Apostolic Penitentiary
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunal
s of the Roman Curia
. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy
, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sin
s in the Catholic Church.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has jurisdiction only over matters in the internal forum
. Its work falls mainly into these categories:
The head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Major Penitentiary, is one of the few Vatican officials who retains his position sede vacante
. If the Major Penitentiary is a Cardinal Elector he is one of only three persons in the conclave allowed to communicate with those outside the conclave, so that he can continue to fulfill his duties. The Major Penitentiary is a Titular Archbishop
and is normally a Cardinal
. Since 2009 the Major Penitentiary is Cardinal
Fortunato Baldelli
, who reached the retirement age of 75 on 6 August 2010. The second-highest ranking official in the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Regent, is (since 16 February 2002) Bishop
Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv..
For particularly heinous sins (for example, rape or murder), or for serious sins committed by penitents of high political or cultural standing, it was often the practice to impose rather harsh penances. This practice was particularly true in the medieval Church, for sins referred to a bishop for absolution. If a penitent felt that the penance imposed was disproportionate to the sins committed, he could submit the dispute to the Apostolic Penitentiary. The alleged offense was said to be against the "external forum"; that is, related to public acts required of the penitent.
If the tribunal decided in favor of the penitent, they would issue a formal statement confirming that appropriate recompense had already been made, that the penitent's sins were forgiven, and that the matter was closed.
These statements were transcribed by legal clerks, who were paid by fees assessed by Apostolic Penitentiary for the transcription of their decisions. This practice prompted claims that the tribunal, and by extension the Church, accepted money for the forgiveness of sins.
s are handled at the local level by priests and their bishops and are not heard by the tribunal. However, its work involves those sins, e.g. defiling the Eucharist
, which are reserved to the Holy See. In late 2006, then Major Penitentiary Cardinal Stafford said this offense is occurring with more and more frequency, by ordinary faithful who receive Communion and then remove the host from their mouths and spit it out or otherwise desecrate it. Other sins that are handled by the Penitentiary include a priest breaking the seal of the confessional by revealing the nature of the sin and the person who sought penance, or a priest who has sex with someone and then offered forgiveness for the act. These sins bring automatic excommunication
from the Church. Once absolution is granted, the excommunication is then lifted. A fourth type of case that comes to the tribunal involves a man who has contributed towards facilitating an abortion — such as by paying for it — or directly so by performing one, who then seeks to become a priest or deacon.
Persons who wish to receive an absolution or dispensation reserved to the Holy See write a petition to the Penitentiary. Usually, this petition is written through their initial confessor. The petition must use pseudonym
s when explaining the situation to avoid revealing the identity of the persons involved, and the tribunal itself acts in complete secrecy. The Major Penitentiary considers the matter himself, unless it is particularly important, in which case the whole of the tribunal considers the petition. The members of the tribunal only give advice regarding the petition; the Major Penitentiary has the ultimate decision on whether the dispensation or absolution should be granted. If the Major Penitentiary is uncertain as to whether he has authority in a given case, he submits the matter to the Pope
. The impediment or act in question must not be public; otherwise, the impediment or act is a matter of the external forum and cannot be absolved or dispensed by the Penitentiary.
is granted, on 19 June 2009, on first Thursdays, on 4 August 2009 (150th anniversary of the death of Saint Jean-Marie Vianney), and on 19 June 2010, to all the faithful who attend Mass, pray for priests to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, offer any other good work they do that day, and satisfy the conditions for any plenary indulgence (detachment from all sins, the Sacrament of Penance within the last or next couple of weeks, holy communion (Eucharist in the Catholic Church), and praying for the Pope's intentions). There are also adaptations for those unable to go to church, and daily indulgences available only to priests.
21st Century
Tribunal
A tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
s of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy
Mercy
Mercy is broad term that refers to benevolence, forgiveness and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social and legal contexts.The concept of a "Merciful God" appears in various religions from Christianity to...
, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
s in the Catholic Church.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has jurisdiction only over matters in the internal forum
Internal forum
Internal forum is a term used in moral theology referring to the private realm of one's personal conscience or an act of judgement applying the universal truth to a particular situation, such as the Sacrament of Penance...
. Its work falls mainly into these categories:
- the absolution of excommunicationExcommunicationExcommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
s latæ sententiæ reserved to the Holy See, - the dispensation of sacramentSacramentA sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
al impediments reserved to the Holy See, and - the issuance and governance of indulgenceIndulgenceIn Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the Catholic Church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution...
s.
