Vatican News announced the death on November 15, 2019, of Monsignor Giorgio Corbellini, President of the Apostolic See’s Labour Office, who supervised the Vatican’s employees.
This Italian Bishop, little known at the international level, was a key figure in the heart of the Vatican’s administration. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him President of the Apostolic See’s Labour Office and, in 2010, President of the Roman Curia’s Disciplinary Commission.
Born in 1947 and ordained priest for the diocese of Piacenza in 1971, for 10 years Giorgio Corbellini worked in his diocese’s parish service, before going to Rome in 1981 to study Canon Law at the Lateran University. He entered the Holy See’s service on October 1, 1985, and held different offices within the Roman Curia. He was head of the juridical service, and then Vice-Secretary General of Vatican City State’s Governorate for over 18 years.
Benedict XVI ordained him Bishop on September 12, 2009, at the same time as Monsignor Pietro Parolin, who four years later became the Holy See’s Secretary of State. Monsignor Corbellini was very involved in the complex process of reform of the Curia launched by Pope Francis, particularly the diversification of recruitment of the Holy See’s employees, geared to a greater mix and a generational renewal. His administration was in charge of ensuring the regularity of work contracts.
Pope Francis called Monsignor Corbellini to assume several responsibilities making use of his knowledge of Canon Law, especially in Commissions linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was also interim President of the Financial Information Authority, between January and November 2014, before the appointment of Swiss Rene Brulhart.
Monsignor Corbellin died at 72 in Parma, where he had been hospitalized for several days. The Vatican’s Association of Lay Employees expressed gratitude to him, seeing in his as man and priest a support at once moral and practical, during his years as President of the Labour Office. His funeral will take place on Saturday, November 16 at 2:30 pm in the Cathedral of Piacenza
