CARDINAL ENNIO ANTONELLI,

NEW PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILY

Ennio Cardinal Antonelli (born November 18, 1936) is an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Florence from March 2001 to June 2008 when he was appointed as President of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

He was born at Todi, Umbria, on 18 November 1936. He first attended seminary there, and subsequently studied in Assisi and the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, where he was awarded a licentiate in sacred theology. He was ordained a priest for that diocese on 2 April 1960. He holds a doctorate in classical studies from the University of Perugia.

Cardinal Antonelli was chaplain of the Catholic Teachers’ Association and of various Catholic Action groups, and also became rector of the Seminary of Perugia. He taught literature and art history and lectured in dogmatic theology at the theological institute of Assisi, and was likewise deeply involved in parish activities.

He was appointed Bishop of Gubbio on 25 May 1982 and ordained on 29 August. He built the new seminary, the diocesan pastoral centre and a house for the clergy. On 6 October 1988 he was appointed Archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve, and resigned on 26 May 1995 following his nomination as Secretary General of the Italian Bishop's Conference. He has held various offices within the Italian Bishops’ Conference and has been active in the hospital, school and university apostolates, setting up chaplaincies and creating groups for social/cultural commitment.

On 21 March 2001 he succeeded Cardinal Silvano Piovanelli as Archbishop of Florence and he was created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Title of S. Andrea delle Fratte (St. Andrew delle Fratte).

He is Member of Pontifical Council for the Laity and of Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

He was appointed by Pope Benedict to become President of the Pontifical Council for the Family in the Roman Curia on 7 June 2008.