The head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Major Penitentiary, is one of the few Vatican officials who retains his position sede vacante
Sede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
. If the Major Penitentiary is a Cardinal Elector he is one of only three persons in the conclave allowed to communicate with those outside the conclave, so that he can continue to fulfill his duties. The Major Penitentiary is a Titular Archbishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
and is normally a 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...
. Since 2009 the Major Penitentiary is 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...
Fortunato Baldelli
Fortunato Baldelli
Fortunato Baldelli is an Italian Catholic Cardinal. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France from June 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI....
, who reached the retirement age of 75 on 6 August 2010. The second-highest ranking official in the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Regent, is (since 16 February 2002) Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv..
Historical duties
Up until the 18th century, the Apostolic Penitentiary also considered cases of confessor-penitent disputes involving violations against what was termed the "external forum".For particularly heinous sins (for example, rape or murder), or for serious sins committed by penitents of high political or cultural standing, it was often the practice to impose rather harsh penances. This practice was particularly true in the medieval Church, for sins referred to a bishop for absolution. If a penitent felt that the penance imposed was disproportionate to the sins committed, he could submit the dispute to the Apostolic Penitentiary. The alleged offense was said to be against the "external forum"; that is, related to public acts required of the penitent.
If the tribunal decided in favor of the penitent, they would issue a formal statement confirming that appropriate recompense had already been made, that the penitent's sins were forgiven, and that the matter was closed.
These statements were transcribed by legal clerks, who were paid by fees assessed by Apostolic Penitentiary for the transcription of their decisions. This practice prompted claims that the tribunal, and by extension the Church, accepted money for the forgiveness of sins.
Absolutions and dispensations
Normally confessions of sinSin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
s are handled at the local level by priests and their bishops and are not heard by the tribunal. However, its work involves those sins, e.g. defiling the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, which are reserved to the Holy See. In late 2006, then Major Penitentiary Cardinal Stafford said this offense is occurring with more and more frequency, by ordinary faithful who receive Communion and then remove the host from their mouths and spit it out or otherwise desecrate it. Other sins that are handled by the Penitentiary include a priest breaking the seal of the confessional by revealing the nature of the sin and the person who sought penance, or a priest who has sex with someone and then offered forgiveness for the act. These sins bring automatic excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
from the Church. Once absolution is granted, the excommunication is then lifted. A fourth type of case that comes to the tribunal involves a man who has contributed towards facilitating an abortion — such as by paying for it — or directly so by performing one, who then seeks to become a priest or deacon.
Persons who wish to receive an absolution or dispensation reserved to the Holy See write a petition to the Penitentiary. Usually, this petition is written through their initial confessor. The petition must use pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s when explaining the situation to avoid revealing the identity of the persons involved, and the tribunal itself acts in complete secrecy. The Major Penitentiary considers the matter himself, unless it is particularly important, in which case the whole of the tribunal considers the petition. The members of the tribunal only give advice regarding the petition; the Major Penitentiary has the ultimate decision on whether the dispensation or absolution should be granted. If the Major Penitentiary is uncertain as to whether he has authority in a given case, he submits the matter to the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. The impediment or act in question must not be public; otherwise, the impediment or act is a matter of the external forum and cannot be absolved or dispensed by the Penitentiary.
Indulgences
The Apostolic Penitentiary also specifies actions for which indulgences are granted, either permanently (in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum,) or on special occasions, such as the Year for Priests (19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010), during which a plenary indulgenceIndulgence
In Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the Catholic Church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution...
is granted, on 19 June 2009, on first Thursdays, on 4 August 2009 (150th anniversary of the death of Saint Jean-Marie Vianney), and on 19 June 2010, to all the faithful who attend Mass, pray for priests to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, offer any other good work they do that day, and satisfy the conditions for any plenary indulgence (detachment from all sins, the Sacrament of Penance within the last or next couple of weeks, holy communion (Eucharist in the Catholic Church), and praying for the Pope's intentions). There are also adaptations for those unable to go to church, and daily indulgences available only to priests.
List of Major Penitentiaries
- Nicola de Romanis (1216-1219)
- Tommaso da Capua (1219—1239)
- Hugh of Saint-Cher (ca.1245-1263)
- Gui FoucaultPope Clement IVPope Clement IV , born Gui Faucoi called in later life le Gros , was elected Pope February 5, 1265, in a conclave held at Perugia that took four months, while cardinals argued over whether to call in Charles of Anjou, the youngest brother of Louis IX of France...
(1263-1265) - Henry of Susa (1266-1271)
- Pierre de TarentaisePope Innocent VPope Blessed Innocent V , born Pierre de Tarentaise, was Pope from January 21 to June 22, 1276.He was born around 1225 near Moûtiers in the Tarentaise region of the County of Savoy, then part of the Kingdom of Arles in the Holy Roman Empire, but now in southeastern France...
