Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi

Last updated

The Most Reverend

Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi
Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church
BISHOP giovanni cesare pagazzi 2018 01.jpg
Church Roman Catholic Church
Appointed28 March 2025
Predecessor Angelo Vincenzo Zani
Other post(s) Titular archbishop of Belcastro
Previous post(s)Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education (2022–25)
Orders
Ordination23 June 1990
Consecration10 February 2024
Personal details
Born (1965-06-08) 8 June 1965 (age 59)
Crema, Italy
Coat of arms Coat of arms of Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi.svg
Styles of
Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi
Coat of arms of Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi.svg
Reference style His Excellency, The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Bishop

Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, known as don Cesare [1] [2] (born 8 June 1965) is an Italian academic and Catholic prelate who was secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, part of the Roman Curia, from September 2022 to March 2025, when he was appointed Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church. On 9 May 2025 pope Leo XIV confirmed him in this charge. [3] He has been an archbishop since February 2024.

Contents

Biography

Born in Crema on 8 June 1965, [4] he attended the Maria Santissima Bambina Institute in Lodi. From 1983 to 1990, he studied philosophy and theology in the joint seminary of Crema and Lodi, an affiliate of the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy. [5]

Cesare in Caselle Landi, October 2018 BISHOP giovanni cesare pagazzi 2018 02.jpg
Cesare in Caselle Landi, October 2018

On 23 June 1990 he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Lodi. [4] He obtained his licentiate in 1994 and his doctorate in theology in 1996 at the Pontifical Gregorian University with a thesis entitled "The uniqueness of Jesus as a criterion of unity and difference in the Church" under the direction of Ángel Antón. [5]

He became professor of ecclesiology and Christology at the United Theological Studies of the seminaries of Crema and Lodi in September 1996. From 2013 to 2014, he was a visiting professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In addition to his academic activity, Pagazzi was responsible for the training of permanent deacons in the diocese of Lodi from November 2009 to September 2023.

In October 2019, he became professor of theology at the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences. [6] There he helped organize an art exhibit devoted to the work of the Brazilian Franciscan Sidival Fila. [1] [7] He has directed the Gaudium et Spes program and taught a course that viewed literature, music, art, and cinema as expressions of family dynamics. [1]

He has been a consultor of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith since October 2021. [8]

Pope Francis named him secretary of Dicastery for Culture and Education on 26 September 2022, [4] as Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça was named prefect of that dicastery. [9] [10] On 30 November 2023, Pope Francis appointed him titular archbishop of Belcastro. [11] His episcopal consecration is scheduled for 10 February 2024 in Lodi. [12]

On 28 March 2025, Pope Francis appointed him Vatican archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church. [13] On 9 May 2025 pope Leo XIV confirmed him in this charge.

His theological writings include works in a popular vein as well. In The Cooking of the Risen One (2014), he explores Jesus' use of food in parables and his relationships, as well as his knowledge of food preparation. Pagazzi wrote: "A careful reading of the Gospel shows us not only Jesus' liking for conviviality, but also his excellent knowledge of and production and preparation of food. He knew even the precise dose of yeast to be added to flour in making bread." (Matthew 13:33) [14] In In pace e mi corico: il sonno e la fede (In peace and my bed: sleep and faith), he considers how the Scripture considers "sleep, insomnia, drowsiness and laziness, to the night, to dreams", and considers the faith that allows for restful sleep. [15]

Selected writings

His published works include: [5]

Cesare during his episcopal ordination, 10 February 2024 BISHOP pagazzi ordination.jpg
Cesare during his episcopal ordination, 10 February 2024

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi nominato segretario del Dicastero per la cultura e l'educazione". John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences (in Italian). 26 September 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  2. Vercellone, Cristina (26 September 2022). "Lodi, il Papa nomina don Pagazzi segretario del dicastero per la cultura". Il Cittadino di Lodi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  3. "Communiqué, 09.05.2025" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Rinunce e Nomine, 26.09.2023" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "[Curriculum Vitae]: Pagazzi Giovanni Cesare]". John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences (in Italian). Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  6. "Pagazzi, Don Giovanni Cesare". Diocese of Lodi (in Italian). Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  7. ""Sindoni", al Battistero di San Giovanni in Laterano le opere di Sidival Fila". John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences (in Italian). 14 June 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. "Resignations and Appointments, 29.10.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. White, Christopher (26 September 2022). "Pope Francis appoints Vatican's new culture, education chief". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. Wooden, Cathy (26 September 2022). "Pope names prefect, secretary for Dicastery of Culture and Education". Crux. Catholic News Service.
  11. "Rinunce e nomine, 30.11.2023" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  12. Dovera, Federico (1 December 2023). "Nomina episcopale per don Pagazzi" (PDF). Il Cittadino di Lodi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 December 2023 via Diocese of Lodi.
  13. "Resignations and Appointments, 28.03.2025" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  14. Harris, Judith (23 April 2014). "Truly 'top chef': Gospel shows Jesus knew how to cook, theologian says". National Catholic Reporter. Catholic News Service. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  15. ""In pace mi corico", il nuovo libro di Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi". John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences (in Italian). 5 October 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2023.