Christ – The Church – Man

Vaticanum II
in the Pontificate of John Paul II

Italiano

Speakers (click on surnames for more information)

Amato Angelo, H.E.Msgr. Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Redemptoris Missio as the doctrinal framework for evangelisation in the contemporary world”

Augé Matias, Prof. CMF, “The Liturgical Reform and John Paul II”

Bertone Tarcisio H.E.Card. Secretary of Vatican State

Borghesi Massimo, Prof. (Pontifical Theological Faculty St. Bonaventure-Seraphicum), “Fides et Ratio: Christianity and the Contemporary Culture”

Buttiglione Rocco, Prof. (Senator), “The Church in relation to the problems of the contemporary world: between illuminism and post-modernism”

Caffarra Carlo, H.E.Card. Archbishop of Bologna, “The family as a place of experience and communion”

Cangiotti Marco, Prof. (University of Urbino), “Ethics, Politics, and the human person”

Dziwisz Stanislaw H.E.Card. Archbishop of Krakow

Giertych Wojciech OP (Theologian of the Pontifical House), “The verum bonum in the moral teaching of John Paul II”

Iammarrone  Giovanni OFMConv (Pontifical Theological Faculty St. Bonaventure-Seraphicum), “The Church in the Pontificate of John Paul II”

Kijas Zdzisław J. OFMConv, President of the Pontifical Theological Faculty St. Bonaventure- Seraphicum

Levada William Joseph H.E.Card. Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Marini Piero, H.E.Msgr. President of the Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses, “The Liturgical Reform and John Paul II”

Miranda Gonzalo LC, “Issues of bioethics and biogenetics: from Vatican II to John Paul II”

Oder Sławomir, Msgr. Postulator of the Cause of Beatification for the Servant of God John Paul II

Posselt Bernd, Dr. Pan-Europe, Member of the European Parliament, “Europe and the Christian identity”

Poupard  Paul, H.E.Card. President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, “The Church, the culture and the integral development of the person: from the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council to John Paul II”

Ruini Camillo, H.E.Card. Vicar to His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome

Ryłko Stanislaw, H.E.Card. President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity

Sanna Ignazio, H.E.Msgr. Archbishop of Oristano, “The origin and vocation of the human person”

Siviglia Ina, Dr Professor of anthropology at the Theological Faculty of Palermo

Suchocka Hanna Polish Ambassador for the Holy See

Szostek Andrzej, Prof. University of Lublin, “Dignity and respect for life”

Tasca Marco Minister General OFM Conv.

Tortorella Laura, Prof. (Pontifical Theological Faculty St. Bonaventure-Seraphicum), “The woman seen in the light of Mary from Vatican II to John Paul II”

Waldstein Michael, Dr. Professor of theology at the Internationales Theologisches Institut in Austria and the Ave Maria University in Florida (USA)

Weigel George, Prof. Washington, USA, “John Paul II and the new humanism”

