(ZENIT News / Rome, 07.04.2024).- Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Angelo De Donatis — to date His Holiness’ Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran –, new Major Penitentiary. The Holy Father also appointed Monsignor Daniele Libanori, up to now Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Rome for the Central Sector –, Adviser to the Pontiff for Consecrated Life. Both appointments were made on Friday, April 5.
Born on January 4, 1954 in Casarano (Lecce), De Donatis received his spiritual formation first in the Seminary of Taranto and then in the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary. He completed his Philosophy studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and his Theology studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology. He was ordained a priest on April 12, 1980, for the Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli and incardinated in the Diocese of Rome on November 28, 1983.
He held numerous posts during his ministry in the Diocese of Rome, among them Spiritual Director of the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary from 1990 to 2003 and parish priest of Saint Mark the Evangelist on the Capitoline Hill from 2003 to 2015. He was appointed Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in 1989. On April 10, 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed him Chaplain of His Holiness. Since December 1, 2007, he has been Spiritual Assistant of the Don Andrea Santoro Association. From 2014 to 2017 he was in charge of the Service for the Permanent Formation of the Clergy. He was a member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and of the College of Consultants. In 2014 Pope Francis called him to preach the Spiritual Exercises to the Roman Curia on the occasion of Lent. On September 14, 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Titular Bishop of Mottola and Auxiliary of Rome, in charge of the Permanent Formation of the Clergy. Then on May 26, 2017, Pope Francis appointed him Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University, elevating him at the same time to the dignity of Archbishop. On June 28, 2018, during the Consistory, the Holy Father created him Cardinal, with the presbyteral title of Saint Mark. De Donatis is a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Now he is substituting Cardinal Mauro Piacenza who has reached the age of 80.
Monsignor Libanori is a Jesuit, up to now Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Rome for the Central Sector. Born in Ostellato, province of Ferrara, on May 27, 1953, he completed his priestly formation in the Archbishopric Seminary of Ferrara. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1977 for the Archdiocese of Ferrara-Comacchio. He entered the Society of Jesus on December 26, 1991 and made his solemn vows as a Jesuit on October 18, 2002. He obtained a Licentiate in Theology of Evangelization in the Bologna Theological Study and a Doctorate in Theology of Christian Life in Naples in the Saint Louis Section of the Theology Faculty of Southern Italy.
Appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Rome on November 23, 2017, he was ordained Bishop on January 13, 2018. Among the posts he held previously, he was Rector of the Archbishopric’s Seminary of Ferrara – Comacchio from 1982 to 1991. From 2003 to 2008 he was Vice-Rector of La Sapienza’s Rectoral Church. From 2003 to 2008 he was Vice-Rector of the Holy Name of Jesus church in Argentina, of which he was later Rector from 2008 to 2016. From 2004 to 2018 he was an exorcist in the Pastoral Exorcism Service and from 2017 to 2018 Extraordinary Commissioner of the Arch-Confraternity of Saint Joseph of the Carpenters. In 2017 he was also Regent of the National Secretariat of the Apostleship of Prayer and member of the Service for the Permanent Formation of the Clergy. He is a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Sains and was also one of the Bishops in charge of the Rupnik case, with several criticism over the handling of the case.
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