisfy the needs of the people involved in the company. He also affirmed that
a person needs to have stability in his work in order to be able to plan his life.
Resources
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