Amato Angelo, H.E.Msgr.
His Excellency, Archbishop Angelo Amato, is currently the secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He entered among the Salesians, the Congregation of Don Bosco, in the early fifties and was ordained a priest on December 22, 1967. He studied at the Pontifical University Salesiana and, in 1968, at the Gregoriana. He specialized in Christology. In 1972, he was an assistant teacher at the Salesiana University. In 1974, he obtained a doctorate with a dissertation on “I pronunciamenti tridentini sulla necessità della confessione sacramentale nei canoni 6-9 della Sessione”; His superviser was fr. Zoltan Alszeghy.
In 1978-79, he was the grant holder of the ecumenical patriarchate of Constantinople at Salonicco in Greece at the orthodox monastery Monì Vlatàdon, which is the chair of the famous Patriarchal Institute of patristic studies. At the same time, he also frequented the civil University of Salonicco.
In 1988, he had a one year sabbatical in Washington, D.C.,USA, where he began to study the theology of religion.
Archbishop Amato was ordained bishop on January 6, 2003, by John Paul II, and was given the title of Archbishop of Sila. Angelo Amato is accredited with many theological publications; among them is the important book in Christology, Gesù il Signore (Jesus the Lord), edited by the Dehoniane Edition of Bologna (Italy).
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Augé Matias, Prof. CMF
Prof. Mattias Augé cmf (born in Perafort, in Spain in 1936), made his religious profession in 1953 and was ordained Presbyter in Valls in 1961
In 1962, he received his diploma in Theology at the Angelicum, in Rome, while in 1967 he graduated in Theology with a specialization in Liturgy at the Pontificio Istituto Liturgico of the Anselmianum in Rome.
Moreover, he studied Geography and History at the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia of Madrid.  He was President of the Institute of Theology of Consecrated Life Claretianum from, 1976  to 1982  and from 1991 to 1997.
Contemporaneously and subsequently he was an Ordinary Professor of the Claretianum, from 1973 ’73 to 2006. Then from the academic year 2006-2007 he became Professor emeritus. 
From 1968 to 2006, he was Professor Lecturer at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of the Anselmianum and successively honorary Professor. 
From 1990 he was the Professor Responsible for the Chair of Liturgy and General Sacramentary at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of the Pontificia Università Lateranense, and was in the last academic year an invited Professor.
He was an invited Professor of Liturgy in the Centro de Estudios Superiores Legionarios de Cristo in Rome for the academic year 1991-1992. This Centre then became the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum, and he was invited to give lectures in Pastoral liturgy in the academic years of 1999  to 2001.
He was an invited Professor of Introduction to the Liturgy in the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure Seraphicum, in Rome from 1995  to 2006.  
For several years he taught in the Istituto di Liturgia Pastorale of St. Justina, in Padua, and in the Institute Regina Mundi of Rome.  He was also invited to give a seminar at the Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum.
He has held conferences and has taken part in Congresses in various parts of Europe and in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru.
He has been the Consultant of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (nominated 3/17/1994, reconfirmed for a second five-year term 09/20/1994, and a third 3/12/2005); as well as auditor in the IX Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the world (cfr. L’Osservatore Romano 8/27/1994).
He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the series Monumenta Studia Instrumenta Liturgica (Libreria Editrice Vaticana), and of the Editorial Counsel of the magazine Ecclesia Orans as well as the Editorial Counsel of the magazine Rivista Liturgica.
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Bertone Tarcisio H.E.Card.
His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, present Secretary of Vatican State, received his priestly ordination in 1960. He then obtained his License in Sacred Theology from the Salesian Theological Faculty in Turin. Thereafter continuing his studies in Rome at the Pontifical University Salesiana, where he obtained his License and Doctorate in Canon Law, with a study on “Il governo della Chiesa nel pensiero di Benedetto XIV- Papa Lambertini (1740-1758)”
In 1967, he assumed the Special Moral Theology Chair at the Salesian University, and was subsequently called to direct the Faculty of Canon Law, where he taught until 1991.
In 1978, he was invited as Professor of “Public Ecclesiastical Law” at the Institutum Utriusaue Iuris of the Pontifical University Lateranense. He was Director of Theologies, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, Vice-rector, and subsequently Rector Major of the Pontifical University Salesiana.
He collaborated in the last phase of the revision of the Code of Canon Law, and he directed the work group that translated the Code into Italian.
In the 1980’s, he exercised an intense and qualified service to the Holy See, as a Consultor in different Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. He actively collaborated with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, especially concerning the arguments of theological-juridical character. In 1991, the Holy Father called him to guide the oldest Piedmont Diocese, the Archdiocese of Vercelli. Then in 1993, he was nominated by the CEI, President of the Ecclesial Justice and Peace Commission. In this role, he signed and promoted the two documents: “Legality, justice and morality” (1993), and “Social state and education in the society” (1995).
In 1995, John Paul II nominated him Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was given the responsibility by the Holy Father to oversee the publication of the third part of the “secret” of Fatima (Il messaggio di Fatima, Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2000).
At the end of 2002, John Paul II nominated him Archbishop of Metropolitan Genoa and he was the President of the Ligure Episcopal Conference. He was also a member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as member of the Congregation of Clergy, and of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the discipline of the Sacraments. In 2003, with the solemn celebration in St. Peter’s, he was made Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church by Pope John Paul II, and was assigned S. Maria Ausiliatrice in via Tuscolana. He was nominated Secretary of State in 2006.
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Borghesi Massimo, Prof.

