Giuseppe Petrocchi

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Stored: Giuseppe Petrocchi

His Eminence Giuseppe Petrocchi
Bishop of Archdiocese of L’Aquila
Home diocese: Archdiocese of L’Aquila
Other diocese 1: Diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno
Other diocese 2:
Other diocese 3:
Ordination: 14 September 1973 by Archbishop Marcello Morgante
Consecration: 20 September 1998 by Bishop Silvano Montevecchi
Rank: Cardinal
Created cardinal: 28 June 2018 by Pope Francis
Personal details
Born: Giuseppe Petrocchi
19 August 1948
Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Died:
Nationality: Italian
Education: Pontifical Lateran University, University of Macerata, Sapienza University of Rome
Motto: "Ante omnia caritas" (Before All Things, Charity)
Role: Diocesan
Theology: Moderate
Region: Western Europe
Rite: Roman Rite
Conclave Eligibility: Eligible


Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, born (1948-08-19) August 19, 1948 (age 77), is an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Archbishop of L’Aquila from 2013 until his retirement in 2024.[1] Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018, he is recognized for his pastoral leadership in rebuilding L’Aquila’s community after the 2009 earthquake, which killed over 300 people, and for heading a 2020 Vatican commission studying the ordination of women to the diaconate.[2] His motto, “Ante omnia caritas” (Before All Things, Charity), reflects his emphasis on communal liturgy and the Eucharist, seen in his engagement with the Celestinian Forgiveness, an annual L’Aquila indulgence event, and his livestreamed Masses during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] At 76, Petrocchi is one of 53 European cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, where he attended Pope Francis’ funeral rites and participated in pre-conclave meetings, focusing on pastoral care over personal ambition.[3][4]

Ordained a priest in 1973, Petrocchi served as Bishop of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno (1998–2013) before his L’Aquila appointment, where he revitalized pastoral outreach and resolved diocesan financial issues.[2] His academic background in philosophy, theology, and psychology, coupled with his multilingual fluency (Italian, French, English, German, Spanish), has informed his roles in Vatican dicasteries, including the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and the Council for the Economy.[5] In 2024, upon reaching 75, he retired as archbishop, with Pope Francis appointing an auxiliary bishop as coadjutor, but Petrocchi remained active in the 2025 conclave preparations, bringing his experience of ministering to earthquake-affected communities to the global Church.[6]

Biography

Birth and early life

Giuseppe Petrocchi was born on August 19, 1948, in Venagrande, a suburb of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, to a Catholic family.[1] Raised in a region marked by cultural and religious heritage, he entered the Episcopal Seminary of Ascoli Piceno at age 17 in 1965, completing high school with a classical lyceum education.[6] His early exposure to Ascoli’s community, later affected by the 2016 Amatrice earthquake, shaped his pastoral focus on resilience.[7]

Petrocchi’s vocation was influenced by his diocese’s active youth ministry, leading him to pursue priesthood amidst Italy’s post-Vatican II renewal.[2] His family’s faith supported his early discernment.[5]

Education

Petrocchi studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a licentiate in dogmatic theology.[1] He obtained a degree in philosophy from the University of Macerata and a degree in psychology from Sapienza University of Rome, enhancing his pastoral and counseling skills.[5] His multilingual proficiency includes French, English, German, and Spanish.[8]

His education emphasized Catholic social teaching and community engagement, preparing him for roles in education and diocesan media.[2] His psychological training informed his later work at a family counseling center.[2]

Priesthood

Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ascoli Piceno on September 14, 1973, by Archbishop Marcello Morgante, Petrocchi served as a youth pastor (1973–1975) and taught religion at Orsini Scientific High School until 1978.[8] He edited a diocesan newspaper, served as a parish priest, and worked as a psychologist at a family counseling center for three years.[2] His ministry focused on vocational outreach and community building.[6]

Petrocchi’s early priesthood included significant engagement with Ascoli’s youth, fostering a “spirituality of communion” that later defined his episcopal work.[2] His teaching and media roles strengthened his communication skills.[5]

Bishop

Appointed Bishop of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno on June 27, 1998, by Pope John Paul II, Petrocchi was consecrated on September 20, 1998, by Bishop Silvano Montevecchi.[1] Named Archbishop of L’Aquila on June 8, 2013, he received the pallium from Pope Francis on June 29, 2013, and was elevated to cardinal on June 28, 2018, assigned the titular church of San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini.[6] He retired as archbishop on August 1, 2024, becoming emeritus.[6]

As bishop, Petrocchi led L’Aquila’s recovery post-2009 earthquake, celebrated livestreamed Masses during COVID-19, and headed the 2020 women’s diaconate commission.[2] In 2025, he joined conclave preparations, emphasizing pastoral care.[3]

Diocese Role Start Date End Date Notes
Diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno Bishop 27 June 1998 8 June 2013 Focused on youth ministry
Archdiocese of L’Aquila Archbishop 8 June 2013 1 August 2024 Elevated to cardinal in 2018; retired as emeritus

Significant events

  • Entered Episcopal Seminary of Ascoli Piceno, 1965.[1]
  • Ordained priest for Ascoli Piceno, 1973.[1]
  • Appointed Bishop of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno, 1998.[1]
  • Named Archbishop of L’Aquila, 2013.[1]
  • Received pallium from Pope Francis, 2013.[6]
  • Established Justice and Peace Commission, 2016.[2]
  • Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2018.[1]
  • Appointed to Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, 2018.[1]
  • Appointed to Congregation for Catholic Education, 2018.[1]
  • Appointed to Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 2019.[1]
  • Headed women’s diaconate study commission, 2020.[2]
  • Elected president of Abruzzo-Molise Episcopal Conference, 2021.[6]
  • Participated in Celestinian Forgiveness, 2022.[2]
  • Retired as Archbishop Emeritus of L’Aquila, 2024.[6]
  • Attended Pope Francis’ funeral and conclave preparations, 2025.[3]

Books

Written about the bishop

  • No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Petrocchi were identified.

Written by the bishop

  • No books authored by Cardinal Petrocchi were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of L’Aquila, but no published books are documented.

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "Giuseppe Petrocchi". Wikipedia. 2018-05-20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Petrocchi. 
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi". The College of Cardinals Report. 2024-11-23. https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/cardinal-giuseppe-petrocchi/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope". Vatican News. 2025-04-29. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html. 
  4. ↑ "Post by @acloudofsaints". X. 2025-04-26. https://t.co/RssKdxnXxR. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi". Institute for the Works of Religion. https://www.ior.va/en/about-us/governance/cardinals-commission/petrocchi-card-giuseppe. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Giuseppe Petrocchi". Wikipedia (Italian). 2006-10-18. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Petrocchi. 
  7. ↑ "Giuseppe Petrocchi: cardinal from areas devastated by earthquakes". Rome Reports. 2018-07-11. https://www.romereports.com/en/2018/07/11/giuseppe-petrocchi-cardinal-from-areas-devastated-by-earthquakes/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Giuseppe Petrocchi". Wikipedia (French). 2018-05-22. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Petrocchi. 
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