Giuseppe Casoria
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Casoria was an Italian
Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship
from 1981 to 1984, and elevated to the cardinalate
in 1983.
to Clemente and Maria (née Russo) Casoria. He was baptized
in the cathedral of Acerra
by Fr. Vincenzo Montesarchio; his godfather
was Vincenzo del Giudice, a friend of the family. After spending his childhood in his native city, he attended the course in sacred theology
at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, the Pontifical Campano Seminary run by the Jesuits
in Posillipo
. He received a doctorate in sacred theology
in 1930, and was ordained
a priest
by Bishop Francesco Di Pietro on December 21, 1930.
A professor
at the seminary
of Acerra from 1930 to 1931, Casoria then furthered his studies in Rome
at the Pontifical Lateran University
, from where he earned a doctorate
in philosophy
in 1932; at the studium
of the Congregation of the Council
, earning a diploma
in canonical administrative practice in 1934; and at the Pontifical Athenaeum S. Apollinare
, earning a doctorate in utroque iuris in 1936. In 1938, he also obtained the diploma of advocate
of the Sacred Roman Rota
and of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.
Casoria taught at the seminary of Potenza
-Molfetta
(1934-1937) before being called to the Roman Curia
as an official of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments
. He was defender of the matrimonial bond
in the Roman Rota from 1939 to 1952, and became defender of the bond in the ecclesiastical tribunal
of Campania
in 1941 and advocate in the Congregation of Rites in 1949. He received a degree in political science
from the La Sapienza University in 1953.
In 1956, he was promoted to judge of the Tribunal of Appeals of the Vicariate of Rome
, referendary
prelate
of the Apostolic Signatura, and defender of the bond and commissary
for matrimonial causes in the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
. Casoria later became a consultor of the same Congregation in 1958, and undersecretary adjunct (1959) and undersecretary (1960) of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was made a voting prelate of the Apostolic Signatura in 1962.
During the Second Vatican Council
(1962-1965), he offered his work as a peritus
of the preparatory commission
for the sacraments
, subsequently serving as scrutator and peritus at the Council itself. He was later named qualifier (1964) and commissary for matrimonial causes (1966) in the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office
.
of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Paul VI
. In virtue of his office as Secretary, he was later named Titular Archbishop
of Forum Novum
on January 6, 1972. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following February 13 from Paul VI himself, with Cardinals Bernard Alfrink
and William Conway serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Peter's Basilica
.
Casoria was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints on February 2, 1973, and later Prefect
of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship on August 24, 1981.
created him Cardinal-Deacon
of S. Giuseppe in via Trionfale in the consistory
of February 2, 1983. He attended the VI Ordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops
at the Vatican
from September to October 1983. After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Casoria resigned the prefecture of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship on April 8, 1984. He lost the right to participate in a papal conclave
upon reaching age 80 in October 1988. He later opted for the order of Cardinal Priests
and his titular church was elevated pro illa vice
on April 5, 1993.
at St. Peter's Basilica two days later, on February 10, 2001; his niece and her husband read the two first readings of the liturgy
. During the homily, the Pope described Casoria as "a soul in love with Christ
, whom he always tried to imitate as a priest, serving him with total dedication in his daily work for the Church." He was later buried in his family's tomb
in his native Acerra.
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 Prefect of the Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the...
from 1981 to 1984, and 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 1983.
Early life and priesthood
Giuseppe Casoria was born in AcerraAcerra
Acerra is a town and comune of Campania, southern Italy, in the Province of Naples, about 20 km northeast of the provincial capital in Naples. It is part of the Agro Acerrano plain.-History:...
to Clemente and Maria (née Russo) Casoria. He was 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...
in the cathedral of Acerra
Acerra Cathedral
Acerra Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the town of Acerra in Campania, southern Italy.Since the 11th century it has been the seat of the Bishop of Acerra....
by Fr. Vincenzo Montesarchio; his godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
was Vincenzo del Giudice, a friend of the family. After spending his childhood in his native city, he attended the course in sacred theology
Sacred theology
Sacred theology is the name given to the theological degrees offered in a number of theological colleges, including the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church.It is offered at the following levels:*Bachelor of Sacred Theology...
at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, the Pontifical Campano Seminary run by the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in Posillipo
Posillipo
Posillipo is a residential quarter of Naples, southern Italy, located along the northern coast of the Gulf of Naples; it is called Pusilleco in the Neapolitan language.-Geography:...
. He received a doctorate in sacred theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
in 1930, and 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....
a priest
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....
by Bishop Francesco Di Pietro on December 21, 1930.
A professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the 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...
of Acerra from 1930 to 1931, Casoria then furthered his studies 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...
at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
, from where he earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 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...
in 1932; at the studium
Medieval university
Medieval university is an institution of higher learning which was established during High Middle Ages period and is a corporation.The first institutions generally considered to be universities were established in Italy, France, and England in the late 11th and the 12th centuries for the study of...
of the Congregation of the Council
Congregation for the Clergy
The Sacred Congregation for the Clergy is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons not belonging to religious orders...