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Buttiglione Rocco, Prof.
IProf. Rocco Buttiglione was born in Gallipoli on June 6, 1948.  In Catania, he encountered the youth of the Gioventù Studentesca and successively studied jurisprudence in Turin, which at the time, was a city intensely pervaded by the ideas of great liberal lay thinkers. 
He became an ordinary professor of political science at the University of St. Pius V in Rome, concerning himself with philosophy, social ethics, economy and politics also at the International Academy of Philosophy of Principality of Leichtensteini, of which he was pro-rector.  He held lectures and seminars in ethics at the Catholic University of Lublin which granted him a degree honoris causa in philosophy in May of 1994.  He frequented the American Enterprise Institute of Washington, directed by M. Novak, the Ethics and Public Policy Center of G. Weigel in Washington, the Action Institute of R. Sirico in Michigan, the Religion and Public Life of R. Neuhaus in New York.  He has been a member of the editorial council for numerous Italian and foreign journals as well as editorialist of various dailies.  He writes in diverse languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish.
From 1984 to 1989, he was consultant of the Pontifical Commission Justitia et Pax.  From 1993, he is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, as well as member of the Accademia Scientiarum et Artium Europae.
In 1994, he was elected to Parliament and was confirmed both in 1996 and in 2001 to the House of Parliament.  In the last elections, he was elected senator.  In June 1994, he was elected secretary of the Italian Popular Party. 
In 1995, he was elected secretary of the CDU- United Christian Democrats, and is a member of the bi-chamber Commission for constitutional reforms.  In 1999, he became member of the European Parliament and member of the European Commission for liberty and citizens’ rights, justice and internal affairs.  In 2001, he became minister for Community Politics of the Berlusconi Government.
With the renewal of the European Commission, he was designated as an Italian candidate for commissioner.
In 2005, he was nominated minister for cultural goods and activities. In less than a year, he completed the Code of Cultural Goods, especially regarding landscaping, the abolition of silent assent for cultural goods, and innovative norms on preventative archaeology for the great works.
Rocco Buttiglione has written and published about ten volumes, over 130 scientific essays (many of which are in different languages) and hundreds of articles on the Italian and foreign press.       
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Caffarra Carlo, H.E.Card.
His Eminence Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, was born at Samboseto of Busseto, in the province of Parma; he frequented the Episcopal Seminary at Fidenza and was ordained a priest at Samboseto on July 2, 1961, by Mgsr. G. Bosetti.
He continued his studies in Rome where he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University Gregoriana, with a thesis on the finality of matrimony. He received a diploma with a Specialization in Moral Theology at the Pontifical Academy Alfonsiana.
For a few years, he taught Moral Theology at the Seminary of Parma and Fidenza; then fundamental Moral Theology at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy at Milan and at the Department of Religious Science at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart at Milan, under the administration of Rector Lazzati. In the Seventies, he began an in-depth study on the themes of Matrimony, the Family and human procreation. He teaches medical Ethics at the Faculty of Chirurgical Medicine of the University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. In August 1974, he was nominated Member of the International Theological Commission by Paul VI, a position that he held for ten years.
In 1980, John Paul II nominated him an expert at the Synod of Bishops on Matrimony and the Family, and in 1981, conferred upon him the mandate to found and preside the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Matrimony and the Family, where he teaches a course on the Ethics of procreation and seminars on General Ethics and Bioethics.
In 1983, he was Consultor of the Congregation of the Faith for five years; and was also asked to be part of the Commission of studies for genetic engineering, established ad actum at the Board of Health. At the same time, he held courses and lessons in various foreign Universities.
In 1988 in Washington, D.C., he founded the first extra-urban Section of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Matrimony and the Family; which was followed by a Mexican and Spanish Section, where he held regular academic courses. He received, moreover, a Doctorate h.c. in Christian Letters from the Franciscan University at Steubenville (Ohio).
In 1995, he was consecrated Bishop at the Cathedral of Fidenza by His Eminence Cardinal Giacomo Biffi. In that year, he began his pastoral activity in the Archdiocese of Ferrara-Comacchio. In 2003, he was called to lead the Archdiocese of Bologna, substituting Cardinal Giacomo Biffi who reached the age of retirement. He was installed in the Diocese on February 15, 2004. He was made cardinal by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in March 24, 2006.
He is a member of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples; a Member of the Presidential Committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and of the Pontifical Academy of Life; honorary member of the Real Academia de los Doctores in Madrid. He is also President of the Episcopal Regional Conference and Moderator of the Flaminio Court for cases regarding matrimony.
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Cangiotti Marco, Prof.

