Giovanni Battista Re

Italian cardinal · Italy · Religious Figures · Born 1934 · age 92

Read more often than usual, most of all on 9 October.

26 times the usual readers on 9 October. 8,336 readers on 9 October, against about 316 a day before the rise.

He chaired the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013, and now holds the oldest formal title in the Catholic hierarchy: Dean of the College of Cardinals, the senior among those who choose popes.

Religious Figures Religious Figure Religion Italy Europe 20th Century

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Photos 8

Card. Re WIKIPEDIA

26.04.2025 - Missa Exequial em intenção de Sua Santidade o Papa Francisco (54476156402) (cropped)

26.04.2025 - Missa Exequial em intenção de Sua Santidade o Papa Francisco (54476156402)

26.04.2025 - Missa Exequial em intenção de Sua Santidade o Papa Francisco (54477278868) (cropped)

26.04.2025 - Missa Exequial em intenção de Sua Santidade o Papa Francisco (54477278868)

Card. Re Oropa 1 (cropped)

In their own words 9

Giovanni Battista Re

9 statements, newest first

I hope for white smoke this evening. (May 8, 2025 at 11:01 a.m.)
May 8, 2025, Auspico la fumata bianca per questa sera., Own words
Only by following Christ and accepting his teaching can we find adequate ways and criteria for building a future of unity and justice, the civilisation of love and peace.
CELAM 5 in Aparecida- “All of us here are called to live an experience of Church and to make our contribution to an event which will be, Own words
The lack of ideals is what leads to emptiness and boredom. That is why, dear young people, I encourage you not to postpone life's fundamental decisions.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re at the closing ceremony for the First National Youth Day: “Life is worth living, but only when it is lived, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic1997

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Order of the Tribute to the Republic

Commander with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

About this person

Giovanni Battista Re was born in northern Italy on 30 January 1934 and rose through the Vatican's diplomatic and administrative ranks. In 2000 he was named prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, the office that vets bishop appointments worldwide, a post he held for a decade. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in 2001. By 2013 he had become the most senior cardinal bishop present in Rome, which gave him the chair at the conclave that spring - the gathering that elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis. Seven years later, in 2020, he was formally named Dean of the College of Cardinals, the ceremonial head of the body that will one day elect Francis's successor.

Country

Italy