, earning a diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in canonical administrative practice in 1934; and at the Pontifical Athenaeum S. Apollinare
Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare
Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare was a university named after Saint Apollinaris. Notable people who have attended include:*Alfredo Ottaviani*Amleto Giovanni Cicognani*Eugène-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Tisserant*Benedetto Aloisi Masella*Gustavo Testa...
, earning a doctorate in utroque iuris in 1936. In 1938, he also obtained the diploma of advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
of the Sacred Roman Rota
Sacra Rota Romana
The Tribunal Apostolicum Rotae Romanae — also called the Sacred Roman Rota, and anciently the Apostolic Court of Audience — is the highest appellate tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church, with respect to both Latin-rite members and the eastern-rite members and is, with respect to judicial trials...
and of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.
Casoria taught at the seminary of Potenza
Potenza
-Transportation:Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company...
-Molfetta
Molfetta
Molfetta is a city and comune of the province of Bari in the southern Italian region of Apulia, on the Adriatic coast, at sea-level. It is 25 km WNW of Bari.It has a well restored old city, and its own dialect.- History :...
(1934-1937) before being called to 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...
as an official of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the...
. He was defender of the matrimonial bond
Defender of the Matrimonial Tie
The Defender of the Bond, or Defensor Matrimonii in Latin, is a Catholic church official whose duty is to defend the marriage-bond in the procedure prescribed for the hearing of matrimonial causes which involve the validity or nullity of a marriage already contracted.Benedict XIV, by his Bull "Dei...
in the Roman Rota from 1939 to 1952, and became defender of the bond in the ecclesiastical tribunal
Ecclesiastical court
An ecclesiastical court is any of certain courts having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. In the Middle Ages in many areas of Europe these courts had much wider powers than before the development of nation states...
of Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
in 1941 and advocate in the Congregation of Rites in 1949. He received a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the La Sapienza University in 1953.
In 1956, he was promoted to judge of the Tribunal of Appeals of the Vicariate of Rome
Cardinal Vicar
Cardinal Vicar is a title commonly given to the vicar general of the diocese of Rome for the portion of the diocese within Italy. The official title, as given in the Annuario Pontificio , is "Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome"...
, referendary
Referendary
Referendary is the English form or rendering of a number of administrative positions, of various rank, in chanceries and other official organisations.-Secular:...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Apostolic Signatura, and defender of the bond and commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
for matrimonial causes in the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
. Casoria later became a consultor of the same Congregation in 1958, and undersecretary adjunct (1959) and undersecretary (1960) of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was made a voting prelate of the Apostolic Signatura in 1962.
During 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...
(1962-1965), he offered his work as a peritus
Peritus
Peritus is the title given to Roman Catholic theologians who are present to give advice at an ecumenical council. At the most recent council, the Second Vatican Council, some periti accompanied individual bishops or groups of bishops from various countries...
of the preparatory commission
Central Preparatory Commission
The Central Preparatory Commission was the body that co-ordinated the preparation of the schemas for the Second Vatican Council. It was established by Pope John XXIII on June 5, 1960...
for the sacraments
Sacraments of the Catholic Church
The Sacraments of the Catholic Church are, the Roman Catholic Church teaches, "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper...
, subsequently serving as scrutator and peritus at the Council itself. He was later named qualifier (1964) and commissary for matrimonial causes (1966) in the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office
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...
.
Episcopal career
On April 9, 1969, Casoria was appointed SecretarySecretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments 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...
. In virtue of his office as Secretary, he was later named 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...
of Forum Novum
Forum Novum
Forum Novum was a new Roman foundation which developed as a forum or market center during the Roman Republic period. By the early 1st century AD Forum Novum had been elevated to the status of municipium, appearing as such in Pliny's list of towns...
on January 6, 1972. 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 the following February 13 from Paul VI himself, with Cardinals Bernard Alfrink
Bernardus Johannes Alfrink
Bernardus Johannes Alfrink was a Dutch Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Utrecht from 1955 to 1975, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1960.-Biography:...
and William Conway 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...
, at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
.
Casoria was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints on February 2, 1973, and later Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship on August 24, 1981.
Cardinalate
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 ...
created him Cardinal-Deacon
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 S. Giuseppe in via Trionfale in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of February 2, 1983. He attended the VI Ordinary Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
at the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
from September to October 1983. After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Casoria resigned the prefecture of the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship on April 8, 1984. He lost the right to participate in a papal conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
upon reaching age 80 in October 1988. He later opted for the order of Cardinal Priests
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...
and his titular church was elevated pro illa vice
Pro 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...
on April 5, 1993.
Death
Casoria died at Clinica Pio XI in Rome, at age 92. John Paul II celebrated his funeral MassRequiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
at St. Peter's Basilica two days later, on February 10, 2001; his niece and her husband read the two first readings of the liturgy
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
. During the homily, the Pope described Casoria as "a soul in love with Christ
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, whom he always tried to imitate as a priest, serving him with total dedication in his daily work for the Church." He was later buried in his family's tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
in his native Acerra.