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Dziwisz Stanislaw H.E.Card.
His Eminence Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz is originally from Raba Wyzna, in the archdiocese of Krakow. In 1957, having completed his secondary school exams, he entered in the Major Seminary of Krakow, where he completed his philosophical and theological studies.
He was ordained a priest on June 23, 1963 in the Cathedral of Krakow by the archbishop at that time, Karol Wojtyła. From 1963 to 1965, he worked as an assistant pastor; subsequently he was invited to continue his liturgical studies at the Theological Faculty of Krakow, where he obtained a License in Theology (1967).
In 1981, he obtained a Doctorate in Theology at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology at Krakow with a thesis entitled “The cult of St. Stanisław, Bishop in Krakow until the Council of Trent”.
From 1966 to 1978, he held the position of Particular Secretary of the Archbishop of Krakow. At the same time, he taught Liturgy at the Superior Catechetical Institute at Krakow, and was editor of the official periodical of the Episcopal Curia Notificationes and Curia Metropolitana Cracoviensi, as well as a member and secretary of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, and member of the Presbyterial Council.
He participated in the work of the Holy Year Committee (1974-1975) and he worked on the General Commission, the Commission for divine worship, and the Commission for the sanctification of time of the Krakow Archdiocesan Synod (1972-1979).
He was co-editor of the Diocesan Ceremonial and of the Parish Manual.
From the election of Pope John Paul II until his death, he was the Personal Secretary of the late Pope (1978-2005).
In 1995, he was nominated Canon of the Metropolitan Chapter of Leopoli (Ukraine), and in 1996 he was chosen Apostolic Protonotary. Then, in 1997, he was Canon of the Metropolitan Chapter of Krakow. On February 7, 1998, he was promoted to Titular Bishop of San Leone, with the responsibility of assistant Prefect of the Pontifical House. On March 19 of that same year, he received the Episcopal ordination from Pope John Paul II.
He was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop on September 29, 2003. On June 3, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Archbishop of the metropolitan Krakow and created him Cardinal in 2006.
He is the author of the Cult of St. Stanisław Bishop of Krakow until the Council of Trent (Krakow, 1981; Rome, 1984) and of the memories about the attempt on the life of the Holy Father John Paul II –Ho toccato questo mistero [I touched this mystery] (Lublin, 2001). He is also editor of various volumes of pontifical texts edited in the polish language by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. He is the Vice-president of the John Paul II Foundation since 1987. He received the Benemerenti Medal of the Pontifical Academy of Theology at Krakow and a Doctorate honoris causa from the Catholic University of Lublin.
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Giertych Wojciech OP
Fr. Wojciech Giertych, OP is currently the Theologian of the Pontifical House.
Though he was born in Poland, he lived for a many years in England.
In 1970, he went to Poznan, in eastern Poland, where he undertook historical studies at the University  Adama Mickiewicz. 
After having finished his studies and defended his thesis, he entered in the novitiate of the Order of Dominicans. He received Holy Orders in 1981 at Krakow.  Afterwards, he was transferred to Rome where he achieved a Doctorate in moral theology at the Pontifical University Angelicum.
He then returned to Poland and became the rector of seminarians in the Dominican convent of Krakow and teacher of moral theology.
He taught at the Angelicum in Rome and at the philosophical-theological College of the Polish province of Dominicans in Krakow.
Since 1998, he has been a member of the general Council of the Order of Dominicans where he held various roles, most recently that of general associate for the intellectual life. Before that he was the general assistant for central and eastern Europe.
He speaks fluently English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Russian.
Between November and December 2005, he was nominated Theologian of the Pontifical House by Benedict XVI, thus substituting the Swiss Cardinal George Cottier.
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Iammarrone  Giovanni OFMConv
Giovanni Iammarrone, Ordinary professor of dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty “St. Bonaventure” – Rome, and a visiting professor of Christology at the Pontifical University Lateranese. He is author of various theological publications among which: Lo spiritualismo nell’antropologia di Sant’Agostino [Spiritualism in the Anthropology of St. Augustine], Florence 1975; Gesù Cristo salvezza dell’uomo [Jesus Christ, the Salvation of man], Rome 1982; Immagine di Dio. Antropologia e cristologia [Image of God. Anthropology and Christology],Rome 1989; La spiritualità francescana. Anima e contenuti [Franciscan Spirituality. Essence and Contents], Padua 1993; Redenzione [Redemption], Cinisello Balsamo 1995; Gesù di Nazaret Messia e Figlio di Dio. Lineamenti di cristologia [Jesus of Nazareth, Messiah and Son of God. Characteristics of Christology], Padua 1995; Gesù Cristo e la Chiesa in San Tommaso d’Aquino [Jesus Christ and the Church in St. Thomas Aquinas], Rome 1997; La cristologia francescana [Franciscan Christology], Padua 1997. Il dialogo sulla giustificazione, [Dialogue on Justification], Padua 2002; Risurrezione, morte di croce e vita storica di Gesù nella cristologia contemporanea [Resurrection, Death on the Cross and the Historical Life of Jesus in Contemporary Christology], Rome 2003; Gesù Cristo volto del Padre e modello dell’uomo.  Apporto della visione francescana [Jesus Christ, Countenance of the Father and Model of man. Contribution of the Franciscan vision], Padua 2005²; Il Crocifisso e la croce in Francesco, Chiara e nel primo francescanesimo [The Crucified and the Cross in Francis, Clare and in Early Franciscanism], Padua 2007. He is currently the director of the journal Miscellanea Francescana.
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Kijas Zdzisław J. OFMConv

