Anastasio Ballestrero
Encyclopedia
Anastasio Alberto Ballestrero, OCD
(October 3, 1913 – June 21, 1998) was an Italian
Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
who served as Archbishop of Turin
from 1977 to 1989, and was elevated to the cardinalate
in 1979.
, the eldest of the five children of Giacomo and Antonietta (née Daffunchio) Ballestrero. Baptized
on November 2, 1913, he attended an elementary school
in Genoa from 1919 to 1922. Ballestrero, after enrolling at Collegio Belimbau in 1922, was confirmed
on May 3, 1923 and received his first Communion
on the following June 21. On October 2, 1924, he entered the Discalced Carmelite
seminary
in Varazze
. Ballestrero then joined that religious order
, taking the habit
on October 12, 1928 and the name
of Anastasio del Santissimo Rosario. He was later transferred to the Genoese convent
of S. Anna in September 1932 to study philosophy
and theology
.
Ballestrero suffered from a life-threatening infection
two years before making his solemn profession
on October 5, 1934. After receiving the subdiaconate
and diaconate
in 1935, Ballestrero was ordained
to the priesthood
in the San Lorenzo Cathedral on June 6, 1936. He began teaching philosophy
at the studentato of Genoa-S. Anna in August 1936, and initiated a preaching apostolate in a Genoese hospital
in January 1937. Ballestrero was prior
of the S. Anna convent from April 22, 1945 to 1948, and was again elected prior on May 7, 1954, after becoming provincial
of Liguria
on April 3, 1948. Before attending the Second Vatican Council
from 1962 to 1965, he was twice elected as general provost
of the Discalced Carmelites, on April 9, 1955 and later on April 21, 1961, remaining in that position until May 20, 1967.
Ballestrero visited all 350 Carmelite convents and 850 Carmelite monasteries in the world except in Hungary
, which refused him entrance into the country. He once served as President of the Union of Superior Generals
.
On December 21, 1973, Ballestrero was appointed Archbishop of Bari by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on February 2, 1974 in Rome
from Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio, with Bishops Michele Mincuzzi and Enrico Romolo Compagnone, OCD, serving as co-consecrators
. Ballestrero was later named Archbishop of Turin
on August 1, 1977. After being elected Vice-President
of Italian Episcopal Conference
on May 25, 1978, he was its President
from May 18, 1979 to July 3, 1985.
Pope John Paul II
created him Cardinal Priest
of Santa Maria sopra Minerva
in the consistory
of June 30, 1979. In reference to abortion
, Ballestrero once declared that the Church must "never renounce its mission of evangelization and education of the human conscience". He resigned as Turin
's archbishop on January 31, 1989, and subsequently retired to the monastery
of S. Croce in La Spezia
.
Ballestrero died at his residence in La Spezia, at age 84. He is buried in the church crypt
of the same Carmelite monastery in Varazze that he entered in 1924.
in 1978, but refused to permit radiocarbon dating
testing as it required removing samples from the shroud. After technical improvements made it possible to use samples the size of postage stamps, however, Ballestrero permitted samples to be cut in April 1988, which he personally supervised.
Following the radiocarbon dating tests, Ballestrero announced on October 13 of that same year, that the shroud was dated from the Middle Ages
and thus not the actual burial cloth
of Christ
; although these tests were later believed to be invalid due to erroneous sampling.
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
(October 3, 1913 – June 21, 1998) was an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
who served as Archbishop of Turin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Turin is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. Founded in the 4th century and elevated to the dignity of an archdiocese on 21 May 1515, by Pope Leo X. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist...
from 1977 to 1989, and was elevated to the cardinalate
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in 1979.