(1273-1276) - (1276-1279 – probably vacant)
- Bentivenga de Bentivengis (1279-1289)
- Matteo di Aquasparta (1289-1302)
- Gentile Partino (1302-1305)
- Berenger FredoliBerenger FredoliBérenger Fredoli was a French canon lawyer and Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati.-Celestine V:...
(1306-1323) - Gauscelin de JeanGauscelin de JeanGauscelin de Jean was a French cardinal.He was born at Cahors in the family related to the family of Pope John XXII. From 1312 he was archdeacon of Paris...
(ca.1327-1348) - Etienne AubertPope Innocent VIPope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...
(1348-1352) - Egidio Albornoz (1352-1367)
- Francesco degli Atti (substitute penitentiary c. 1353-1361)
- Guillaume Bragose (substitute penitentiary 1361-1367, grand penitentiary 1367)
- Galhardus de Boscoviridi (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1367-1369)
- Etienne de Poissy (1369-1373)
- Jean du CrosJean du CrosJean du Cros was a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was bishop of Limoges in France .He was made cardinal-priest of SS. Nereo e Achilleo on 30 May 1371 by his uncle, Pope Gregory XI. Then, he became grand penitentiary and cardinal-bishop of Palestrina...
(1373-1378)- Giovanni d'Amelia (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1378)
- Eleazario da Sabrano (1378-1379)
- Augustin de Lanzano (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1379-1382)
- Luca Rodolfucci de Gentili (1382-1388)
- Augustin de Lanzano (regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary 1388-1389)
- Niccolo Caracciolo Moschino (1389)
- Francesco Carbone TomacelliFrancesco Carbone TomacelliFrancesco Carbone Tomacelli was Italian cardinal at the time of the Great Western Schism. He was nephew of Pope Boniface IX....
(1389-1405) - Antonio Caetani (1405-1412)
- Pierre GirardPierre GirardPierre-Simon Girard was a French mathematician and engineer, who worked on fluids.A prodigy who invented a water turbine at age 10, Girard worked as an engineer at the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées. He was in charge of planning and construction of the Amiens canal and the Ourcq canal...
(1409-1415) - Giovanni DominiciGiovanni DominiciGiovanni Dominici was an Italian Cardinal, statesman and writer. His ideas were a profound influence on the art of Fra Angelico.-Life:Dominici was born in Florence....
(1408-1415) - Giordano Orsini (1415-1438)
- Niccolo AlbergatiNiccolò AlbergatiNiccolò Albergati was an Italian Cardinal and diplomat.Born in Bologna, he entered the Carthusian order in 1394, at the age of twenty...
(1438-1443) - Giuliano Cesarini (1444)
- Giovanni BerardiGiovanni BerardiGiovanni Berardi , Italian Cardinal, of the counts of Tagliacozzo, was elected Archbishop of Taranto in 1421, and occupied the see until December 1439, when Pope Eugenius IV raised him to the cardinalate...
(1444-1449) - Domenico CapranicaDomenico CapranicaDomenico Capranica was an Italian theologian, canonist, statesman, and Cardinal.He was born in Capranica Prenestina. After studies in canon and civil law at Padua and Bologna, under teachers probably including Giuliano Cesarini, he received the title of Doctor of Both Laws at the age of twenty-one...
(1449-1458) - Filippo CalandriniFilippo CalandriniFilippo Calandrini was a half-brother of Pope Nicholas V, who named him bishop of Bologna in 1447 and Cardinal Priest in 1448. Grand penitentiary from 1459. He was also bishop of Albano and bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina . He died at Bagnoreggio, at the age of 73.-External links:*...
(1459-1476) - Giuliano della Rovere (1476-1503)
- Pedro Luis de Borja-Lanzol de Romaní (1503-1511)
- Leonardo Grosso della Rovere (1511-1520)
- Lorenzo PucciLorenzo PucciLorenzo Pucci was an Italian cardinal and bishop from the Florentine Pucci family. His brother Roberto Pucci and his nephew Antonio Pucci also became cardinals.-Biography:Pucci was born in Florence....
(1520-1529) - Antonio PucciAntonio Pucci (cardinal)Antonio Pucci was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.Antonio Pucci emanated from the Florentine noble family of Pucci. He was a nephew of Cardinals Roberto Pucci and Lorenzo Pucci....
