Archbishop Becciu - new
Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu. |
Archbishop Giovanni Becciu is currently the Substitute for
General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State and the Pope’s special
delegate to the Sovereign Order of Malta.
By Robin Gomes
Pope Francis on Saturday appointed a new man to head the
Vatican’s office that is charged with the process of beatification and
canonization of candidates to sainthood.
The Pope appointed 69-year old Italian Archbishop
Giovanni Angelo Becciu as the new Prefect of the Congregation
for the Causes of Saints. He will assume his post at the end of
August.
In the meantime, he will continue as Substitute for
General Affairs of the Secretariat of State until June 29, and
as special delegate to the Sovereign Order of Malta, popularly
known as the Knights of Malta.
Archbishop Becciu who is among the 14 new cardinals that
Pope Francis will create on June 29, succeeds 79-year old
Italian Cardinal Angelo Amato who is well past the retirement
age of 75. Cardinal Amato has been heading the Congregation since
2008.
Biography
Arhbishop Becciu was born in Pattada on June 2, 1948. After graduating in Canon Law he was ordained a priest of Ozieri Diocese on August 27, 1972.
He was inducted into the diplomatic service of the Holy See
in 1984, and worked for many years in various missions around the world,
including in the Central African Republic, New Zealand, Liberia, the United
Kingdom, France and the United States.
On October 15, 2001, Saint Pope John Paul II appointed him
Apostolic Nuncio to Angola and a month later also Nuncio to São Tomé and
Príncipe. On December 1, that year, he was consecrated bishop in
Pattada. On July 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI
transferred him to the Apostolic Nunciature of Cuba, from where he was recalled
to the Vatican to serve as the Substitute for General Affairs of the
Secretariat of State. New-elected pontiff, Pope Francis confirmed him in
the post in 2013.
On February 2, 2017, the Pope appointed him special delegate
to the Knights of Malta to resolve the crisis in the order.
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