Nunzio Galantino

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Nunzio Galantino
President Emeritus of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
Church	Catholic
Appointed	26 June 2018
Term ended	2 October 2023
Predecessor	Domenico Calcagno
Successor	Giordano Piccinotti
Personal details
Born	(1948-08-16) 16 August 1948 (age 75) Cerignola, Italy
Previous post(s)	Secretary-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (2013–18) Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio (2012–15)
Alma mater	University of Bari
Motto	Inclina cor meum in testimonia tua (Bend my heart to your instructions) [lower-alpha 1]
Ordination history
History Priestly ordination Ordained by Mario Di Lieto Date 23 December 1972 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Angelo Bagnasco Co-consecrators Felice di Molfetta  [ it ], Vincenzo Bertolone Date 25 February 2012 Place Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Cerignola  [ it ], Diocese of Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano, Italy
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Nunzio Galantino as principal consecrator Francesco Oliva 2014 Luigi Mansi  [ it ] 2016

Styles of Nunzio Galantino
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Nunzio Galantino (born 16 August 1948) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) from 2018 to 2023. He was the Secretary-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) from 30 December 2013 to 26 June 2018 and Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio from 2012 to 2015.

Biography

Nunzio Galantino was born in Cerignola, Italy, in 1948. He received a theology degree after studying from 1968 to 1972 at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Benevento, Campania, and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ascoli Satriano e Cerignola on 23 December 1972. He earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Bari in 1974. From 1972 to 1977 he was Vice-Rector of the Seminary of Foggia, Italy, and Assistant of Catholic Action. In 1974 he became the Professor at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Benevento, a post he held until 1972. From 1977 he was a priest at the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Cerignola. In that time he held the offices of Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Care and for Culture and Continuing Education. From 1977 he was Professor of Anthropology at the Faculty of Theology for Southern Italy. In 2004 he became Head of National Service for the Higher Study of Theology and Religious Science at the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI). ^[1]

On 9 December 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Cassano all'Jonio. He was consecrated on 25 February 2012 in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Cerignola by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco. He chose as his motto Inclina cor meum in testimonia tua (Bend my heart to your instructions; Psalms 119:36). On that occasion, he asked that money ordinarily spent on gifts for him should be spent on services for the poor. While bishop he lived at the seminary rather than in the bishop's palace and eschewed the services of a secretary and chauffeur. He asked to be called "Don Nunzio" instead of the customary title "Your Excellency." ^[2]

On 30 December 2013, Pope Francis named him interim Secretary General of the CEI, ^[3] Pope Francis wrote to the people of Galantino's diocese to "ask permission" to give their bishop this assignment, saying: "I ask you to understand and to forgive me". ^{[4] [lower-alpha 2]} Rather than leave his diocese, Gallantino asked to be allowed to divide his time between his new post and his duties as bishop. ^[5] Corriere della Sera described Galantino's appointment as the selection of someone who had not sought the appointment and said it represented a break with recent popes' political approach to the CEI, reflected Francis' emphasis on pastoral activity, and signaled his expectations for the next president of the CEI. ^[6] Longtime Vatican observer John L. Allen later described the appointment as indicative of Pope Francis' management style, putting his own person in place without removing the head of the CEI and "making it so clear that [Galantino] enjoys his favor that everyone understands he's the real papal point of reference in the Italian episcopacy". ^[7] On 26 March 2014, Pope Francis appointed Galantino to a full term as secretary-general. ^[8]

In May 2014, in an interview about preparations for the Synod on the Family in October 2014, Bishop Galantino told the Florence-based La Nazione newspaper that he wanted church leaders to open their minds to different views: "My wish for the Italian Church is that it is able to listen without any taboo to the arguments in favour of married priests, the Eucharist for the divorced, and homosexuality." He said that "In the past we have concentrated too much on abortion and euthanasia. It mustn't be this way because in the middle there's real life which is constantly changing. I don't identify with the expressionless person who stands outside the abortion clinic reciting their rosary, but with young people, who are still against this practice, but are instead fighting for quality of life, their health, their right to work." ^[9] In August 2014, he said the Church must make everyone feel at home, that "Couples in irregular matrimonial situations are also Christians, but they are sometimes looked upon with prejudice. The burden of exclusion from the Sacraments is an unjustified price to pay, in addition to de facto discrimination". ^[10] He did not advocate allowing divorced Catholics who remarried to receive Communion, but said that "pastoral charity which for people facing marriage and family difficulties means acceptance, understanding, accompanying and support". ^[11]

