VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 13, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed Father Renzo Pegoraro, bioethics professor at the Theological Faculty of Triveneto, Italy, and scientific director of the Lanza Foundation of Padua, as chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
The Vatican announced the appointment Monday.
Renzo Pegoraro, 52, is a doctor with a specialization in moral theology and bioethics.
The Pontifical Academy for Life is headed by Bishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, who formerly served as its chancellor.</p>
The academy has 70 papal-appointed members, who represent the different branches of the biomedical sciences and those that are closely related to problems concerning the promotion and defense of life.
It also has three members ad honorem and members by correspondence who work in institutes and centers of study on the culture of life.
Also last Saturday, the Pope raised the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Bishop Barthélemy Adoukonou, to the status of bishop.
Bishop-elect Adoukonou forms part of the circle of former students of professor Joseph Ratzinger. He participated in the latest meeting of these students with the Pope last month.
The 69-year-old from Benin has served as the secretary-general of the English-speaking Association of West African Episcopal Conferences and the Francophone West African Regional Episcopal Conference.
He was also a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