(1529-1544) - Roberto PucciRoberto PucciRoberto Pucci was an Italian cardinal from the Florentine noble family of the Pucci.-Life:One of the Medici's keenest supporters, he nevertheless advised Pope Clement VII against starting the siege of Florence in 1529...
(1545-1547) - Ranuccio FarneseRanuccio Farnese (Cardinal)Ranuccio Farnese was an Italian prelate, who was Cardinal of Santa Lucia in Messina, Sicily from 1545 to his death in 1565....
, O. S. Io. Hieros. (1547-1565) - Carlo Borromeo (1565-1572)
- Giovanni Aldobrandini (1572-1573)
- Stanisław Hozjusz (1574-1579)
- Filippo BoncompagniFilippo BoncompagniFilippo Boncompagni was an Italian Cardinal, created by Pope Gregory XIII on June 2, 1572.Born at Bologna, he served as superintendent general of the Papal States during his pontificate . He occupied several curial offices...
(1579-1586) - Ippolito AldobrandiniPope Clement VIIIPope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
(1586-1592) - Giulio Antonio Santori (1592-1602)
- Pietro AldobrandiniPietro AldobrandiniPietro Aldobrandini was an Italian Cardinal and patron of the arts.He was made a cardinal in 1593 by his uncle, Pope Clement VIII. He took over the duchy of Ferrara in 1598 when it fell to the Papal States...
(1602-1605) - Cinzio Passeri AldobrandiniCinzio Passeri AldobrandiniCinzio Personeni Albobrandini was an Italian cardinal. In some documents he is known as Cinzio Passeri Aldobrandini because, after settling in Romagna, the family varied its name according to the place from which they had moved - his father Aurelio Personeni was born in Cà Personeni and later...
(1605-1610) - Scipione BorgheseScipione BorgheseScipione Borghese was an Italian Cardinal, art collector and patron of the arts. A member of the Borghese family, he was the patron of the painter Caravaggio and the artist Bernini...
(1610-1633) - Antonio Marcello BarberiniAntonio Marcello BarberiniAntonio Marcello Barberini was an Italian cardinal and the younger brother of Maffeo Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII. He is sometimes referred to as Antonio the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew Antonio Barberini.Born Marcello Barberini in Florence into the Barberini family, he entered the...
, O.F.M.Cap. (1633-1646) - Orazio GiustinianiOrazio GiustinianiOrazio Giustiniani was an Italian Catholic Cardinal.-Biography:Giustiniani was born the Island of Chios, then part of the Republic of Genoa, to the powerful Giustiniani family. He was a relative of two Bishops of Chio - Girolamo Giustiniani and Marco Giustiniani...
, Orat. (1647-1649) - Niccolò Albergati-LudovisiNiccolò Albergati-Ludovisithumb|Cardinal Niccolò Albergati-Ludovisi.Niccolò Albergati-Ludovisi was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of Bologna. He was a cousin of Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi....
(1650-1687) - Leandro Colloredo, Orat. (1688-1709)
- Fabrizio PaolucciFabrizio PaolucciFabrizio Paolucci was a Italian cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, appointed by Pope Innocent XII.-Biography:He went to Rome at the age of eight, 1659, to be educated by his grand-uncle, Francesco Paolucci...
, pro-penitentiary (1709-1710); penitentiary (1710-1721) - Bernardo Maria Conti, O.S.B.Cas. (1721-1730)
- Vincenzo Petra, pro-penitentiary (1730); penitentiary (1730-1747)
- Gioacchino Besozzi, O.Cist. (1747-1755)
- Antonio Andrea Galli, C.R.SS.S. (1755-1767)
- Giovanni Carlo BoschiGiovanni Carlo BoschiGiovanni Carlo Boschi was an Italian clergyman who was made a cardinal by Pope Clement XIII in the consistory of 21 July 1766. He then served as Major Penitentiary from 1767 to 1788, and participated in the papal conclaves of 1774-75 and 1769...
(1767-1788) - Francesco Saverio Zelada (1788-1801)
- Leonardo AntonelliLeonardo AntonelliLeonardo Antonelli was an Italian Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.A native of Senigallia, Antonelli was the nephew of Cardinal Nicolò Maria Antonelli...
(1801-1811) - Michele di PietroMichele di PietroMichele di Pietro J.U.D. was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide. He was an uncle of Cardinal Camillo di Pietro.-Biography:Michele di Pietro was born in Albano Laziale,...
(1811-1821) - Francesco Saverio Castiglioni (1821-1829) who was elected Pope Pius VIIIPope Pius VIIIPope Pius VIII , born Francesco Saverio Castiglioni was Pope in 1829 and 1830.-Biography:He was born in Cingoli, Marche, the son of Count Ottavio Castiglioni and his wife Sanzia Ghislieri. He studied Canon law and, in 1800 became bishop of Montalto...