On 28 February 2015, Pope Francis accepted Galantino's resignation as bishop of Cassano all'Jonio. ^[12] Francis named him President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See on 26 June 2018. ^{[13] [14]} He remained secretary general of the CEI until Francis named his successor, Stefano Russo  [ it ] on 28 September 2018. ^{[15] [16]}

Father Giordano Piccinotti succeeded him as president of APSA on 2 October 2023. ^[17]

Writings

• Beati quelli che non si accontentano (2016) ^[7]

Notes

1. Psalm 119:36
2. Pope Francis wrote: "Per una missione importante ho bisogno che monsignor Galantino venga a Roma almeno per un periodo. So quanto voi amate il vostro vescovo e so che non vi farà piacere che vi venga tolto, e vi capisco. Per questo ho voluto scrivervi direttamente come chiedendo il permesso. Egli sicuramente preferisce rimanere con voi, perché vi ama tanto. L'affetto è reciproco, e vi confesso che vedere questo amore filiale e paterno del popolo e del vescovo mi commuove e mi fa rendere grazie a Dio. Chiederò a monsignor Galantino che, almeno per un certo tempo, pur stando a Roma, viaggi regolarmente alcuni giorni per continuare ad accompagnarvi nel cammino della fede. Vi domando, per favore, di comprendermi e di perdonarmi." ^[4]

References

1. "Pontifical Acts - 9 December". Vatican News . 9 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
2. Allen Jr., John L. (3 January 2014). "The top five under-covered Catholic stories of 2013". National Catholic Reporter . Retrieved 3 January 2014.
3. Gualtieri, Andrea (30 December 2013). "Vaticano, cambio al vertice Cei: lascia Crociata arriva Galantino" [Vatican, change at the top of the CEI: Crociata leaves, Galantino arrives]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 11 December 2016.
4. Grana, Francesco Antonio (30 December 2013). "Cei, Galantino segretario. Il Papa alla sua diocesi: "Scusate, ma ho bisogno di lui"" [CEI, Galantino secretary. The Pope to his diocese: "Sorry, but I need him"]. Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 11 December 2016.
5. "Vaticano, il nuovo segretario generale della CEI è Monsignor Nunzio Galantino" [Vatican, the new general secretary of the CEI is Monsignor Nunzio Galantino]. Cerignola Viva (in Italian). 30 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
6. Melloni, Alberto (2 January 2014). "Nunzio Galantino Segretario Cei meno Politica e più Religiosità" [Nunzio Galantino Secretary of the CEI less politics and more religion]. La Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 3 January 2014.
7. Allen Jr., John L. (8 December 2016). "Rather than pulling a nail, Pope Francis finds another tool". Crux . Retrieved 11 December 2016.
8. Francese, Ican (26 March 2013). "Cei, il Papa sceglie il nuovo segretario" [CEI, the Pope chooses the new secretary]. Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 11 December 2016.
9. Gallicho, Grant (13 May 2014). "Pope's man in Italy on abortion, homosexuality & Communion for the divorced & remarried". Commonweal . Retrieved 11 December 2016.
10. "Leader of Italian bishops: Church should do more to welcome unconventional couples'". Catholic Herald . 28 August 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
11. "Italian Bishops' Leader Says Church Must Welcome 'Unconventional Couples'". Zenit . 28 August 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
12. "L'addio di monsignor Galantino a Cassano all'Jonio" [The farewell of Monsignor Galantino to Cassano all'Jonio]. Zenit (in Italian). 28 February 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
13. "Resignations and Appointments, 26.06.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
14. Allen Jr., John L. (27 June 2018). "Pope Francis calls a 'Hail Mary' pass on Vatican financial reform". Crux . Retrieved 28 June 2018.
15. "Rinunce e Nomine, 01.10.2018" [Resignations and Appointments, 01.10.2018] (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
16. Galantino, Nunzio (27 June 2018). "Intervista. Nunzio Galantino a capo dell'Apsa: «In Cei un'esperienza di famiglia»" [Interview. Nunzio Galantino at the head of APSA: "In CEI a family experience"]. Avvenire (Interview) (in Italian). Interviewed by Mimmo Muolo. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
17. "Don Piccinotti nuovo presidente dell'Apsa. Galantino: grato verso tutti" (in Italian). Vatican News. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.

External links

• Official website

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Vincenzo Bertolone	Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio 9 December 2011 – 28 February 2015	Succeeded by Francesco Savino
Preceded by Mariano Crociata	Secretary-General of the Italian Episcopal Conference 30 December 2013 – 26 June 2018	Succeeded by Stefano Russo
Preceded by Domenico Calcagno	President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See 26 June 2018 – 2 October 2023	Succeeded by Giordano Piccinotti