His Eminence

Agostino Cacciavillan
President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
Cardinal-Priest of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino
Appointed5 November 1998
Term ended1 October 2002
PredecessorLorenzo Antonetti
SuccessorAttilio Nicora
Orders
Ordination26 June 1949
Consecration28 February 1976
by Jean-Marie Villot
Created cardinal21 February 2001
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal priest
Personal details
Born(1926-08-14)14 August 1926
Valdagno, Italy
Died5 March 2022(2022-03-05) (aged 95)
Vatican City
NationalityItalian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
  • Titular Archbishop of Amiternum (1976–2001)
  • Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Kenya (1976–1981)
  • Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to India (1981–1985)
  • Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Nepal (1985–1990)
  • Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to United States of America (1990–1998)
  • President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (1998–2002)
Alma materPontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
MottoIn Virtute Dei
Coat of armsAgostino Cacciavillan's coat of arms
Styles of
Agostino Cacciavillan
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

Agostino Cacciavillan (14 August 1926 – 5 March 2022) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, and a cardinal since 2001. He worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1959 to 1998; he was given the titles of archbishop and nuncio in 1998 and served as Pro-Nuncio to Kenya, India, Nepal, and the United States between 1976 and 1998. He then worked in the Roman Curia from 1998 to 2002 as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

Early life

Cacciavillan was born on 14 August 1926 in Novale di Valdagno; he had eight siblings.[1] He studied at the seminary of Vicenza,[citation needed] and was ordained to the priesthood on 26 June 1949.[1] He served as a curate for three years and then obtained a licentiate in social sciences at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at Sapienza University earned a doctorate in jurisprudence.[2] In preparation for a diplomat’s career, he completed the course of study at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1957.[3]

Diplomatic career

Cacciavillan entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1959. He served as secretary of the nunciature to the Philippines (1960–1964), of the nunciature to Spain (1964–1968), and of the nunciature to Portugal (1968).[2] From 1969 to 1974, he worked in the Vatican Secretariat of State, where he was also head of the Office of Information and Documentation. He was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate on 26 August 1973.[2]

On 17 January 1976, Cacciavillan was appointed Pro-Nuncio to Kenya and Apostolic Delegate to the Seychelles, as well as Titular Archbishop of Amiternum, by Pope Paul VI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 21 February from Cardinal Jean-Marie Villot, with Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy and Bishop Carlo Fanton serving as co-consecrators, at St. Peter's Basilica.[5] He selected as his episcopal motto: "In Virtute Dei".[6]

While nuncio to Kenya, Cacciavillan also served as Permanent Observer to the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.[2] He was named Pro-Nuncio to India on 9 May 1981,[7] and the first Pro-Nuncio to Nepal on 30 April 1985.[8] On 13 June 1990, he was named to succeed Archbishop Pio Laghi as Pro-Nuncio to the United States and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Organization of American States.[9] He also served as the Holy See's representative to the World Association of Jurists.[2]

While nuncio to the United States, Cacciavillan recalled years later, he received a phone call in 1994 from a woman warning of a "media scandal" if Pope John Paul II's 1995 visit to the United States included Newark, New Jersey where Archbishop Theodore McCarrick was the subject of rumors about inappropriate behavior with seminarians. He said that he forwarded the information to Cardinal John O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, and did not contact the Vatican.[10] He was instrumental in the promotion of McCarrick to the see of Washington in 1999 over O'Connor's objections. In a letter to Cardinal Re, who had asked him for advice on McCarrick at the request of Pope John Paul II, Cacciavillan argued that no enquiry should be made into these letters' claims because "Nothing new would be learned, and worse, a 'trial situation' could be created against Msgr. McCarrick, leaving the impression of great concern, which would have the effect of receiving answers in harmony with the expressed concern, rather than a de-dramatization, whereas a de-dramatization might perhaps be justified."[11]

Curia career

On 5 November 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed Cacciavillan to a five-year term as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APAS).[12] He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino in the consistory of 21 February 2001.[13] He retired as President of the APAS when his resignation was accepted and he was replaced as president on 1 October 2002 by Attilio Nicora.[14] Cacciavillan was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.[15]

Cacciavillan, as the longest serving cardinal deacon, was Cardinal Protodeacon, the cardinal who makes the Habemus Papam announcement upon the conclusion of a papal conclave, from 1 March 2008, when Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos became a cardinal priest[2] until 21 February 2011, when he became a cardinal priest himself.[16] In the Roman Curia, he was a member of the Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. He lost these positions on reaching his 80th birthday.[17]

Cacciavillan died at his residence in Vatican City, in the early hours of the morning on 5 March 2022, at the age of 95.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "È morto il cardinale Agostino Cacciavillan: aveva 95 anni" (in Italian). Vatican News. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Miranda, Salvador. "CACCIAVILLAN, Agostino". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Archived from the original on 2 September 2000.
  3. ^ "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Cacciavillan Card. Agostino". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Agostino Cardinal Cacciavillan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  6. ^ "Cacciavillan Agostino". CARDINALI E LORO TITOLI ODIERNI. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXIII. 1981. p. 437. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXVII. 1985. p. 677. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  9. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXII. 1990. p. 738. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  10. ^ Duncan, Robert (29 October 2018). "Former nuncio to US admits hearing rumors of McCarrick misconduct in 1994". The Catholic Herald. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. ^ Report on the Holy See's Institutional Knowledge and Decision-Making Related to Former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick (PDF). 10 November 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  12. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. XC. 1998. p. 1047. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  13. ^ Pope John Paul II (21 February 2001). "Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per la creazione dei nuovi Cardinali" [Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals]. The Holy See (Homily) (in Italian). Libreria Editrica Vaticana. Assegnazione dei Titoli o delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 01.10.2002" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 October 2001. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Elenco degli Em.mi Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine di precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of the Eminent Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2005.
  16. ^ "Three founders to be saints on 23 October". L'Osservatore Romano. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Cacciavillan, Agostino". Eternal Word Television Network. Retrieved 19 December 2017.

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Diplomatic posts Preceded byPierluigi Sartorelli Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Kenya 17 January 1976 – 9 May 1981 Succeeded byGiuseppe Ferraioli Preceded byLuciano Storero Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to India 9 May 1981 – 13 June 1990 Succeeded byGiorgio Zur Preceded byPio Laghi Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States 13 June 1990 – 5 November 1998 Succeeded byGabriel Montalvo Higuera Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States 13 June 1990 – 5 November 1998 Catholic Church titles Preceded byStanislao Amilcare Battistelli — TITULAR — Titular Archbishop of Amiterno 17 January 1976 – 21 February 2001 Succeeded byTimothy Paul Andrew Broglio Preceded byLorenzo Antonetti President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See 5 November 1998 – 1 October 2002 Succeeded byAttilio Nicora Preceded bySebastiano Baggio Cardinal Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino 21 February 2001 – 21 February 2011 Himself as Cardinal Priest Preceded byDarío Castrillón Hoyos Cardinal Protodeacon 1 March 2008 – 21 February 2011 Succeeded byJean-Louis Tauran Himself as Cardinal Deacon Cardinal Priest of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino 21 February 2011 – 5 March 2022 Vacant
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