Biography
Alberto Ballestrero was born in GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, the eldest of the five children of Giacomo and Antonietta (née Daffunchio) Ballestrero. Baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
on November 2, 1913, he attended an elementary school
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
in Genoa from 1919 to 1922. Ballestrero, after enrolling at Collegio Belimbau in 1922, was confirmed
Confirmation (Catholic Church)
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments through which Catholics pass in the process of their religious upbringing. According to Catholic doctrine, in this sacrament they receive the Holy Spirit and become adult members of the Catholic Church....
on May 3, 1923 and received his first Communion
First Communion
The First Communion, or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church...
on the following June 21. On October 2, 1924, he entered the Discalced Carmelite
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Varazze
Varazze
Varazze is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 30 km west of Genoa and about 11 km northeast of Savona in the Riviera di Ponente...
. Ballestrero then joined that religious order
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
, taking the habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
on October 12, 1928 and the name
Religious Name
A religious name is a type of given name bestowed for a religious purpose, and which is generally used in religious contexts. Different types of religious names may be in use among the clergy of a religion, as well in some cases among the laity....
of Anastasio del Santissimo Rosario. He was later transferred to the Genoese convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of S. Anna in September 1932 to study philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
Ballestrero suffered from a life-threatening infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
two years before making his solemn profession
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
on October 5, 1934. After receiving the subdiaconate
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
and diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1935, Ballestrero was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in the San Lorenzo Cathedral on June 6, 1936. He began teaching philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the studentato of Genoa-S. Anna in August 1936, and initiated a preaching apostolate in a Genoese hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
in January 1937. Ballestrero was prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of the S. Anna convent from April 22, 1945 to 1948, and was again elected prior on May 7, 1954, after becoming provincial
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
on April 3, 1948. Before attending the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
from 1962 to 1965, he was twice elected as general provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of the Discalced Carmelites, on April 9, 1955 and later on April 21, 1961, remaining in that position until May 20, 1967.
Ballestrero visited all 350 Carmelite convents and 850 Carmelite monasteries in the world except in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, which refused him entrance into the country. He once served as President of the Union of Superior Generals
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
.
On December 21, 1973, Ballestrero was appointed Archbishop of Bari by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on February 2, 1974 in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio, with Bishops Michele Mincuzzi and Enrico Romolo Compagnone, OCD, serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Ballestrero was later named Archbishop of Turin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Turin is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. Founded in the 4th century and elevated to the dignity of an archdiocese on 21 May 1515, by Pope Leo X. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist...
on August 1, 1977. After being elected Vice-President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Italian Episcopal Conference
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
The Italian Episcopal Conference is the episcopal conference of the Italian bishops of the Catholic Church and as such is the official assembly of all the bishops in Italy. The conference was founded in 1971 and carries out certain tasks as well as having authority assigned to setting the...
on May 25, 1978, he was its President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
from May 18, 1979 to July 3, 1985.
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
created him Cardinal Priest
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
The Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva is a titular minor basilica and one of the most important churches of the Roman Catholic Dominican order in Rome, Italy. The church, located in the Piazza della Minerva in the Campus Martius region, is considered the only Gothic church in Rome. It houses...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of June 30, 1979. In reference to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, Ballestrero once declared that the Church must "never renounce its mission of evangelization and education of the human conscience". He resigned as Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
's archbishop on January 31, 1989, and subsequently retired to the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of S. Croce in La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
.
Ballestrero died at his residence in La Spezia, at age 84. He is buried in the church crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of the same Carmelite monastery in Varazze that he entered in 1924.
Shroud of Turin
The Cardinal had initially agreed to scientific testing being performed on the Shroud of TurinShroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is...
in 1978, but refused to permit radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
testing as it required removing samples from the shroud. After technical improvements made it possible to use samples the size of postage stamps, however, Ballestrero permitted samples to be cut in April 1988, which he personally supervised.
Following the radiocarbon dating tests, Ballestrero announced on October 13 of that same year, that the shroud was dated from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and thus not the actual burial cloth
Shroud
Shroud usually refers to an item, such as a cloth, that covers or protects some other object. The term is most often used in reference to burial sheets, winding-cloths or winding-sheets, such as the famous Shroud of Turin or Tachrichim that Jews are dressed in for burial...
of Christ
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
; although these tests were later believed to be invalid due to erroneous sampling.