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Levada William Joseph H.E.Card.
His Eminence Cardinal William Joseph Levada is presently the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, nominated by Pope Benedict XVI May 13th, 2005.
Born in Long Beach, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, on June 15th, 1936, Msgr. Levada studied for four years in the seminary of the Archdioceses of Los Angeles.
In 1958, he was sent to Rome, to the North American College, to complete his formation, and he graduated from the Pontifical University Gregoriana in Theology, receiving a doctorate magna cum laude in Sacred Theology.
After his priestly ordination in St. Peter’s Basilica on December 20th, 1961, he spent five years working in parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and teaching part-time at a high school. He also exercised his campus ministry after his doctorate, . Msgr. Levada taught Theology at St. John’s Seminary School of Theology of Camarillo, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In those six years, he was also the first Director of Permanent Education of Clergy of the Archdiocese.
In 1976, he was nominated representative of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican. In the six years of service, he continued to teach part-time at the Pontifical University Gregoriana.
In 1982, he was chosen to be the Executive Director of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of California at Sacramento. During his six years presence, he was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, and was ordained Titular Bishop of Capri on May 12th, 1983.
In 1984, he returned to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and was the Episcopal Vicar of Contea of Santa Barbara until his nomination as Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia in 1986.
On June 1st, 1986 he was nominated the eighth bishop of Portland, Oregon and was installed on September 21st. In the nine years that he spent in Portland, Archbishop Levada dedicated himself to the promotion of priestly vocations and the valorization of the seminary of Mt. Angel where he taught Ecclesiology.
He was nominated Archbishop Coadjutor of San Francisco on August 17th, 1995, and was installed on October 24th of the same year, replacing the Archbishop John Quinn as the seventh Archbishop of San Francisco on December 27th, 1995.
Ever since his Episcopal Ordination, he was part of many committees of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States, as well as directive councils of the “Catholic University of America”, of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the National Catholic Bioethics Center.
In 1997 he participated in the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for America, and was subsequently nominated for the Post-Synod Council. From July 1999 to May 2000 he also presided as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
In 2000 he was designated Co-President Bishop of the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue in the United States (ARC-USA). In November, the Vatican announced his nomination as a Member of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
In November 2003, he became the three-year President of the Committee on the Doctrine of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States.
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Marini Piero, H.E.Msgr.
His Excellence Msgr. Pietro Marini is currently president of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses.  He was born in 1942 at Valverde, in the province of Pavia, and was ordained a priest in 1965.
In September of that same year, he began his activity in the Roman Curia, specifically in the Consilium ad exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia.
Thenceforth, he continued to work in different organizations of the Holy See that coordinated the actualisation of the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council.  During these years of work in diverse Dicasteries, he was given various positions of responsibility. In 1970, after having obtained his license, he then obtained a degree in theology with a specialisation in liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute St. Anselmo in Rome.  From the end of the 1970’s, he also provided his service for the liturgical celebrations presided by the Holy Father.  In 1975, he was nominated pontifical Master of Ceremonies. This position he left in 1985, when he was nominated undersecretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
In 1981, he obtained a second degree in political science at the Libera Università degli studi sociali in Rome.  He knows well French, Spanish, German and English. He has written various articles on the actualisation of the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, and has collaborated for the revision of the new Caerimoniale Episcoporum.
During the 15 years of service in the Office of Pontifical Celebrations, he was able to take part in important ecclesial events and different apostolic trips of the pontiff.
On February 24, 1987, the Holy Father John Paul II nominated him as Master of Pontifical Liturgical  Ceremonies, and he held this role until 2007.  During these years he promoted a renewal of the Office, as he obtained for it a juridical autonomy within the Roman Curia, a new name, new personnel and new consultants.   
In the area of this renewal, the Holy Father united the Pontifical Sacristy to the Office of Celebrations in 1991, and entrusted to the Master the care of the Chapels of the Apostolic Palace (Sistine, Pauline Redemptoris Mater).
The variety and particularity of the liturgical celebrations, the riches of the typical ritual expressions of diverse cultures, purified and welcomed in the liturgies presided by the pope, are often illustrated in the presentation texts which Mgsr. Marini strived to include in the various subsidies published to favour the active participation of the clergy and the faithful.
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Miranda Gonzalo LC
Gonzalo Miranda, L.C., was born in Gerona (Spain) in 1954.  He obtained a Doctorate in Moral Theology.  In 2001, he founded the Faculty of Bioethics of the Pontifical University Regina Apostolorum in Rome.
He is an ordinary professor of Bioethics and of Moral Theology in the Faculties of bioethics and theology of the University Regina Apostolorum.
He is a member of the Directive Committee of the Centre of Bioethics of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart; honorary of the Consejo de Bioética of the Mexican Episcopal Conference; of the Directive Council of the FIBIP (International Federation of Bioethical Centres of Personalistic Inspiration); of the Bioethical Committee of the AIFMC (International Federation of Catholic Medical Faculties); of the Directive Committee of the journals: «Medicina e Morale»  (Rome); «Medicina y Ética» (México); «Vida y Ética» (Argentina).
As an active and untiring worker, he frequently contributes to the field of social communications, especially in radio and television programs, on the themes of bioethics, morality, family, etc.
In most recent years, he has participated in such programs in more than 150 different occasions. 
He has published eight books and more than 60 articles on themes regarding bioethics and morality, particularly concerning young people and the family.
Here are some of his publications in Italian:
«Riflessione a 25 anni dalla Humanae Vitae», in: AA. VV. La Regolazione Naturale della Fertilità: scienza, cultura, esperienza verso il 2000, Atti del II Congresso Internazionale CAMeN-FIDAF, Milano 9-12 dicembre 1993 (CANeM-FIDAF, Milano 1994), 39-44;
«Riflessioni etiche intorno alla fine della vita», in: A. Mazzoni (ed.), A sua immagine e somiglianza? Il volto dell’uomo alle soglie del 2000, un approccio bioetico (Città Nuova Editrice, Roma 1997);
«La contraccezione. Considerazioni antropologiche ed etiche»: Consultori Familiari Oggi 6/1 (1998); «Gli equivalenti suicidari: l’abuso di droghe e di alcool», in: Diocesi di Civita Castellana (ed.), Il rischio di Crescere: educare per prevenire il disagio in adolescenza, Bioetica. Tra Scienza e Profezia di Speranza. 4º Corso di aggiornamento per operatori della Sanità, della Scuola, della Famiglia (Diocesi di Civita Castellana, Civita Castellana 2000); 
«OGM e Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa», in: G. Crepaldi - G. Miranda (eds.), OGM: Minaccia o Speranza? (Edizioni ART, Roma 2004);
«Verso una Dichiarazione Unviersale di Bioetica»: Bollettino di Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa (2005) 10-20);
«Persona umana, corpo e spirito», in: A. Filiberti - R. Lucas Lucas (eds.), La spiritualità nella sofferenza, Dialoghi tra antropologia, psicologia e psicopatologia (Franco Angeli, Milán 2006).
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Oder Sławomir, Msgr.

