Fortunato Frezza


Fortunato Frezza
Canon of St. Peter's Basilica
Master of Ceremonies of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed29 September 2013
Other post(s)Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria in Via Lata (2022-)
Orders
Ordination28 June 1966
by Luigi Rosa
Consecration23 July 2022
by Mauro Gambetti
Created cardinal27 August 2022
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal deacon
Personal details
Born
Fortunato Frezza

(1942-02-06) 6 February 1942 (age 82)
Montecalvello, Italy
Previous post(s)Under-Secretary of the Synod of Bishops (1997–2014)
Titular Archbishop of Treba (2022)
MottoLoquendo Scripturas aperiens
Coat of armsFortunato Frezza's coat of arms
Styles of
Fortunato Frezza
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

Fortunato Frezza (born 6 February 1942) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who devoted his career to Biblical scholarship and teaching. He has been a canon of St. Peter's Basilica since 2013.

Pope Francis made him a cardinal on 27 August 2022.

Biography[edit]

Fortunato Frezza was born in the Montecalvello neighborhood of Viterbo on 6 February 1942.[1] He studied at the minor seminary of Bagnoregio and the major seminary of Viterbo. On 28 June 1966 he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Bagnoregio by Bishop Luigi Rosa of Bagnoregio.[2] He obtained a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1967 and a degree in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome in 1977 with a thesis on the book of the prophet Micah.[3]

From 1971 to 1984 he was parish priest of Sipicciano. During those years he also taught of sacred scripture in various places: as an assistant at the Pontifical Gregorian University; at La Quercia Viterbo Regional Seminary; at institutes of religious studies im Albano, Civita Castellana, and Viterbo; at the theological schools of the Congregation of St. Joseph [it] in Viterbo and of the Salesians in the Holy Land.[4]

In 1983 he joined the staff of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops[4] and on 23 June 1997 he was named its under-secretary by Pope John Paul II. On 13 December 2011 Pope Benedict XVI confirmed his appointment as under-secretary until his 72nd birthday.[5]

In September 2013, Pope Francis appointed him a canon of St. Peter's Basilica and he was invested on 29 September;[6] in 2022 he became Camerlengo of the Chapter of St. Peter in the Vatican. He has also held chaplaincies for Directorate of Health and Hygiene in the Vatican, for various monasteries of nuns, and for the football team A.S. Roma. He has authored numerous scholarly articles, especially in Biblical studies.[4]

He has been Master of Ceremonies and Spiritual Assistant of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre since 2015.[7]

He received his episcopal consecration on 23 July 2022 from Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, becoming titular archbishop of Treba.[8]

On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal deacon,[9] assigning him the deaconry Santa Maria in Via Lata.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Venanzi, Daniela (31 May 2022). "Viterbo, le prime parole del neo cardinale Fortunato Frezza: "Stupito e incredulo"". Corriere di Viterbo (in Italian). Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Mons. Fortunato Frezza nominato Cardinale". Diocese of Viterbo (in Italian). 29 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022 – via Facebook.
  3. ^ "Annuncio di Concistoro il 27 agosto per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 29.05.2022" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c White, Christopher (29 May 2022). "Pope Francis names 16 new cardinal electors, including San Diego's Bishop McElroy". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  5. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF) (in Italian). Vol. CIV. Tipografia poliglotta vaticana. January 2012. p. 76. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Papa Francesco nomina Canonico di San Pietro un sacerdote viterbese". Il Messaggero (in Italian). 26 September 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  7. ^ "A great joy for the Order". The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. May 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  8. ^ Muolo, Mimmo (23 July 2022). "Fortunato Frezza diventa vescovo. Ad agosto sarà cardinale". Avvenire (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  9. ^ Arocho Esteves, Junno (27 August 2022). "Pope Creates 20 New Cardinals, Including San Diego Bishop". The Tablet. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali" [Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals]. The Holy See (in Italian). Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.

External links[edit]