Francesco Coccopalmerio
Encyclopedia
Francesco Coccopalmerio (6 March 1938) is the current President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 15 February 2007.
in theology
in 1963. He holds a doctorate in canon law
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
and a Diploma in Moral Theology. In 1976 he obtained a Doctorate in Law at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
in Milan.
He held positions in the Archdiocese of Milan until 1994. He was professor of Canon Law at the Faculty of Theology in northern Italy from 1966 to 1999. Since 1981, he was Professor in the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University
.
appointed Coccopalmerio to be an Auxiliary Bishop
of Milan
with the titular see
of Coeliana. He was ordained on 22 May of that year. He is one of the Italian episcopate
's lead voices on legal issues and ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue. Since 2000, Coccopalmerio, is a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and was during this time the only auxiliary bishop in its membership all others being ordinaries
.
) of the same see and appointed as President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
replacing Julián Cardinal Herranz Casado, who had passed the age of retirement of 75.
Coccopalmerio was said to have played a role in the removal of the excommunications of the leaders of the Society of Saint Pius X.
He was appointed as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
on 23 December 2010 for a five year renewable term. Custom dicates that this will be renewed as necessary until his 80th birthday. In January 2011 the council began to circulate a draft of revisions to the penal section of the code of Canon Law, which governs crime and punishment in the church -- including sexual abuse by clergy. The aim is to have a final draft ready for Benedict XVI by the end of 2012.
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts is part of the Roman Curia. Its work "consists mainly in interpreting the laws of the Church". ....
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 15 February 2007.
Early life
He received a licentiateLicentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in 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...
in 1963. He holds a doctorate in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
and a Diploma in Moral Theology. In 1976 he obtained a Doctorate in Law at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is a privately-owned Catholic university founded in 1921 by Agostino Gemelli. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, Rome, and Campobasso...
in Milan.
He held positions in the Archdiocese of Milan until 1994. He was professor of Canon Law at the Faculty of Theology in northern Italy from 1966 to 1999. Since 1981, he was Professor in the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milan
On 8 April 1993 Pope John Paul IIPope 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 ...
appointed Coccopalmerio to be an Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Milan
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan
The Archdiocese of Milan is a metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Italy. It has long maintained its own rite: the Ambrosian rite. It is led by the Archbishop of Milan who serves as metropolitan to the dioceses of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Crema, Cremona, Lodi, Mantova, Pavia, and Vigevano.The...
with the titular see
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
of Coeliana. He was ordained on 22 May of that year. He is one of the Italian episcopate
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...
's lead voices on legal issues and ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue. Since 2000, Coccopalmerio, is a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and was during this time the only auxiliary bishop in its membership all others being ordinaries
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
.
Roman Curia
On 15 February 2007 he was raised to the level of Archbishop (pro hac vicePro hac vice
Pro hac vice , Latin: "for this occasion" or "for this event", is a legal term usually referring to a lawyer who has not been admitted to practice in a certain jurisdiction but has been allowed to participate in a particular case in that jurisdiction.The right to appear pro hac vice is not...
) of the same see and appointed as President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts is part of the Roman Curia. Its work "consists mainly in interpreting the laws of the Church". ....
replacing Julián Cardinal Herranz Casado, who had passed the age of retirement of 75.
Coccopalmerio was said to have played a role in the removal of the excommunications of the leaders of the Society of Saint Pius X.
He was appointed as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
on 23 December 2010 for a five year renewable term. Custom dicates that this will be renewed as necessary until his 80th birthday. In January 2011 the council began to circulate a draft of revisions to the penal section of the code of Canon Law, which governs crime and punishment in the church -- including sexual abuse by clergy. The aim is to have a final draft ready for Benedict XVI by the end of 2012.
Quotes
- Describing the code he said: "it is not just a collection of norms created by the will of ecclesiastical legislators," it "indicates the duties and rights inherent to the faithful and to the structure of the Church as instituted by ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
."