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Posselt Bernd, Dr.
Bernd Posselt is part of the popular political European Party (Democratic-Christians) and of the European Democrats. He completed his two-year journalistic internship in 1976. Immediately afterwards, he became editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper and maintained this position for two years. He continued his career as a journalist, parliamentary assistant, spokesperson and european correspondent for daily and weekly newspapers until 1994. He was President of the local section of the CSU of München-Mossach and district vice-president from 1993 to 1997.
He was an executive member of the CSU for the district of Monaco of Baviera from 1993 and an executive of the CSU since 2000.
He was the federal President of the Sudetendeutsche Landsmannschaft (Sudeti Germans Association) in 2000 and President of Land of the Esuli Union in Baviera in1997.
He is the Founder (in 1975) and federal president (until 1990) of the young people’s german section of the pan European Union. He was a member of the presidency’s Office of the pan European international Union since 1976, as well as President of the german section of the pan European Union from 1998.
He was a member of the European Parliament since 1994, and from 1999 to 2002 he was vice-president of the commission of the public liberties and internal affairs. Subsequently, he was vice-president of the mixed parliament commission, UE-Czech Republic.
He was a member of the temporary commission on human genetics and President of the work group “Lingue minoritarie” (from 1996 to 1998), vice-president since 2004.
He was a member of the Diocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Monaco of Baviera for almost ten years.
In 1999, he received the Merit Cross of the German Federal Republic, from the Order “Pleter” of the Republic of Croatia.
He is a member of the Commission for external affairs and of the Delegation to the mixed parliament commission UE-Croatia.
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Poupard  Paul, H.E.Card.
His Eminence Cardinal Paul Poupard, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council of Culture and President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, was born in France at Bouzillé in the Diocese of Angers, on August 30, 1930. He completed his studies, and was ordained a priest on December 18, 1954. Immediately afterwards, he began to teach, but without neglecting his studies and commitment to pastoral work.
He graduated with a degree in theology and history at the Università della Sorbona, defending a thesis regarding the relationship between reason and faith and between Church and State. He obtained a diploma from the Scuola di Alti Studi, in the section of religious Science, and he was then given numerous responsibilities. Besides this, from 1959 to 1971, he was the official secretary of state and chaplain of the Institute St. Dominic in Rome. As such, he was presented at the solemn opening of the work of the Second Vatican Council and he carried out his service alongside John XXIII and Paul IV.
Returning in France, he carried out the role of rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris for ten years. On February 2, 1979, he was elected titular bishop of Usula and in the meantime, was nominated auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Paris. He was ordained a bishop on April 6 of the following year, and in the same time period was called to be part of the College of Members of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and of the Secretariat for non-Christians.
He was vice-president of the Society of Church History in France, member of the Superior Council of the practical school of Alti Studi and of the Alto Comitato of the French language and of the Academy of Fine Letters, Sciences and Arts in Angers. With this activity, he received numerous recognitions like the Great Cardinal Grente prize of the French Academy, knighthood in the Legion of Honour and still others.
Aside from being an author of numerous essays, he collaborated with the edition of different and qualified collective works. He also offered his collaboration with studies and articles to the most prestigious journals of catholic culture in the world.
On June 27, 1980, when he held the office of auxiliary of Paris, John Paul II promoted him to archbishop calling him to assume the role of pro-president of the Secretariat for Non- Believers. Two years later, he combined to this responsibility that of president of the executive committee of the newly formed Pontifical Council of Culture.
Appointed Cardinal by John Paul II, from May 27, 1985 he held the role of President of the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers until April 4, 1993, when the aforementioned merged with the Pontifical Council of the Culture.
From April 1988 to September 2007, he was President of the Pontifical Council of the Culture.
In March 2006, the Holy Father Benedict XVI, with the intent to favour a more intense dialogue between men of culture and representatives of the various religions, unified the presidency of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue with that of the Pontifical Council of the Culture, nominating Card. Poupard president also of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. He maintained this responsibility until June 25, 2007.
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Ruini Camillo, H.E.Card.
His Eminence Cardinal Camillo Ruini, is the Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Lateran Archbasilica, Great Chancellor of the Pontifical University Lateranese, and President emeritus of the“Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem”. He completed his philosophical and theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical University Gregoriana, as alumnus of the Almo Collegio Capranica, obtaining a License in Philosophy and Theology.
He was ordained a priest in 1954. He taught Philosophy until 1968 and until 1986 taught Dogmatic Theology at the Studio Teologico Interdiocesano di Modena-Reggio Emilia-Carpi-Guastalla, of which he was also President. He taught Dogmatic theology at the Studio Teologico Accademico Bolognese. From 1958 to 1966, he held the position of Diocesan Assistant of Catholic Graduates. From 1966 to 1970, he was Episcopal Delegate for Catholic Action. Since 1968 he has been Episcopal Vicar for the apostolate of the laity, and from 1968 to 1986 he was President of the Diocesan John XXIII Cultural Centre. From 1975 to 1986, he was President of the Diocesan Council for Pastoral Education.
In 1983, he was nominated titular Bishop of Nepte and Auxiliary for the diocese of Reggio Emilia and Guastalla. He received the episcopal ordination from Mgsr. Gilberto Baroni on June 29 that same year. In 1985, he was elected member of the Episcopal Commission for Catholic Education, Culture and School.
He was nominated by John Paul II General Secretary of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI).
He was a member of the Central Committee for the Marian Year 1987-1988. Since 1988, he has been a Consultor of the Congregation for Bishops. In October 1990, during the work of the eighth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, he was elected Member of the Council of the General Secretary.
Having accepted the resignation of the Vicar General of Rome and the district, presented by Cardinal Ugo Poletti, Pope John Paul II nominated him Archbishop and Pro-Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome in 1991.
Also in 1991, the Holy Father nominated him President of the Italian Episcopal Conference. In June of the same year, John Paul II appointed him Cardinal and titular of St. Agnes outside the wall.
Subsequently, he was nominated Vicar General of the Holy Father for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Patriarchal (now Papal) Lateran Archbasilica. He has been Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical University Lateranese, and President emeritus of the“Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem” since 1996. He was the Moderator of the first special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops (November 28- December 14, 1991), and he was member of the Committee of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
Pope Benedict XVI confirmed him as President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, donec aliter provideatur. He maintained the role until March7, 2007 when the Pope accepted his resignation for having reached the age of retirement.
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Ryłko Stanislaw, H.E.Card.

