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FELICI Card. Angelo

FELICI Card. Angelo

Cardinal Angelo Felici, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Causes of Saints and President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei', was born on 26 July 1919 in Segni (Italy).

In January 1942 he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and on 4 April he was ordained priest. After having studied at the Pontifical Lateran University and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, in July 1945 he was called to the Congregation of the Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, serving in the First Section of the Secretary of State (today known as Relations with States).

In February 1964 he was nominated Under-secretary of the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs. Following the six day war, he was sent in mission to Jerusalem. During this time, he was also a professor at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

On 22 July 1967 he was elected titular archbishop of Cesariana (receiving episcopal ordination on 24 September 1967) and appointed pro-nuncio in Holland, where he remained until May 1976 when he was appointed apostolic nuncio in Portugal. On 27 August 1979, he was appointed apostolic nuncio in France.

On 1 July 1988 he was nominated Prefect of the Congregation for Causes of Saints (until 13 June 1995).

On 16 December 1995 he was nominated President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (until 14 April 2000).

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of 28 June 1988, of the Title of Ss. Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari (Sts. Blaise and Charles in Catinari), diaconry elevated pro illa vice to presbyteral title.

Cardinal Angeli Felici died on 17 June 2007.