- Emmanuele de GregorioEmmanuele de GregorioEmmanuele de Gregorio was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.De Gregorio was born on at sea while his mother was travelling to Spain. Although he had one other cardinal among his relatives, no other information about his early life survives...
(1829-1839) - Castruccio Castracane degli AntelminelliCastruccio Castracane degli AntelminelliCastruccio Castracane degli Antelminelli was an Italian clergyman, who was made a cardinal by pope Gregory XVI in the consistory of 15 April 1833.-External links:* on...
(1839-1852) - Gabriele FerrettiGabriele FerrettiGabriele Ferretti was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals.-Personal life:Ferretti was born on 31 January 1795 in Ancona....
(1852-1860) - Antonio Maria Cagiano de AzevedoAntonio Maria Cagiano de AzevedoAntonio Maria Cagiano de Azevedo was a Catholic Cardinal and held a number of significant legal positions within the Catholic Church during the 19th century.-Personal life:...
(1860-1867) - Antonio Maria Panebianco, O.F.M.Conv. (1867-1877)
- Luigi BilioLuigi BilioLuigi Maria Bilio B was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who among other things was Secretary of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office.Luigi Maria Bilio was born in Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy...
, C.R.S.P. (1877-1884) - Raffaele Monaco La Valletta (1884-1896)
- Isidoro VergaIsidoro VergaIsidoro Verga was an Italian canon lawyer and Cardinal.He was created Cardinal in 1884, and became bishop of Albano and Apostolic Penitentiary in 1896, and given the titular church of San Callisto.-External links:**...
(1896-1899) - Serafino Vannutelli (20 November 1899-19 August 1915)
- Willem Marinus van Rossum, CSSRCongregation of the Most Holy RedeemerThe Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
(1 October 1915-12 March 1918) - Oreste GiorgiOreste GiorgiOreste Giorgi was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary.Oreste Giorgi in Valmontone, Italy. He was educated at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, Rome.-Priesthood:...
(12 March 1918-30 December 1924) - Andreas Franz FrühwirthAndreas Franz FrühwirthAndreas Franz Frühwirth was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary....
, O.P. (8 January 1925-31 July 1927) - Lorenzo Lauri (31 July 1927-8 October 1941)
- Nicola CanaliNicola CanaliNicola Canali was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State from 1939 and as Major Penitentiary from 1941 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1935...
(15 October 1941–3 August 1961) - Arcadio Larraona SaraleguiArcadio Larraona SaraleguiArcadio María Larraona Saralegui, CMF was a Spanish Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites from 1962 to 1968, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1959.-Biography:...
, C.M.F. (13 August 1961-2 February 1962) - Fernando CentoFernando CentoFernando Cento was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary....
(12 February 1962-7 April 1967) - Giuseppe FerrettoGiuseppe FerrettoGiuseppe Antonio Ferretto was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Major Penitentiary in the Roman Curia from 1967 to 1973, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1961.-Biography:...
(7 April 1967-1 March 1973) - Giuseppe PaupiniGiuseppe PaupiniGiuseppe Paupini J.C.D. was a Roman Catholic Cardinal who served as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary.Giuseppe Paupini was born in Mondavio, Italy...
(21 March 1973-8 April 1984) - Luigi DadaglioLuigi DadaglioLuigi Dadaglio was a Roman Catholic Cardinal and Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary.He was born in Sezzadio, Italy. He was educated at the Seminary of Acqui. He was ordained on 22 May 1937...
(Pro-Major Penitentiary: 8 April 1984-27 May 1985; Major Penitentiary: 27 May 1985-6 April 1990) - William Wakefield Baum (6 April 1990-11 November 2001)
21st Century
- Luigi de MagistrisLuigi de Magistris (archbishop)Luigi de Magistris is a Roman Catholic Archbishop who served as Pro-Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary from 2001 until the appointment of James Cardinal Stafford in 2003....
(Pro-Major Penitentiary: 22 November 2001-4 October 2003) - James Francis Stafford (4 October 2003-2 June 2009)
- Fortunato BaldelliFortunato BaldelliFortunato Baldelli is an Italian Catholic Cardinal. He served as Apostolic Nuncio in France from June 1999 until his appointment as Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 2 June 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI....
(2 June 2009 - present)
External links
- Apostolic Penitentiary at the Vatican website.
- Giga-Catholic Information
- Apostolic Penitentiary