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Sanna Ignazio, H.E.Msgr.

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Siviglia Ina, Dr.

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Suchocka Hanna

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Szostek Andrzej, Prof.
Professor and Dr.hab Father Andrzej Szostek, Rector major of the Catholic University of Lublin, was born on November 9, 1945 at Grudziądz. He obtained a degree in Christian Philosophy with a thesis entitled: “Etyka jako nauka empiryczna w ujęciu T. Czeżowskiego i T. Kotarbińskiego.” His moderator was the Professor, Dr.hab Card. Karol Wojtyła.
In 1978, he received a doctorate in Christian philosophy with a thesis entitled: “Filozoficzne aspekty dyskusji wokół norm ogólnie ważnych we współczesnej teologii” (the moderator was the Professor Dr.hab. Tadeusz Styczeń). In 1989, as Dr.h of Human Sciences in the Faculty of philosophy and sociology of the Philosophical-Ethical Chair, his thesis, which he defended at Lublin, was “Natura - rozum - wolność. Filozoficzna analiza koncepcji twórczego rozumu we współczesnej teologii moralnej”. All of the titles were received from the Faculty of Christian Philosophy of the Catholic University of Lublin.
He was an intern from 1970 and then in 1971, he was Assistant of the Chair of Ethics of the Catholic University of Lublin; in 1979 he was the Major Assistant. Until 1980, he studied abroad with a scholarship at the Catholic University of America, in Washington D.C.. In 1990, he received a libera docenza, and in 1992 he became the director of the Chair of Particular Ethics. He then became director of the Chair of Ethics in 2002.
In 1997, he became a titular Professor, and from 2000, an Ordinary Professor. Between the years 1992 and 1998 he was pro-Rector of the University, and then Rector from 1998 to 2004.
He is the director of various scientific journals and member of scientific committees for various journals in the fields of Philosophy and Ethics. He is a member of Zgromadzenia Księży Marianów, and in 1974 he received Holy Orders.
His principal interests are in fundamental reason of the ethical problems of conscience; some themes that regard particular ethics like that of life, love, ethics and politics; and the ethical and anthropological thought of Karòl Wojtyła.
He has been the vice-president of the Scientific Society of Lublin since 2003. Since 2001, moreover, he has been a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life and from 2006, a member of the ethics committee at the Polish Ministry that pertains to the University.
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Tasca Marco OFMConv
Fr. Marco Tasca is the 119th minister general of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual since May 2007.
He is originally from S. Angelo di Piove di Sacco (PD), where he was born June 9, 1957. On September 29, 1968, he entered in the Friars’ Minor Conventual Minor Seminary of Camposampiero (PD), of the Paduan Province.
Having completed his first two years of secondary school at Pedavena and the remaining years in Brescia, he began the year of Noviciate in Padua at the Santo, on September 25, 1976. His noviciate concluded with the profession of temporary vows on September 17, 1977.
He completed his philosophical-theological studies in Padua at the Theological Institute-St. Anthony Doctor, affiliated with the Pontifical Faculty-St. Bonaventure (1977-1982).
On November 28, 1981, he professed solemn vows in the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, and in September of 1983 he was ordained a priest at S. Angelo di Piove di Sacco (PD) by Mgsr. Filippo Franceschi, bishop of Padua.
In 1982, he was transferred to Rome, where he perused a License in psychology (1987) as well as in catechetics (1992) at the Pontifical University Salesiana.
After this period, he was committed to study and to pastoral activity in the Parish of St. Joseph of Cupertino in Rome (1983-1988). Fr. Marco has dedicated a great part of his talents and activity to formation in the seminaries of the province, both as rector in the Minor Seminary-Postulate of Brescia (1988-1994) and as rector of the Theological Seminary of Padua (1994-2001), where he also taught psychology in the Paduan section of the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy (1994-2005).
As an educator, he has also been provincial delegate for the initial formation for two mandates (1994-2001). During this period, he was member of the special pre-capitulary commission in preparation for the extraordinary general Chapter of Ariccia (1998).
With the provincial chapter of 2001, Fr. Marco became the capitulary custodian of the province of Padua and guardian of the Convent of Camposampiero.
