Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, was born in Pattada, Sassari, Italy, on 2 June 1948.

He was ordained a priest on 27 August 1972 and incardinated in Ozieri, Sardinia.

He graduated in canon law, and on 1 May 1984 he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, later serving in the Pontifical Representations in the Central African Republic, Sudan, New Zealand, Liberia, Great Britain, France and the United States of America.

On 15 October 2001, the Holy Father John Paul II appointed him as apostolic nuncio in Angola, elevating him at the same time to the see of Roselle, with the dignity of archbishop.

On 15 November of the same year he was also nominated as apostolic nuncio in São Tomé and Principe.

He received episcopal consecration on 1 December 2001.

On 23 July 2009, the Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed him as apostolic nuncio in Cuba until 2011.

On 10 May 2011 the Pope appointed him as substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. On 15 June of the same year he was appointed as consulter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

On 4 February 2017, the Holy Father appointed him as special delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

On 26 May 2018 the Holy Father appointed him as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He remained substitute for the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State until 29 June, and assumed his new office on 1 September, succeeding Cardinal Angelo Amato.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 28 June 2018, of the Diaconate of San Lino.

On 24 September 2020, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the rights connected to the Cardinalate, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu.