Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Major Penitentiary, was born on 4 January 1954 in Casarano, province of Lecce and diocese of Nardò‑Gallipoli, Italy.

He studied first in the seminary of Taranto and then at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, completing his philosophical studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a licentiate in moral theology.

He was ordained a priest on 12 April 1980 for the diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli and from 28 November 1983 he was incardinated in the diocese of Rome.

During his ministry he has held the following offices: from 1980 to 1983, collaborator in the parish of San Saturnino and teacher of religion; from 1983 to 1988, vicar of the same parish; from 1988 to 1990, clerk of the General Secretariat of the Vicariate and vicar in the parish of the Santissima Annunziata in Grotta Perfetta; from 1989 to 1991, archivist of the secretariat of the College of Cardinals; from 1990 to 1996, director of the Clergy Office of the Vicariate of Rome; from 1990 to 2003, spiritual director at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary; since 2003, parish priest of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio and assistant for the diocese of Rome of the National Clergy Family Association.

He has served as a member of the diocesan presbyteral council and of the college of consulters.

In 1989 he was admitted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem with the rank of Knight.

During Lent 2014 he held the meditations for the Spiritual Exercises of the Roman Curia.

He was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Rome, with the titular see of Mottola, on 14 September 2015.

From 26 May 2017 to 6 April 2024 he was Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran.

From 11 July 2019 to 24 October 2020 was apostolic administrator sede vacante of the exarchate for Ukrainian Catholic faithful of Byzantine rite resident in Italy.

On 6 April 2024 the Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal De Donatis as Major Penitentiary.

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

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for the Clergy; for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.