He was elected as provincial minister on April 7, 2005 and was nominated vice-president for the northern zone of the Council of Presidency of the CISM and president of the Mo.Fra.Ne. Fr. Marco is a councillor in the Council of Presidency CIMP and delegate for the initial formation
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Tortorella Laura, Prof.
Laura Tortorella (Monza 1971) is married and a mother of three children with a degree in philosophy and bioethics. She has pursued further studies in these fields and then obtained a Masters in bioethics, respectively at the Catholic University of Rome and the John Paul II Institute of the University Lateranese. She is responsible for the philosophical section (Italian-Spanish) of the distance education course of the Higher Institute of Religious Studies (ISSR), and editorial coordinator for the publications of ISSR of the University Regina Apostolorum. She has translated a number of books from the Spanish to Italian, and has published articles of philosophy and bioethics in various journals. While presently acquiring a doctorate in bioethics at the University Regina Apostolorum, she is currently a professor of Philosophical Anthropology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure in Rome. She collaborates, moreover, with the Foundation Ut Vitam Habeant.
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Waldstein Michael, Dr.
Professor Michael Waldstein, Austrian and an American citizen by birth, is an ordinary professor of the New Testament. He achieved his Bachelor’s Degree in 1977 at Thomas Aquinas College in California. In 1981, he received a Doctorate in philosophy at the University of Dallas and in 1984, a License at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. In 1990, he obtained a Doctorate in New Testament and Christian origins from the Harvard Divinity School.
He speaks fluent German, English, and Italian; he reads Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Coptic, French, Spanish and German.
Offices held:
 • 1981-1984 Tutor at the Adams House, Harvard University.
• 1986-1987 Professor of Church History, Harvard Divinity School.
• 1987- Assistant teacher to Prof. Kurt Rudolph, Harvard Divinity School.
• 1988-1990 Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame.
• 1990-1996 Professor of New Testament, University of Notre Dame.
• 1993-1994 Research Fellow, Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät, University of Tubinga.
• 1996- Promoted to Associate Professor of New Testament, University of Notre Dame.
• 1996-2006 President and professor of New Testament, International Theological Institute, Gaming, Austria.
• 2006 Ordinary Professor of New Testament International Theological Institute, Gaming, Austria.
PUBLIC FUNCTIONS

• Member of the Pontifical Council for the Family since 2003.
• Member of the Society of Biblical Literature since 1985.
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Weigel George, Prof.
George Weigel is supplementary councillor of the “think thank” of the Discovery Institute for programs relating to religion, liberty and public life.  He is originally from Baltimore, Maryland where he studied at St. Mary’s Seminary and University.  Subsequently, he achieved a Masters from the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, Canada.
Throughout the years, George Weigel has received eight degrees honoris causa as well as the papal cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontefice and the gold medal Gloria Artis of the Polish government.
While living in Seattle, Washington he was assistant to  of the Chair of Theology and assistant dean of studies at St. Thomas Seminary School of Theology of Kenmore. In 1986, he founded the James Madison Foundation.
From his bibliography, prevalently in English, we recall: God’s Choice: Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church, Harper Collins, 2005; The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God, Basic Books, 2005; Letters to a Young Catholic, Basic Books, 2004; The Courage To Be Catholic: Crisis, Reform, and the Future of the Church, Basic Books, 2002; The Truth of Catholicism: Ten Controversies Explored, Harper Collins, 2001; Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, Harper Collins, 1999; Soul of the World: Notes on the Future of Public Catholicism, Eerdmans, 1996; The Final Revolution: The Resistance Church and the Collapse of Communism, Oxford University Press, 1992.
Translated in Italian:
“Benedetto XVI. La scelta di Dio”, edited by Rubettino
“La cattedrale e il cubo. Europa, America e politica senza Dio”, but he is certainly most famous for
“Testimone della speranza. La vita di Giovanni Paolo II” edited by Mondadori.
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The Faculty Façade

The Symposium Hall

The Garden at Seraphicum

The Library

Inside the Library

Assisi.
St. Francis Basilica

Assisi.
Sacro Convento